KitchenAid KP26M1XNP Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer, Nickel Pearl Reviews

• Defective Design, Guaranteed to Break!

  
  By AZH1YV44ROGD2 on 2005-12-16
  They advertise ALL METAL GEARS, but fail to disclose that those gears are held in place with a PLASTIC COVER!
  
  Allow me to share my story:
  I am an engineer, my wife; a domestic goddess. We have not purchased a loaf of bread in this household for over 3 years now. Every kitchen gadget we own is top of the line because we know that it'll get used, and used hard. That and being an engineer, I can really appreciate a well designed product. The KitchenAid mixer is the ONLY appliance we own that has continuously failed at every opportunity.
  
  Dezra (my wife) had been using her Artesian 325 watt to make dough's and whatnot for years. When she started getting serious about bread making, she requested the wheat grinder for Christmas, which she got. When she put it on the mixer, it strained for a bit then "Popped".
  
  I could hear that the transmission had broken. I opened it up and found that the electric motor feeds into a gearbox, and all the gears in that gearbox are held together by a PLASTIC COVER! I was astonished that ANY design engineer would consider that as being sufficient.
  
  What happens is that the strain on the motor translates directly to strain on the gears, which warm up. As soon as the plastic cover warms up, it starts to flex. The moment it starts flexing, the gears are no longer meshing properly which generates more heat until the teeth of the gears bind up and the plastic cover simply cracks.
  
  I called up KitchenAid hoping to get replacement parts as this unit was over 2 years old and definitely out of warranty. We told the customer service rep our problem and they stated that they would ship out a new mixer immediately, that they no longer made the Artisan model and they would have to upgrade us to the Professional 6 with 525 watt motor. Oh yes, and what color would you like sir?
  
  We were amazed by the speed and courtesy of their customer service. They stated that we ground too much wheat for too long. Uh huh, sure. They made a product with a cheap part and that cheap part broke.
  
  Well, once we got our new Professional 6 we plugged it in and started grinding wheat. It wasn't 5 minutes before the gearbox broke on that one too! Could they possibly be using the same gearbox cover? Well, sure enough, I pulled the cover off and it had the exact same gearbox and cover as the 350 watt motor. I was floored. They are using a motor that is nearly 2x as powerful but they didn't beef up the gearbox? That's like putting the transmission of a geo metro into a truck and expecting it to hold up. The bigger the motor is simply ensures the more power going into that gearbox which will undoubtedly fail. The bigger the motor, the faster it'll fail.
  
  I told customer service, as they were shipping out a new one, that ALL they had to do was put a metal cover on the gearbox and all the problems would be solved.
  
  My wife got the new mixer and promptly put the wheat grinder away, permanently. She now grinds wheat with her Vita Mix blender.
  
  Well, a year has passed and we're now hearing the gearbox popping and rattling. I open it up, see the familiar plastic cover, shake my head and call customer service. What I heard from them had me bewildered. Should I be laughing or crying?
  
  They said that we were mixing the bread dough for too long at too high of speeds. Excuse me??!! This plastic part was under engineered and so therefore your response is to only use my mixer in 10 minute increments out of fear of breaking it? Wrong answer.
  
  That's like buying a new pickup truck and having it break down the first time you try and haul something. Taking it back to the dealership only to hear them say, sorry, your 1 ton pickup truck can only pull a half ton load in 10 minute increments, and you can't be going over 45 at any time while doing so.
  
  Excuse me, that's why we bough a KitchenAid, was so that we could USE IT! Their customer service stated that if we wanted to keep the mixer, well, we shouldn't use it.
  
  Having done design work, I know what is happening. KitchenAid knows that 90% of their customers don't bake bread except for special occasions. They use this for making cookies and whatnot, and only on occasion. They designed the internals using the CHEAPEST PARTS they could get away with, that way they can make an extra $5 on each machine sold knowing that only a small % will come back while under warranty. The ones that they do have to swap out will be covered by that extra $5 they're making on all the others.
  
  They consider this a wise tradeoff. Well, it might be if the internet didn't exist and people like me could post a review that exposes them for what they are doing. They're taking a MONSTER of a brand name and throwing it out the window, all for a plastic part that would cost $1 to have milled out of aluminum.
  
