Valerie is a 42-year-old, single, Reformed Christian lady who lives in Baltimore. She doesn't remember a time
before she knew and loved Jesus, but she does remember accepting John Calvin into her heart in March of 2000.
Valerie is a member of Christ Reformed Evangelical Church in Annapolis.
Though her career aspiration is to be a housewife, Valerie has not yet found anyone suitable who wishes to hire
her for employment in that field (or, more properly, anyone suitable has not found her), so in the meantime she
earns her daily bread working in communications -- editing, writing, print design and website management.
It's Audience Participation Time!
Bosch v. KitchenAid. Discuss.
Posted by Valerie (Kyriosity) at 8:35 PM
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20 comments
20 Comments:
On September 20, 2007 9:28 PMdawnwrote... Depends on what you want. Cooks Illustrated chose the KA, but they weren't doing large amounts of whole wheat. They were not impressed by the whipping ability of the Bosch (egg whites/meringues/cream). I have a KA and like it a lot, but I don't try to make much whole wheat bread in it (I can do 2 loaves, just, but am a bit nervous that I'm going to burn out my motor) My friend has a Bosch and loves it. If you're looking at different attachments the Bosch allows for things like a very powerful blender and a food processor, so you can drop some bases. The KA gives you a large differing attachments from grinders, sausage stuffers, ice cream makers, fruit juicers, pasta rollers, etc.
I guess what I'm trying to meander to is it depends on what you want to do.
On September 20, 2007 10:20 PMLaura in KYwrote... Bosch. I killed 2 KA's in 2 years. Killed motors, lost gears, etc. I've used a Bosch for the past 2 years and have been extremely pleased with it. IMO, the KA's just are not made like they used to be. The Bosch was worth the money for me.
On September 21, 2007 9:15 AMsorawrote... A KitchenAid would never hold up to what I put my Bosch through. As far as whipping ability, it works beautifully for large quantities, not so well for small ones. (This is true for dough also; I would never use it for a one-loaf batch or a dozen cookies.) If we're only whipping two egg whites or one cup of cream at a time, we use a 4-cup measuring bowl and a $10 hand-held mixer. But last year (with a Jersey cow) we had cream coming out our ears and when you're whipping 4 cups at a time, the Bosch does a great job. I was also turning out 40-50 loaves of bread and 8 dozen bagels (to sell) and about 5 lbs of butter every week -- and that's not to mention how much use we got from the meat grinder and the berry press attachment. Don't bother with the food processor or pasta making attachments for the Bosch, they don't work as well as Cuisinart or a real pasta machine. Do get the cookie paddles.
I can see how someone without a large family could be satisfied with KitchenAid, but if you want serious power and longevity, or to be able to make mega-batches for the freezer or for other people, or want to make 100% whole wheat bread regularly, the Bosch wins hands-down.
Sora, is the Bosch food processor good enough that it'd be worth having for someone who doesn't have a Cuisinart and doesn't really want to find space for both?
And as for pasta machines...I already have two, but they are for playing with polymer clay. Pasta from a box is good enough for me! ;-)
On September 21, 2007 5:14 PMnonnobis1wrote... I lovelovelove my KA. It's the Pro 600 525-watt monster (okay, I am after all a guy), biggest one you can still fit on a countertop. Makes four batches of Wilton buttercream at once, and the motor still doesn't labor. Most folks who don't like the KA have owned a smaller model...the 600 is pricey, but well worth it. Whips wonderful cream too!
On September 21, 2007 6:16 PMsorawrote... I think the Bosch food processor attachment has design flaws and is a poor buy. I got it intending to reduce number of appliances and because my 12-year old Cuisenart had developed a crack in the bowl. The slicing and shredding blades on the Bosch processor sit on a flimsy plastic ring -- mine broke the second time I used it when some cheese caught in it and kept it from spinning. I also found that the regular blade did not do as good a job as my Cuisenart had on pulse-chopping without pureeing, or on thoroughly mixing things like hummus and bean dip. Fortunately someone gave me a Cuisenart they'd gotten at a yard sale. Depending on what your food processing needs and space issues are, I would consider a Cuisenart mini-food processor and/or a japanese mandoline as alternatives.
On September 21, 2007 6:19 PMNathanwrote... We have both. My wife uses the KA to make cakes, etc, and I use the Bosch to saw wood. Are you folks actually saying that the tool giant of carpenters and mechanics now makes tools for chefs?
On September 21, 2007 6:20 PMsorawrote... And the Bosch still beats the "monster" Kitchen Aid for power (700 watts, so there!).
I blew out the engine of a standard KA, and am very happy with my monster Professional model.
My biggest problem was that it was too tall to fit under my kitchen cabinets. So it sits on top of my dryer in the laundry room off the kitchen and I have to pick it up and bring it to the kitchen counter when I use it.
I wish my friends would pick up a tip from Sora's friends and find me a Cuisinart at a garage sale. I'm on my third Black and Decker $25 model food processor.
And Valerie, dear Valerie, don't discount the color options of the KA. I think that HAS to count for something.
We bought a pro model KA for our son's wedding present. Costco had them under $250. I think they have them on the floor before Christmas.
On September 22, 2007 2:07 PMpentamomwrote... If it were me, I'd have a hard time justifying more than a mid-level Kitchenaid for a one-person household, even a one person household given to hospitality such as yours. Definitely don't go with a bottom of the line Kitchenaid if you plan to do heavy stuff that could burn it out, though. I doubt a bottom end Kitchenaid is a good deal at all, since you can get a better one for very little more on a good deal. (Look for Bed, Bath, and Beyond coupons and rebates, for example.) I've been very happy with my Artisan-model Kitchenaid, though I might use it less lightly than you plan to -- I don't do more than 50% or so whole wheat, and I'm content doing two loaves at time. But I'd think the Pro level would be sufficient for any single person.
On September 23, 2007 12:54 AMJanetwrote... Bosch. Hands down. Like Sora said for small cakes, brownies etc I use an electric hand mixer but for my bread and mosnter cookies I use the Bosch. We are not happy with the blender part of the Bosch and I'm getting ready to buy my hubby a Vitamix or Blendtec for his birthday. He makes smoothies every morning.
I really like the cookie paddles for the Bosch.
If you plan on making fresh whole wheat bread you must get the Nutrimill.
FWIW :)
On September 24, 2007 5:50 PMbarbwrote... I agree with Pentamom. I use my Kitchen Aid fairly often - in fact I got rid of my hand mixer to save cabinet space, since I wasn't using it much (wire whips work just as well). I mid-range KA suits me fine for the volume I use it. I've used it for most everything - cakes, doughs, whipping, etc with good results. I highly advise the splash guard, though. I think it should be standard and not an option!
On September 26, 2007 10:58 AMpentamomwrote... FWIW, I think the splash guard pretty much comes standard on the mid-level and up models. At least, when I bought mine, it was there with it -- maybe that was a special offer.
And I should have said "more lightly" in that previous comment.
On September 27, 2007 9:41 PMKimberlywrote... My first reaction to this was, " What does a painter have to do with a mixer?" Um, yeah..I'm a bit tired.
On September 27, 2007 9:44 PMValerie (Kyriosity)wrote... Which does bring us to another interesting pointin favor of the Bosch: I can't very well name a KitchenAid Heironymous, now can I?
On September 2, 2009 5:50 AMLisawrote... Bosch Products are very in demand in our household Furnitures and tools. I have a Bosch Mixer at home and used it everytime in cooking and in Baking.
