It was epic. However, I had high expectations. Having listened to friends raving about their experiences with the ‘’brand the professional chefs use’’ for years, I knew this was something I had to own. Luckily I was given the opportunity to use a KitchenAid Artisan 4.8L…and I will never look back.
The KitchenAid Artisan has striking looks: retro, but strangely timeless. Coming in a range of 25 colors with names like “Crystal Blue,” “Candy Apple Red,” and “Frosted Pearl White,” it will complement any décor and be the centerpiece of your dream kitchen. Timeless, is an understatement. Having been manufactured since 1919, these mixers, in the original Bowl-Lift and the newer Flip-Top Stand Mixers, have been perfected through years of craftsmanship. To maintain quality, they are still assembled where they originally were in Greenville Ohio, USA. The mixer is solid, all-metal construction, and comes standard with a flat beater for mixing most cake batters and cookie dough, a balloon whisk for adding fluff to scrambled eggs and meringues, and a dough hook for making artisan breads. Due to the fact that there are no plastic components in this appliance, there is very little chance anything will break.
As evidence of the quality engineering, this stand mixer’s transmission uses a direct drive motion, meaning that there is no temperamental pulley system within the unit, which is one less thing that can wear out. Direct drive transmissions are more often found in commercial-grade mixers, which add to the durability of the KitchenAid, a further example of why this is the professional chefs’ mixers of choice. The KitchenAid Artisan range also comes with an auto shut-off feature, meaning even if it gets a large workout whilst preparing large batches of bread, for example, and the motor gets up to potentially damaging temperatures, the unit will shut itself off. This is an important safety feature if you are not paying close attention while being distracted by other food preparation tasks, or let’s be honest, by that Instagram photo of last night’s dinner your friend just posted.
However, do not let the name fool you. This is not just a mixer. With a multi-purpose attachment hub and a range of 12 attachments this machine can turn into everything you need to entertain in a fraction of the usual time. Interestingly enough, even the original attachments will fit any modern KitchenAid model of stand mixer. Pasta-making, Mincing, Juicing and other useful attachments mean that if you are looking for a small army of help in your kitchen, this machine will be your full arsenal.
Admittedly, I am not the most natural of cooks, my husband will attest to this. I have been known to burn eggs and turn out cakes more suitable for doorstops than dinner plates. With this in mind, I purposefully set myself a major culinary challenge; the notoriously tricky cinnamon Brioche. This recipe first used the flat beater to combine the dry ingredients before switching to the dough-hook to tirelessly knead the Brioche mixture and combine the requisite 180g of butter; typically the point of failure for both chef and mixer. First impressions this machine is very easy to operate, with a tilt-head design allowing easy access to the bowl and beater. The 10-speed control paired with the included splash guard means you do not get any flying flour or batter on your walls or face. Testament to the build quality it runs very smooth and quietly, even under the heavy load of kneading dough. Thirty minutes and one, easy to clean, dishwasher safe, mixing bowl later, the Brioche dough was ready to rest overnight before baking fresh the following morning. The outcome was amazing; light and fluffy buttery goodness which lasted about five minutes before being demolished by the rest of my fellow bazaarites.
Has the KitchenAid made me a better baker? Only time will tell, but it’s looking very promising. After all, with over ninety years in the business, they must be doing something right.
Since I embarked on this review, the bazaar team has been enjoying the freshly baked goods such as Brioche, lemon cake, and Banoffee pies, in the office most mornings. Hmmm…maybe I should work on that treadmill review?
KitchenAid mixers and other KitchenAid products are available in Kuwait through Mabrook Hotel Supplies (showroom in Shuweikh) or available in Williams-Sonoma, Grand Avenue – The Avenues. You can contact them on 2482 8530 or for more information on their products visit: www.facebook.com/kitchenaid.kuwait or www.kitchenaid.com.