  We now have, courtesy of Kitchenaid this new Professional 600, and wouldn't you know it, it has the same plastic cover. All this means is that this gearbox will break faster than all previous ones. What's the use?!
  
  

• Exceeded my expectations!

  
  By A2L9D8C8HN5PMQ on 2005-01-01
  I was a bit nervous about this Kitchen Aid model based on the research I'd done on Amazon and the internet of previous models in the 6 quart range. I own and cherish a K5SS I bought 25 years ago. I will never part with this machine (with all its chips and cosmetic wear - it's been a faithful workhorse and one of my most prized possessions).
  
  I was ready for greater capacity, more power and a more cosmetically appealing mixer, so I took the plunge with the KP26M1XC (licorice). I'm glad I did.
  
  The machine is a bit louder with more of a high whine at higher speeds, but I would expect that with the added power and size.
  This morning I took it for a "test drive" with a 600 gram (flour) batch of pizza dough using very high gluten flour which I kneaded at speed 2 for 5 minutes. The sound under load wasn't at all unpleasant and the spiral dough hook really works the dough like the professional mixers I used in culinary school and on the job.
  
  I've mostly used my 5 quart Kitchen Aid for cakes, muffins, pate choux for eclairs, mashed potatoes and whipped cream and meringue. I've made my bread dough exclusively in my large capacity Cuisinart food processor. Now that I have a more powerful Kitchen Aid mixer, I feel confident it can take the challenge of the high gluten dough (Take heed: DO NOT USE MORE THAN 8 CUPS PER BATCH OF HIGH GLUTEN BREAD FLOUR, WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR OR ANY OTHER HEAVY GRAIN FLOUR. THE 12 CUP CAPACITY REFERS EXCLUSIVELY TO ALL PURPOSE FLOUR. ALSO, ONLY USE SPEED 2 when kneading dough. (Repeat this to yourself 20 times and post a notice above your machine, especially if you have a spouse, kids or roomate(s) in your household that might use the machine.)
  
  Caught up in the excitement of this new, beautiful machine I was inspired to purchase the pasta roller accessory based on the terrific reviews on Amazon, I also added the sausage stuffer to my order (could this be used to fill eclairs? I wonder....) as an addition to my collection of accessories.
  
  Currently the attachment I use most frequently is the shredder which I use exclusively for shredding cheese for pizza and casseroles like lasagna.
  
  And, the Licorice is a matt, slightly pearlized finish, which nicely complements the black trim on my larger appliances. An unexpected bonus of this dark color is that it really shows the "dirt/flour/batter enabling me to get it "spanking" clean after use. With my middle-aged eyesight I find it hard to see the accumulating mess on my white machine.
  
  

• For the price, this is DA BOMB

  
  By AI54XO5Z755FH on 2005-05-28
  We went with the white/"meringue" mixer (would have preferred light green "jadite", but such is not available). Works great! Now granted, as with any piece of machinery--including your car--you must learn the in's and out's. Before purchasing, I printed out all the reviews you see here and the product description, and studied all this information. Then after purchasing, I read the product manual. You owe it to yourself to do the same -- after all, you're plunking down several hundred dollars. The main thing to carry away from the reviews here is to go easy with the high gluten flour.
  
  This is a reliable machine. It gets a workout in my household on almost a daily basis. No complaints! The things I like about this, and the KA brand in general, is the elegant design, which inspires confidence (being heavy and metal, rather than el cheapo plastic) and accentuates rather than detracts from kitchen decor. I am not sure when so many major manufacturers decided that American consumers preferred cheap and ugly and unreliable, a la Wal-Mart, but they are wrong, and KA is right.
  
  Do not try to scrimp and go with a lower powered model, such as the 525 watt. I think you will regret it. I have read little hints in the reviews of that model, to the effect that the machine labors under heavier loads; not good. I also don't recommend getting refurbs or used, based on discontented reviews I have read on them. Just drop the three sixty-nine (current price), minus the twenty-five dollar discount. It's worth it, if you are cooking for more than one person. I like to imagine buying something once, using it for a lifetime, and then bequeathing it in my will. I do not expect things I buy to ever break, or if they do, they should be repairable, rather than disposable.
  
