kitchenaid-stand-mixer.jpgThe first time I saw a KitchenAid mixer was on the Food Network. I can’t even remember the TV show I was watching or what they were making, but I was completely riveted by the shiny stand mixer on the counter. Up until that point I had only used my mom’s stand mixer, but that one wasn’t as sleek, as shiny, or as glorious looking as the one on the TV in front of me. There’s just something about KitchenAid that makes you take a second look.

Because I saw it on TV, I assumed it was a professional stand mixer that would be out of reach for my kitchen, but not long after I saw one on my friend’s countertop. Then another friend squealed over her birthday present: a bright red KitchenAid Professional Stand Mixer that she practically put on a pedestal in the corner.

What I was seeing at that point was a pretty big boom in stand mixer popularity because after that I begin to see them in all of my friend’s kitchens. I also saw them on Etsy because people were selling Cricut stickers to customize them, and they were decked out in flames and with catchy slogans.

I wanted one so badly I put it on my list for the holidays that year, and I was so, so thrilled when Christmas morning rolled around and there it was, my gorgeous KitchenAid Stand Mixer. We’ve been best friends ever since, and I can’t imagine baking, whipping, or making anything without it. kitchenaid-stand-mixer-history.jpg

It’s not a stretch to say that everyone has heard of KitchenAid, but now that the iconic brand is available on Bestbuy.ca, you might want to know the story behind it.

It all began back in 1919

Stacey covered a brief history of how KitchenAid came to be in her post on the history of stand mixers, but when researching the brand what stood out for me was how they decided on the name KitchenAid. Apparently one of the executives took the mixer home to his wife so she could test it. Once she did she said, “I don’t care what you call it; all I know is it’s the best kitchen aid I’ve ever had.”

And she’s right, it really is. From it’s humble beginning as a 65 pound counter top ‘food preparer,’ the KitchenAid Stand Mixer has become a light, easy to use appliance that can whip, beat, and make dough like nobody’s business. The best part? It’s all hands-free. You can let it whip and walk away.

The KitchenAid stand mixer comes in several different models including the KitchenAid Artisan Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer with 10 speeds and a big 5 qt stainless steel mixing bowl that can hold enough dough for 9 dozen cookies.

kitchenaid-stand-mixerOn the slightly smaller size, the KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Tilt-Head Stand Mixer has a 300W motor and a 4.5 qt bowl to knead enough dough for two loaves of bread.

No matter what type of stand mixer you choose, you’ll be happy to know that the tilt-head function makes it easy to add ingredients, you can add optional attachments like a food grinder or ice cream maker, and you can pick your favourite colour because KitchenAid Stand Mixers come in a rainbow of shades designed to stand out on any kitchen countertop.

It’s the choice of colour that’s made them so popular, but once you use this stand mixer once or twice, you’ll be hooked for life.

The triple threat of kitchen applianceskitchenaid-immersion-blender.jpg

I’ve had some friends ask me about the usefulness of immersion blenders before, and I always say the same thing: if you have the option, buy one. I can’t overemphasize how handy they are in the kitchen, because they really can go where no standard blender can go.

KitchenAid Immersion blenders are a triple threat in the kitchen: if you need to blend your soup, you just keep it on your stove simmering while you blend everything to the consistency you’d like. If you want a smoothie, you just grab your blender and blend it right in the cup, and it’s perfect if you want to whip up a small container of heavy cream in what seems like seconds. Plus, they come in a wide variety of great colours like Twilight Blue, Majestic Yellow, and Green Apple.

 

kitchenaid-hand-mixer.jpgNot your Grandma’s hand mixer

When you’ve got something in a bowl or pot and you just want to beat it up and move on, a hand mixer is a great kitchen tool to have around. The KitchenAid hand mixer will mix up your mashed potatoes or whip your heavy cream, and then you can eject the beaters with a single push and put it away for next time. KitchenAid’s hand mixers also come in great colours like ice blue, twilight blue, and empire red.

You’ll be tea-ready in an instantkitchenaid-kettle.jpg

Yes, the mixers and blenders are the standouts in KitchenAid’s small appliance lineup, but if all you do is look at mixers you’re missing out on some of KitchenAid’s most innovative appliances. Take the KitchenAid Electric Kettle for example: it will quickly and quietly boil water, has variable temperature control, and can hold its temperature for 30 minutes. That means you can have hot tea in minutes or refresh your cup a few times within 30 minutes without having to re-boil.

It’s also nice that you can boil as little as 250ml of water for one cup of tea, hot chocolate, or other hot beverage or fill it right up to its 1.7 litre capacity. Plus, if you have a fire engine red KitchenAid stand mixer, hand mixer, or immersion blender, you can match your kettle up to your other small appliances.

With the holidays here, it’s exciting to see KitchenAid at Best Buy. It’s at the top of the list of kitchen appliances I’d like to see under the tree, and I don’t know a single person who wouldn’t agree with me. Check out everything KitchenAid has to offer right now on Bestbuy.ca.

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Shelly Wutke
Editor TV & Home Theatre
I'm a Vancouver freelancer and tech enthusiast. When I'm not writing you'll find me on my farm with my alpacas, chickens, and honeybees. Visit my website Survivemag