KitchenAid Deluxe Mixer : 80 Years of Service
The KitchenAid Deluxe 5KPM5EWH stand mixer is a top-of-the-line appliance, a "kitchen miracle." It's a machine that inspires a certain awe—it's so unique and so high-quality.
The snow-white beauty of the KitchenAid Deluxe 5KPM5EWH, unboxed, immediately took center stage in my heart and the kitchen. Keeping such beauty in a cabinet would have been sacrilege. And where would you find such a cabinet? Weighing 12.3 kg and measuring 420 x 350 x 275 mm, the mixer, perched on my modest countertop, felt like Gulliver in the land of Lilliput. No, this kind of appliance deserves open spaces…
The food processor's all-metal body is coated in durable, snow-white enamel, like icing. The top houses the processor head and motor, with the gearshift lever and drive unit located on the body. The main attachments are attached to the drive unit: a metal, enamel-coated paddle and dough hook, as well as a whisk made of metal wire. A large, stainless steel bowl with a capacity of 4.8 liters completes the "still life."
Electric motor drive
I'd like to point out that the KitchenAid Deluxe 5KPM5EWH mixer features a lift. Rather than tilting the mixer head like the KitchenAid Artisan 5KSM150PS, the mixer head is raised above the bowl using a lever. The lift features "feet" that hug the sides of the bowl, securing it at three points. Two of these are "ears" on the bowl that attach to pins located at the ends of the "feet." The third point is a special clip that secures the bowl at the base.
The elevator has two positions: up and down. Before attaching or removing the attachment to the drive, you must first move the elevator handle to the up (operating) position. Attaching the attachment is very simple: simply slide it onto the drive pin and turn it clockwise.
The mixer is in full combat readiness : the lift is in the upper position
In addition to the above, I found in the box: a plastic rim with a funnel for pouring ingredients, which I initially mistook for a protective screen, and a plastic lid - I later used it to cover the bowl with the dough.
A nice addition to my newly acquired mixer was the book "Best Recipes: 150 Dishes from Around the World—Cooking Made Easy and Pleasant." It contains recipes for soups and sauces, meat and poultry dishes, desserts and breads, and not just from one cuisine, but from virtually every cuisine in the world—Greece, Mexico, Italy, Malaysia, Norway, and many others. Each recipe specifies the attachment needed for cooking, as well as the cooking time and speed. So, with a KitchenAid, you have the opportunity to impress even the most seasoned gourmet with your homemade dishes. Unfortunately, the book isn't included in the package; it's a bonus gift, and some retailers "forget" to give it to customers. So, be sure to remind forgetful retailers about it when you buy it.
ABOUT SPEEDS AND ATTACHMENTS
I decided to test the KitchenAid Deluxe's power (315W) by making dumpling dough. Anyone who's ever made homemade dumplings knows that the hardest part of the process is kneading the dough to the right consistency. This isn't easy: the dough is hard, elastic, and difficult to knead, leaving your hands quite sore afterward.
To avoid further ado, I decided to take a recipe from the "magic book," quickly realizing that the pasta is prepared in much the same way as dumpling dough: 300 g of flour, 3 eggs, 1 tablespoon of olive oil, and water...
For the initial mixing, I used the paddle attachment—the workhorse of the mixer. It helps quickly combine the ingredients to create a smooth dough. To prevent flour from splashing in your face, start at low speed, gradually increasing it to high. Once the dough begins to form a ball, switch to the dough hook and knead until it's just right. One nice feature is the "soft start" of the attachment, which starts the movement smoothly rather than jerkily.
Using a dough hook, we bring the dough to the desired consistency.
It's nice to see that the dough is smooth and lump-free. It's also great that you can knead a large amount of ingredients at once, thanks to the nearly five-liter bowl. After kneading, chill the dough in the refrigerator. You can leave it right in the bowl, simply covering it with a special plastic lid. Another plus is the bowl's comfortable, ergonomic handle, which allows you to hold the bowl firmly in your hand—a crucial factor when you're kneading five liters of dough.
Another nice feature worth mentioning is that the attachment moves along the entire perimeter of the bowl, mixing ingredients in all areas. So-called dead zones are simply absent.
Now, after the "hard kneading," you can make something light and airy—for example, the meringues with crème anglaise from the recipe book. Just remember to thoroughly clean and dry the bowl first (otherwise the whites won't whip up) and attach the whisk attachment, which allows you to incorporate air into the mixture. After all, the dessert should be delicate and practically weightless.