  I considered this and the 1000 watt, 7 quart Viking, which was considerably more expensive, and went with this because it's so much cheaper and has rather good reviews. Viking seems to be an over-priced brand in general which tries to appeal to price snobs rather than offering real value. I also did not like the fact that you do not see many Viking products in stores; which leads one to think about what happens if the Viking needs repair or replacement parts; hmmmm... Also, the Viking just does not offer neat attachments such as an ice cream maker.
  
  Yeah, I suggest also purchasing the ice cream maker attachment for another fifty bucks or so. We have had a lot of fun crafting unusual flavors like green tea and ginger.
  
  

• Product Info regarding gear housing upgrade from KitchenAid

  
  By A2WVF9ZQ068DN0 on 2006-10-07
  Due to the very high number of complaints about the problems people were having with heavy duty tasks (which is what the mixer should have been made for!) due to cheap plastic housing holding the heavy duty metal gears, I contact KitchenAid to find out if this design flaw has been fixed. It has been and here is their response (note that they are saying that if you receive one of the models with the plastic housing they will replace it under warranty with the new metal housing. It is also important to note that the people who've had the problem have almost all stated that KitchenAid had great customer service and replaced their mixers with no ones with no problems.
  
  RESPONSE FROM KITCHENAID: Thank you for visiting the KitchenAid website!
  
  I would like to reassure you that our engineering and product teams have addressed the gear box issue. In fact, we have already implemented a change in the manufacturing of the Pro 600 Stand Mixers to a metal gear box. Although these will be changed out on additional 5 qt bowl-lift models that include all metal gearing, the time line on that is not known at this time. Although a transparent change, this will insure the long-term durability we expect.
  
  I would like to emphasize to you that should you purchase a Stand Mixer (with all metal gearing) which has not been assembled with the upgraded metal gear box, and you should have a problem with your mixer (as a result of the plastic gear box (failure), we will most certainly extend your warranty to resolve the issue properly and effectively.
  
  If you have additional questions, feel free to reply back to me. Or, you may contact either our KitchenAid Customer Satisfaction Center at 1-800-541-6390, or you may visit our secure KitchenAid Live Chat.
  
  

• KitchenAid Pro 600

  
  By A1ZYTUV20VIZHX on 2007-01-23
  Amazon.com is such a treasure. I have learn so much here.
  
  Sunday I bought the Pro 600 mixer from a store then read a lot of questions and comments here and elsewhere on the web about problems with the plastic housing of the metal gearbox inside the machine. (I should have come to Amazon first! I will next time.) Under heavy use this plastic gear cover is prone to cracking and then the gears are no longer held together.
  
  I also read where KitchenAid is in the process of changing back to a metal housing for the gears. So I wrote a question for the chat rooms on the KitchenAid site with my model and serial number because I would like to know if the new machine I bought has this plastic box around the gears or maybe I am lucky enough to have the new metal box.
  
  The posting wasn't offensive or nasty. I have no reason to be. I'm not out any money. The machine is new packed in its original, unopened box.
  
  The KitchenAid site refused my question. I received an email saying it was rejected because my question about my machine and the plastic housing is a "non-issue " because they stand behind their products.
  
  (There is a one-year guarantee on the machine. That is good. But after the 1-year is past if this plastic gear cover cracks and fails this "non-issue" has just turned into a pricey little problem for the owner. All that is available to fix it in my area is another plastic housing, I checked.)
  
  The note also said they are still in the process of changing the plastic gearboxes back to metal. I then called a KitchenAid repair place to ask them about the plastic gearbox cover and the man there knew all about it. He has replaced many of them but all he had in stock to use for repairs is the same plastic housing. He did not know of any replacement metal housings for repairs. He did tell me older models have the metal housing on the gears.
  
  Those of you who would be heavy users of this machine take note. As for me I know how I can make it a true "non-issue." Back to the store we go and I will wait and check back with Amazon.com later in the year to see what others are saying. I still want a Pro 600 but I would feel much better with the metal housing on the gearbox. Sooner of later plastic is going to dry out and break.
  
  This was not a throw away purchase to me. It was a life goal, a legacy purchase that you would hand down in the family. I am not wealthy enough to stand the damage of having to toss it out after a couple of years.
  I hope the folks at Whirlpool/KitchenAid are listening. Fix this problem now. Stop phasing it in. Every day that you dawdle with this problem you are slowly killing your brand.
  
