Scroll to the bottom for my 6 month post purchase update 🙂

For the past 5 years I have been a proud owner of a Shiny Red KitchenAid Mixer.  When I bought my KitchenAid, I had never baked a loaf of bread in my life, and in fact, I barely knew how to make cookies.  I bought it because everyone said you needed one, and I wanted to take a step forward in my cooking skills.  And it was awesome, that shiny red beauty got me through 5 years of learning, experimenting, and discovering the joy of baking.  I used it to knead countless loaves of bread, mix up cookie dough, make granola, etc etc etc.  But last month I tried to knead 4 loaves of bread all at once and the poor thing died. (Actually it stripped a gear, which required major surgery to fix)  I spent nearly an hour on the phone with the friendly, but completely un-helpful people at kitchen aid, who informed me that I would need to pay shipping both to and from their facility and then the cost of repairs as well, since their warranty doesn’t extend 5 years.  I decided it was time for a new mixer, unfortunately deciding to buy one was only the beginning.

Bosch or KitchenAid???

After spending HOURS researching, reading reviews, and comparing- all I got was more frustrated.  Which was better? Which should I choose?  I have loved my KitchenAid, but since I have 3 adults and 4 children living in my home, I need to be able to bake more than 2 loaves of bread at a time. Which is where the Bosch comes in.  But they are so UGLY, and bulky…and expensive!  So I was considering KitchenAids with a stronger motor, or just weighing the benefit of buying the cheaper one and replacing it again in 5 years. I even posted on Facebook asking for experiences, and after post after post swearing by the Bosch, I decided to take a closer look, but I was still leaning towards the KitchenAid.

This video is what changed my mind-   Bosch Mixer vs KitchenAid Comparison

I actually called the number on this website and ordered a mixer about an hour later.  You see, having been a KitchenAid owner for so long, I KNOW its flaws- and one that drove me crazy nearly every time I used it, was the inability to get the stuff on the bottom of the bowl mixed in.  The Bosch handled 1 egg white with precision that was AMAZING, and while I’m not planning to make much meringue, it was the ability of the mixer to get the tiniest bit of ingredient mixed in that impressed me!  **as a side note, I have actually made meringue with my new Bosch and it really did make it perfectly from just 1 egg white**

I should also point out that calling Bosch Kitchen Center was SUCH a breath of fresh air.  I got a PERSON, immediately, no “push 1 for blah blah blah”.  They were courteous, not pushy, and super helpful- even offering their favorite bread recipes!  Then, they gave me the same price I had found on Overstock.com-including the coupon discount, AND they gave me free shipping.  Plus they gave me an extended warranty that I wouldn’t have gotten if I had bought it on overstock.  They guy told me to call back when I got it, and they would give me some first timers tips (I didn’t take them up on this offer, since it came on a Saturday).

Now that I have had my new mixer for a month, I am completely satisfied.  But I will admit there are benefits and disadvantages to both of them.  For the novice cook, who just needs something to whip up cookie dough, and look pretty on the counter?  Go with the KitchenAid for now.  You, like me, may revisit that decision as the KitchenAid helps you fall in love with baking- but its a safe choice for now.

But if you are serious about baking, and want something thats going to last you for years to come? Go with the Bosch! I haven’t talked to anyone yet who was unhappy with their decision to upgrade to the Bosch!  It makes great bread, rolls, Pizza Dough, Cookies, Etc.  Its a little more complex to clean than the Kitchen-Aid but still easier than, my blender, for example.  And honestly, it wasn’t THAT much more than the KitchenAid!  The ONLY time I miss my kitchen-Aid is when I look in my kitchen and miss the pretty red shiny-ness on my counter.  But I can live without that, especially now that I discovered Urban Kitchen fancy sets.

FYI, I gave my broken KitchenAid to my handy brother in law and for 15 dollars he bought a new gear and fixed that baby right up.  Now my cute little sister and her husband have a new toy and we are both happy!  WIN WIN!

So- Here’s the Showdown!

 

*****UPDATE: I have now had my Bosch Mixer for more than 6 months, and I’m not 100% sold on it being THAT much better.  I do love my Bosch for making large batches of bread, I just don’t make huge batches that often.  For everything else, I miss the kitchen-aid a little.  The Bosch doesn’t handle small batches very well, for example a pizza dough recipe is too small for the dough hook to really mix it up well.  Its also can’t handle large batches of cookie dough that my Kitchen-aid whipped up like a champ. Also compared to the Kitchen-Aid the Bosch is a PAIN to clean.  Lots of grooves and places that have to be scraped, and everything has to be completely dry before you put it back on the mixer- this is frustrating when you are cooking multiple items back to back.  Honestly, in a perfect world with endless counterspace? I’d have the 2 side by side.

******Yet another update.  A friendly and helpful commenter pointed out that you can buy a dough hook extender from Bosch the eliminates the problem with small batches.  I am excited to purchase one and give it a try.  I’ll let you know how it does!