When you are just starting to get serious about baking, buying a Stand Mixer can be a difficult decision.  Typically, at that point in your life, you don’t have money to throw around.  I didn’t have much money when I started baking, and the $140 price tag for a good stand mixer seemed like a fortune.

I recently saw a thread related to “The Best Stand Mixers Under $100 on the forum at Cake Central.  This is a forum for people who love baking.  You can find some amazing pictures of cakes there!  They also have some tutorials on cake decorating, and a baking forum.  I found the answers interesting, and thought I would share them with you.  You will see the initial question below, followed by answers I found interesting in the thread.  If you wish to see the complete thread visit the link above.  Please note I have not included the commenter names to protect their privacy.

I think there are some suggestions in this thread that are interesting.  One of the things you will find about bakers is they are passionate about KitchenAid.  Most of the people on this forum bake large batches daily .  They need a mixer they can depend on to meet deadlines.  Weddings don’t wait for the cake!  I think their passion for KitchenAid is apparent.  You’ll find they tend to abbreviate the name to KA.  I believe there was an example of this in the thread I showed you.

Please be aware that the opinions above are not my own.  I am sharing them to help you make an informed decision. Personally, I tried several cheaper mixers.  Because the ones I tried kept burning out.  They were fine for small batches, but as business increased they weren’t enough.  I was replacing them every three months.  So…I splurged.  I think it was the best investment I could have made.  It has lasted me 10 years now with not a single problem.  I spent more on buying cheap mixers for the first year than I spent on buying one Kitchenaid.

As far as rumors of a decreased quality in Kitchenaid mixers, I don’t think it’s a problem.  Out of 432 reviews on Amazon, 301 people gave it a five star rating.  The baking community would not be so passionate about it, if it weren’t a dependable mixer.  I mean, sometimes you have to attribute problems to operator failure.  They put instructions on plastic bags, for heaven’s sake!

You may be able to get a mixer on Craigslist but there are no guarantees that it will be in good working condition.   I haven’t used Craigslist.  But you could very well be buying someone’s problem.  Maybe if you’re more familiar with the workings of Craigslist you could set me straight.  I believe you would be buying it sight unseen with no warranty.  That doesn’t make me very comfortable.  Who knows what they might have done with that mixer before they decided to sell it.  When you buy a new stand mixer you have a warranty to protect you and you know exactly what you’re getting.

QVC was an interesting answer.  If you’re into that, you might find a deal.  I just don’t have the patience to sit through endless sales spiels until they get to the item I want.  Again, I don’t use QVC, so if you understand it better than I do, leave a comment below and set me straight.

I thought buying one from an Estate Sale, or garage sale was a decent idea.  At least you would be able to see the condition. If you go this route, plug it in to be sure it works.  Listen to the motor for sounds that aren’t smooth, like clunk or rub sounds.  It should have a smooth even sound.  Try the switch and be sure all the speeds are functional.   Finally,  check that all the attachments are present.  There should be three attachments with the better stand mixers;  the paddle, whisk, and dough hook attachments.  Again, you take your chances with no warranty in this scenario.  I really don’t know how long it might take, scouring Estate sale notices, to find a stand mixer.  But… you might get lucky!

Currently the Kitchenaid Classic Stand Mixer is on sale at Amazon for $199.  This includes a one year warranty, instructions, mixing tips, and 67 recipes, and free shipping.  I think as you compare prices you’ll find this price reasonable.

If you decide to buy a stand mixer, come back and see my Stand Mixer Recipes.  I’ve got some tasty recipes that are written with the stand mixer owner in mind.  I typically add at least one new recipe per week, so check back often.  My latest recipe is for pulled chicken using your stand mixer.  It makes BBQ Pulled Chicken easy!

You may also want to have a look at my tips on “Starting A Home Baking Business” for ideas to get your stand mixer making you money.

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