  
  
• A comparison to the Artisan Mixer
  By A3D5B2CBFNJB0K on 2006-10-30
  I already own a 5 Qt mixer from the "Artisan Series" but decided to upgrade to this model so that I could make larger batches of bread dough. For my recipe, a single batch is 2 cups of bread flour. I tried making a double batch (4 cups) in my new Pro 600, but after about 15 min. of kneading, the motor just turned off. I thought I had burned it out, but after consulting the instruction manual, it seems this is normal. Normal?! Yes, that's what it said--all I needed to do was wait for the motor to cool off (it's also "normal" for it to get so hot it is uncomfortable to touch) for 30 min. and then try again. I find it hard to believe that this mixer could make bread with 14 cups of AP flour, as the box says. Having said that, here are my thoughts on this mixer vs. the "Artisan Series" mixer I already own:
  
  
  1. The motor consumes over 50% more electricity (and is certainly more noisy) in the pro 600, but how much of that is being converted to extra torque, I'm not really sure. What I do know is that I can only do a single batch of bread at a time in either mixer.
  2. As has been mentioned in other reviews, the Artisan mixer came with a "coated" paddle and dough hook, whereas the pro 600 has "Brandished steel". This means the Artisan's implements are dishwasher safe but the pro 600's are not. I had assumed those bright, shiny implements that I saw in the store display were stainless steel, but I guess not. If it weren't for this problem and the huge price tag, I would have given this mixer 5 stars.
  
  On the plus side...
  
  3. I love the new spiral dough hook--it is much better than the C shaped one in my Artisan
  4. The soft start feature is a nice touch. Then again, it would be even nicer if there was a speed lower than the lowest one provided.
  5. The larger bowl is nice
  6. There is more of a difference between speeds 7-10 than the Artisan
  
  Things I'd like to see changed in the next iteration:
  --A gear box. I have a cordless drill that has a high and low gear. As could be expected, low is for more power, high is for more speed. Why don't these mixers use a simple gear selector like that? This would be a HUGE improvement--it would not only provide more power, but the lower speed I would like, as mentioned in point 4.
  --Stainless steel implements as mentioned in point #2
  
  CONCLUSION:
  A very nice mixer, but so is my "Artisan". If you are going to buy a new mixer (and don't have an unlimited supply of money to throw at it), I wouldn't recommend the Pro 600--get one from the Artisan series instead--it is much cheaper and does just about as good a job. There are small advantages to the Pro 600, but even all together, I don't think they are worth the added price.
  
  
• If you are a bread baker, this machine is NOT for you!
  By A1DESYA3SY946R on 2006-04-24
  BEWARE! THIS IS NOT YOUR GRANDMA'S 1950 KITCHENAID MIXER (HERS IS PROBABLY STILL WORKING)! It is a badly-engineered, expensive, appliance nightmare.
  
  I had a 5-quart KitchenAid mixer for many years, but since that one was almost worn out, and I really wanted a larger capacity machine, I "upgraded" to the 6-quart model.
  
  BIG MISTAKE!!
  
  This machine does NOT have enough power for serious bakers. It literally "smoked" the motor on the first try - and I was following all the instructions to the letter (i.e., only use the dough hook on speed 2, etc.) I'm not stupid. I even used a bread recipe out of the KitchenAid cookbook!
  
  So I received a replacement from KitchenAid. (Good news if you do buy one - they will send you a replacement - but it makes you wonder why their return system works so well.. maybe because they have to replace these machines all the time??)
  
  The new mixer has not been any better - while it doesn't exactly "smoke" (yet), it overheats and locks up. And it drips BLACK OIL out of the hole where the attachments go in. Yummy! Black oil in your bread dough. I spend more time wiping and cleaning it than anything else, and what SHOULD be a relaxing pasttime (baking), instead becomes a stressful, frustrating nightmare trying to use this badly designed, underpowered machine.
  
  OK, if you are ONLY going to make fluffy cakes and pies, the KitchenAid is probably fine for you. On the other hand, if you want to make bread, brownies or other thicker-dough recipes, forget it. Go with a different brand and get at least an 800 or 1000 watt machine.
  
  Because of my terrible experience with this mixer, I will NEVER buy another KitchenAid product EVER.
  