So, to make the meringue, I needed 4 egg whites and 250 g of icing sugar. For the frosting: 250 g of butter, 120 g of sugar, 90 ml of water, and 4 egg yolks. First, I beat the egg whites (without adding sugar) on speed 8, then switched to speed 1 and, while continuously beating, added the icing sugar, gradually increasing the speed from speed 1 to speed 4. Higher speeds aren't recommended because they don't allow the air to "fill" the mixture, preventing the formation of stiff peaks. The resulting mixture formed a stable foam in the bowl—a wonderful result.
Next, using a pastry bag with a carved tip, I piped the meringue mixture into poppy-head shapes onto a baking sheet lined with oven-safe parchment paper. Bake, or rather, dry, the meringues at a temperature no higher than 90°C for about three hours. You can tell the meringues are done by the slight crackling sound they make when they're well-baked.
While the meringues were baking, I started making the buttercream. First, I beat the yolks on speed 4 until they were fluffy and then prepared hot sugar syrup by dropping it into a glass of cold water until it formed a hard ball. The drop held its shape, meaning the syrup was ready. Next, continuing to beat the yolks on speed 4, I poured in the hot syrup and continued beating until the mixture cooled.
KitchenAid Deluxe in action
Then I started beating the butter: first on speed 2, then on speed 4, and finally on speed 6, until it became fluffy. After that, I added the chilled egg yolks to the butter, mixed everything together on speed 4 for a few minutes, and refrigerated the mixture.
After the cookies were baked and the cream had cooled sufficiently, I spread the finished meringues with cream and joined them together in pairs.
It's worth noting that the three standard attachments aren't limited to kneading dough for baked goods or making creams. The spatula, for example, can be used to puree fruits and vegetables to create delicate dips and sauces. It can also help evenly mix ground meat for making meat products and pâtés. The whisk can be used for making mayonnaise, and the dough hook can be used for kneading any type of dough: ciabatta, rye bread, sweet rolls, pizza, or ravioli.
I CAN DO EVERYTHING...
On the front of the processor head, there's a hole covered by a bolted-on, round metal plate bearing the KitchenAid logo. This is the slot for additional attachments. Unfortunately, these must be purchased separately.
For example, by purchasing a set of shredding knives—for fine, medium, and coarse cutting—you can easily prepare a salad, cut French fries, or chop fruit for pies. You can also purchase a sausage maker attachment, a sieve for making fruit and vegetable purees, a juicer, and a can opener. And lovers of Italian cuisine will appreciate a pasta maker for traditional Italian cuisine. Using a roller and two knives, it can make any type of flat pasta—from lasagna sheets to tagliatelle (long, spicy spaghetti). Another interesting attachment is a grain mill, which easily turns wheat, rye, rice, and corn grains into flour.
Socket for additional attachments
THE PRICE OF THE ISSUE
The only deterrent to buying a KitchenAid is its price. A standard package, without any additional attachments or accessories, costs 30,000 hryvnias. But it's worth it, as there are practically no competitors. KitchenAid is practically a monopoly. The only thing that can compare it to is the Kenwood family of food processors.
On the other hand, if you truly love cooking and do it often, it makes sense to splurge and opt for a KitchenAid. After all, KitchenAid products were designed for professional use, especially in bars and restaurants. Therefore, the quality of materials and workmanship guarantees long, trouble-free operation: you won't have to take your appliance in for service every month or buy new attachments and mixing bowls just because the old plastic ones break. Plus, the fact that you'll have your own "planetary system" in your kitchen generally justifies the investment.
KitchenAid Deluxe 5KPM5EWH Stand Mixer
Cons:
Heavy weight.
High cost
Pros:
Spacious bowl for food.
Wear-resistant material of the body and internal parts.
Reliable fixation of the speed switch positions.
Possibility of installing additional attachments.
Quiet operation.
No "dead zones".
"Soft start" of the nozzle.
Technical specifications:
Overall dimensions: 420×350×275 mm.
Weight: 12.3 kg.
Color - "white".
Engine power: 315 W.
Number of rotation speeds: 10 (from 58 to 220 rpm).
Bowl - steel, 4.83 l.
The set includes: three attachments (beater, hook, whisk), a polymer lid for the bowl and a plastic rim for adding bulk ingredients to the bowl.
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