KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series
Posted on | September 27, 2009 | 3 Comments
Review
Thirty percent more powerful than KitchenAids previous 5-quart stand mixers, this professional model efficiently tackles heavy loads with its 450-watt motor, direct-drive all-steel gear transmission, and bowl-lift lever that effortlessly raises heavy ingredients up to the beater. KitchenAid stand mixers, constructed of durable die-cast metal, come in a variety of colors and styles that have become American classics. With a choice of ten speeds and three attachments–flat beater, spiral dough hook, and stainless-steel wire whip–the mixer handles everything from egg whites to meat loaf to pizza dough. Rather than rotating the bowl, KitchenAid stand mixers feature a fixed bowl with a unique mixing action: the beater sp (more…)
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3 Responses to “KitchenAid Professional 5 Plus Series”
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Professional Mixer 2 Type
Professional Mixer 2 Type
September 27th, 2009 @ 6:44 pm
I received this mixer as a gift, and honestly, it is so great that I almost feel guilty I don’t use it every day. I have heard good things about the reliability of Kitchen Aid mixers, and this one is far more powerful than what I actually need it to do.
One especially great thing is the slow-start feature–I do a lot of cake batter and icings, and it’s nice to avoid getting flour all over the cabinets after each round of mixing. It mixes very thoroughly, although I was initially suspicious since the bowl doesn’t rotate. You do have to stop and scrape the bowl, as with any mixer.
The machine is also incredibly quiet–it makes less noise than the microwave does. I like the fact that the bowl and white attachments are dishwasher safe, too. It might seem trivial, but I also like the styling of the wider bowl that comes standard with this model, instead of the narrower one that comes with the Artisan.
At first I thought the bowl-lift thing might be uncomfortable to use, since I’m used to tilt-head stand mixers. The bowl has two tabs with holes that fit on either side of the mixer, plus a metal nub that rests in a slot at the back. Once those three points are secure, you rotate the lever to lift the bowl to mixing position, and it’s very stable.
I’ve only found two minor inconveniences with this machine. First, it’s pretty tall, so it won’t fit on the counter underneath my cabinets–I have to move it back and forth from another shelf to use it, and it’s heavy. Second, when you’re done mixing and lower the bowl, it’s hard to scrape all the stuff off the beater because you can’t get a good angle. So you have to detach the beater and let it fall into the bowl and when the bowl is off the mixer you can scrape everything out. Thinner stuff like cake batter wouldn’t be a problem, but for frosting or mashed potatoes, a lot of stuff is left on the beater. This is not a big deal–just a different thing to get used to after a tilt-head mixer.
I have the cobalt blue model, and I hesitated because I thought it might be too “loud,” but it’s beautiful and I’m so glad I got this one.
I’m not a professional baker, but I use my mixer frequently, and I’m delighted to have something that looks great and works so well.
September 27th, 2009 @ 11:48 pm
On the positive side:
The mixer “seems” (see below) to be well made. The fit and finish of external parts is excellent. When tightened with vigor, the tightening nob that holds excessories like a grinder (which works very well) in place, no longer falls into the mixing bowl while something is being mixed.
Kitchenaid has an exceptional warrangy. You need only call Kitchenaid, explain the problem and they send a new mixer and prepaid labels to return the defectve mixer. Definitely retain the box the mixer arrives in.
On the negative side:
Mine is the third KV25GOXCV I have had following the return of a proceeding model with a smaller motor. All were returned because the sound made by the mixer suggested that the gearing was self-destructing. All emitted uneven grinding sounds, especially when operating at mid-range speeds. It suggests that the gears were poorly machined and were wearing badly and would fail before long. (The gearing in my last Kitchenaid stand mixer lasted 15 years before it had to be rebuilt after which, the mixer was given to my son who is still using it.)
My present mixer makes the same troubling transmission sounds but after having had three others that made those same sounds, I concluded that Kitchenaid cannot do any better.
When mixing doughs approaching the mixer’s maximum capacity, the dough rides up the dough hook and must be dragged back down before mixing can again proceed normally. It must be done every 30 seconds or so.
Do not plan to mix any stiff doughs that an older recipe (nonKitchenaid recipe) suggests mixing for longer than 3 or 4 minutes. If you do, the mixer will overheat and automatically shut off until it cools. When I contacted Kitchenaid’s Customer Service Department, I was told that I must follow mixing directions in the accompaning operator’s manual. (These suggest limiting mixing times to only a few minutes.)
Before buying one of these mixers I recommend looking at a Viking stand mixer. It is more expensive but its bowl capacity is considerably larger and its motor is much more powerful.
If it comes as an option, I do not recommend buying the plastic splash guard that fits around the top of the mixing bowl. It is a hassle to take off and replace, which will be required because of the need to scrape the bowl frequently as a result of Kitchenaid’s questionable beater and dough hook designs.
September 28th, 2009 @ 2:08 am
This machine replaces a Kitchenaid mixer (still running strong) that we have had for 25 years. The slow start feature is helpful when mixing dry ingredients, no shower of flour. The new dough hook is spiral shaped with no shield on the top; it is a major improvement. The kneeding is more like you would do by hand, rather than the rotating ball in the bowl. The 450 watt motor offers more than sufficent power for anyone who makes bread. Kitchenaid still builds a quality product that is solid, dependable and a pleasure to own.