  
  
  
• Hassle-FULL, not hassle-free
  By A3U4ZQLGRFFN7O on 2006-06-03
  I just really wanted to believe in a myth: that KitchenAid is all about sensible, durable, dependable appliances. Or that KitchenAid is serious about its "hassle-free" policy. Because "hassle-full" seems to describe my experience with the brand much more accurately.
  
  I originally purchased a 300-Watt tilt-head mixer, but after about three minutes mixing a small batch of bread dough for the very first time, its dough hook snapped broken. Customer service wasn't very good, so a few months and several complaints later, I received this larger unit as a replacement.
  
  Unfortunately, this supposedly sturdier unit hasn't held its own either. The dough hook is still in one piece, but the mixer itself (the motor) has broken down three times already, despite my best care. I never mix for more than five or six minutes at a time, and only use speed 1 to mix bread dough. Moreover, I never exceed the maximum load of approximately 14 cups; in fact, all the bread recipes I make total no more than about 8 cups of wet mixture -- less than 12 cups of ingredients, wet and dry. (My recipes come from either The Bread Baker's Apprentice, by Peter Reinhart, or Bread - A Baker's Book of Techniques and Recipes, by Jeffrey Hamelman, both well-known books with very carefully tested recipes.)
  
  The first time I took the mixer to the repair centre, it took them a month to return it to me. The second time, it was returned after 10 days, but worked for all of 40 seconds before breaking down again. And the third time I only got it back after 41 days. Mind you, those repairs were all covered by the warranty, performed at an authorized repair centre. I got a six-month warranty extension, but imagine what it'll be like when the
  warranty has expired...
  
  So, just to recapitulate, in one year I was unable to use the mixer for more than two months, time during which I had to put up with a lot of hassle in what seemed to be a futile attempt to get it properly fixed -- to say nothing of my disappointment with the fact that a KitchenAid mixer has broken down three times already with small batches of bread dough during its first year of use.
  
  
• Cracked gear housing
  By A1CR033QOIP1R7 on 2006-05-11
  I bought the high priced, high power 600 a little over a year ago. I use it less than once a week to mix relativel soft dough (6 cups of flour) I just took it back for repairs for the third time, always the same thing, the plastic gear housing splits open and all of the gears have to be replaced.
  This mixer is a bad news item.
  
  
• Kitchen Aid fails in the crunch
  By A1PW9BHRDJFGBX on 2006-02-28
  I had a Kitchen Aid mixer -- the old largest one -- for 15 years and I loved it. When my daughter started a soup and bread business she used the old mixer to knead her bread and it held up to heavy use for two years. When it finally gave up the ghost in early December I replaced it with a Professional 600, which was supposed to be able to manage 14 cups of flour at a time.
  We have now returned 5 (count 'em FIVE) of these very expensive and beautiful machines because not one of them could knead two loaves of bread. They all froze almost immediately -- we took them out of the box, loaded them up and they quit. Kitchen Aid has cheerfully exchanged machine after machine for us but the truth is that they just don't work.
  I am so disappointed -- I loved my old machine and Kitchen Aid's service is so good but they have a real engineering problem. DeLonghi here we come.
  
  
• SUPER but READ this important info BEFORE YOU BUY ONE!!
  By A1PU9GCX6AB40D on 2007-11-23
  NEWLY EDITED 11/30/07:
  IF YOU ARE ABOUT TO BUY a PRO 600 & you have done your research, you already know there is a plastic/metal parts issue, so PLEASE read my info: KA customer service KNOWS which Pro 600s have the metal transmission cover "fix" (via serial numbers), but some reps are refusing to give you the serial numbers to look for; but they might "allow" you to call them from the store with the serial number off a Pro 600 box before you buy to ensure it has the metal transmission cover. So, be insistent! Here's my story:
  The first rep I called was a supervisor "Kelly", who refused to tell me which serial numbers to look for! Nice! I spent too much time researching ,so I called back & the next rep (Rachel) gave me her extension & told me to call her from the store & she would tell me if the one I found was made after the "fix". By the time I found one I wanted - at the second store visited - KA cust serv was closed. I bought it anyway, crossed my fingers, & called the next day. "Rachel" wasn't available, but another rep told me the serial number was one of the newer mixers I wanted. (pls read all the "negative" reviews here for good info)
  IMPORTANT: This rep also gave me crucial I want to pass on as it's the info I tried to get before I bought my mixer - the serial numbers of the Pro 600 6 qt, 575 watt mixers with the metal cover "fix" (made from mid-April 2007)begin with numbers higher than "14" (my serial number is WU1503109, so it's above "14") Depending on the rep you get, only a couple are willing to confirm this info, so be prepared for frustration but just hang up and keep trying until you get a good rep.
  ALSO IMPT: There are a few 6 quart KA mixers made - I am only speaking of the store bought PRO 600 6 QT, 575 watt mixer found in stores like Bed N Bath/Linens N Things. So, read all these reviews carefully & note the dates they were written - I think there is a possibility of people writing both pro & con reviews about 6 qt mixers that might be different. However, the plastic issue is the same, just the power would be different. For example, QVC sells a 6 qt KA mixer with a smaller motor, and there's a Williams Sonoma 6 qt mixer as well.
  I wanted this powerful mixer as I have a 30 yr old KA mixer with a 250 watt motor, but it has a small bowl. My old mixer has never had a problem with a thick batter cookie I make every year at this time. I was anxious for the large bowl & to see how my new "workhorse" with its 575 watts would handle this batter because many have complained that it burns out on thick doughs/batters. UPDATE: I just made my thick cookie batter with my new 575 mixer & it did a super job!( My recipe uses 1 1/2 lbs of brown sugar, 8+ cups of flour, one pound of butter and 2 cups of Karo syrup - no other liquids or eggs so it's a tough batter for any machine) Once I began to add the flour (using the nice pouring shield) I never went above speed 2 (as suggested by KA for heavy batters/doughs) & speed 2 was all that was needed. A nice rep also suggested to rest the mixer if I needed to mix beyond 7 mins, but I never came close to that.
  SIDE NOTE: when I opened the box last nite, the electric cord was folded in half & tied into a knot; there was a very sharp/jagged piece of metal on the lifting guide; a blob of dried paint on the top of the bowl holder; & bits of white crystals in the bowl that tasted like salt. Of course I called KA & Robert, with permission from his supervisor, offered a replacement immediately which I didn't ask for & certainly wasn't expecting! He said the "presentation upon opening the box" wasn't professional & they wanted to correct that. He also told me to go ahead & use this unit until the replacement arrives! WOW! Once it arrives, KA will send UPS to pick up the one I bought. Another WOW! I then told Robert about my Serial Number fiasco & he said that he would have provided the S/N info before I shopped! He also said that he stood by his fellow reps, but he agreed that someone like me, who had done hours of research, should have been given the requested info from the first call & certainly not have been forced to call from a store! In my case, I wanted a mixer made after the mid-April date which is the date KA began putting metal transmission covers on instead of plastic.
  My WARNING: There is old stock, with the plastic cover, out there, yet KA still insists there is nothing wrong with this, so I'm giving you a big head's up..
  Until I made my batter, I rated this mixer a 2 for the lousy customer service/runaround I got from 2 of 5 reps. Now that I've made my batter, I am vamping it up to 5 stars BUT KA needs to get more reps like Robert and the other guy who helped me. (If not for them, KA would NOT have this sale) So, while I wasn't treated right at the beginning, I am happy now & have edited my review accordingly. KA has quality issues re cust serv, especially supervisor "Kelly". (Try to avoid her as she thinks she works for the CIA.) I hope I have saved at least ONE person from all the frustration I suffered through to get what I wanted. In the long run, I think you'll be happy & customer service is great IF you get a good rep!
  
  
• KitchenAid 600 Series Mixer
  By AMTWIP68USBGC on 2005-12-06
  I would rate this appliance at a 3.5 out of 5 stars if you had that option.
  
  NOISY!! Use ear protection. Otherwise the appliance works great.
  
  I upgraded my 20+ year old Kitchen Aid 3.5 Qt. stand mixer, which still works, to this 6 Qt. model. I gave it a thorough testing, with my family's favorite cookie recipe which inludes 13 cups of dry ingredients - oatmeal, chocolate chips and such. This recipe has a very stiff heavy dough. It is wooden spoon breaker dough.
  
  When my old mixer tries to mix this recipe, the dough spills over a bit from the top of the 3.5 qt bowl, and the chips stay mostly on the outside, between the dough and the bowl.
  
  So I knew this was the perfect test recipe.
  
  The 6-Quart bowl has lots mixing space. The dough came close to the top of the bowl during mixing, but did not spill over. I used the lowest speed to mix in the chocolate chips. The new mixer handled them gently and mixed them thoroughly. Every cookie had chips in them, down to the last bit of dough left in the mixing bowl.
  
  The noise of the mixer is loud. It is the loudest appliance I have ever owned. If you are running it for a long period of time, for example, a stiff cookie dough, or the flour mill, you will most likely need ear protection. I do not have a decible meter in my kitchen, but I suspect this appliance exceeds the level recommended for home use. I did call KitchenAid customer Support regarding the noise, and was told yes, it is noisy, they know that, that it has been reported as sounding like an airplane's jet engine on a runway about to take off. (I might add that airplane's jet engine noise sounds like it's coming directly from the tarmac, and you are standing beside the engine during engine testing.) I was told the metal gears and the cooling fan are the reasons the Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stand Mixer is so noisy. My old mixer is running on nylon, it seems.
  
  Well. Perhaps the KitchenAid Engineers need to research out some noise dampening material products like the ones they use in their dishwashers.
  
  
• Makes delicious bread!
  By A1Q7ZUHPBPW58N on 2006-02-23
  This is an outstanding mixer. I don't think it's terribly loud, as I have seen in other reviews. The design may have changed or it could just be that I mill my own flour in an impact mill, and the mixer seems very quiet compared to the mill! I also have 4 children, so I'm fairly desensitized to noise.
  
  I got the mixer primarily for making bread. It is rated for 14 cups of all-purpose flour, but the manual says to only use 8 cups of whole-grain flour (2 loaves). I make 2 loaves of whole-grain bread at least once a week, usually twice. The spiral dough hook does an excellent job of kneading, and the mixer has plenty of power to handle the whole-grain dough. Just 8 minutes of kneading develpes the gluten so well, that I only have to raise the dough for 30 minutes in the bread pans and then bake it, and we end up with delicious, light, fluffy bread. I can make bread in less than an hour and a half, including the time for kneading, rising and baking. (We live over 7500 feet in altitude, and I have seen recipes that call for up to 3 rises of yeast bread at high altitude, but that is absolutely not necessary.) I used to use a bread machine, and produced many "bread bricks" with it. Since I got the KitchenAid, the bread machine has been retired.
  
  We have mostly just made bread, but also have used it for cake, gingerbread, and whipped cream. It had no problem with any of those, as I expected. There is one major design flaw, in my children's opinions, and we discovered it when 2 of them were helping me make a birthday cake. They were very distressed when they realized there was only one beater to lick! That is our only complaint so far.
  
  We also purchased the meat grinder and used it to grind at least 30 pounds of beef, elk, and turkey into burger. The mixer had plenty of power to be up to the task.
  
  I am very pleased with the performance of this mixer and don't think anyone would regret purchasing it.
  
  
• It doesn't beat the old Hobart made KA mixers...
  By A23DXZPTE4GU8R on 2005-08-30
  but it seems to do a decent job. I had to send two back after they froze on me, but number three has been working for several months without a hitch. Customer support was terrific in replacing the defective products.
  
  Keep a close eye on "flour power" in the rating. Just because it states it will handle up to 14 cups of flour doesn't mean it is for every type of recipe, especially breads. Go to their website, read the manual, and research the product. Also, check out their "Conversations" forum where owners post. Granted, most are happy owners, but some have legitimate complaints.
  
  The slow start is a nice feature, as it keeps your flour from becoming dust in the room, and the spiral dough hook is much nicer than the "C" hook with the other models. If you have hard water, you may notice a discoloration of the stainless attachments, no matter how careful you are. The bowl, however, seems to hold it's shine. Handwashing the parts is a must, as dishwasher detergent is too harsh for them.
  
  The bowl-lift design takes a little getting used to if you're used to the tilt-head. Sometimes it may even seem to get in the way.
  
  All in all, it's a good mixer, but the older style KitchenAid mixers made by Hobart were superior. Should this one go after the warranty is up, I may consider another brand. But then, it seems the brands have their glitches, too.
  
  
• Be careful not to overload this mixer!
  By A3MJISYNXNYEQD on 2005-11-17
  I've had my mixer for nearly a year. Today I tried to mix 9 cups of all-purpose flour (at setting 2, of course)for steamed buns. Oops! The mixer overheated and shut off, but at least it did not die. I came back to Amazon in search of a receipt in case I needed to make good on the one year warranty. I see that I'm not the only one who has overestimated the power of this machine. I'm glad I discovered its limitations prior to the warranty running out. I'll be alot more careful now.
  
  I am glad that I purchased this mixer rather than the cheaper 5 quart mixer, which has far less power - 325 watts v. 575 watts.
  
  I think it ought to be clearer in the instruction manual that it is not possible to mix large amount of bread dough with this mixer. Novices like myself don't know better. I will take the other reviewer's advice and go to read the forums on the Kitchenaid website.
  
  
• Tasty Treats - Mix them UP!
  By ANF5BP1SD3Z3O on 2006-10-03
  I have had this model for about 4-5 years. Before I purchased this I had a 5-quart KitchenAid Artesian mixer that I got for a wedding present in 1992.
  
  I have always baked a lot. Especially from fall through spring and the Artesian was great. However, the five-quart model just got to be too small, especially when I had kids. Since I had kids I bake more and found myself doing two to three batches back to back with the Artesian.
  
  Now with this model I can double batches of pumpkin bread, cakes or cookies with no problem and be done in less time with less fuss. I thought I would miss the tilting head but I don't.
  
  The only thing I did not like about this model were the aluminum blade and dough hook. So I ordered the coated ones for this machine. I always soak my blades and wash them by hand; it would be nice if they made stainless steel versions of these but enough consumers have to make noise to get them to do something.
  
  I gave my old Artesian 5-quart to my niece who is single with no kids. She also bakes a lot but in smaller batches than I do and the Artesian is still going strong. It works great and looks like new and her friends are always trying to borrow her mixer. If you don't bake a lot or tend to bake in smaller batches the Artesian is great.
  
  This model is a great choice for a high volume home baker like me; great quality, durable and powered to do bigger batches.
  
  
• PLASTIC
  By A2A2YHWS3RQJ9W on 2007-06-02
  There is a plastic gear housing under the metal cover. That plastic housing garbage has broken on me twice in the last 3 months under normal wear. I would think a "professional" grade appliance might have a crucial item like that made of metal! Get a clue Kitchen Aid! Way to save a few bucks you jerks!
  
  
• beware!
  By A38VQEYO0AUJ69 on 2007-01-23
  I have had the >$300.00 professional mixer for about 3 years. It quit lifting the bowel, some kind of jamb, with only light occasional use. I e-mailed the company and they offered to ship it to their service center for the price of $35.00, with no guarantee of any fixes available. They will gladly, however, offer in the same e-mail, a RECONDITIONED mixer at a reduced price. WHAT ARE THEY THINKING! They are showing a conflict of interest in their own words! They can't loose- they either get me by charging a lot to fix mine, or send mine, if THEY DECIDE it is a total loss, to their refurbish area, fix it, and make money that way. Then, if I'm really gullible, I'll buy another at a reduced, refurbished price! They kill their own reputation! NEVER AGAIN!!!
  
  
• The happy baker
  By A3I6OTSK1SLES6 on 2005-08-02
  I,ve been baking several loaves of bread every week for over a year. I have been using a smaller capacity mixer and ended up with flour all over the counter. I got tired of the mess, and purchased this large capacity mixer.What a differance ! This mixer really holds alot of flour, and with the cover and funel for adding ingredients,you can make several loaves of bread with very little mess. Also , it has plenty of power to knead the dough.I,m very happy with this mixer and highly recommend it.
  
  
• The new design has been implemented...kind of???
  By A1HI2VGTQ4RJ48 on 2007-08-23
  I've wanted to purchase this model for a while now, but have been waiting for the plastic gearbox issue to be resolved. I don't want to purchase an expensive item which will likely break. Yes, I would like to make bread.
  
  I spoke with KA customer service this morning to inquire if this model is now being manufactured with the metal gear box, or if it's the same old "we're going to save a $1 per unit by using this plastic gear box". I received a verbal, pre-constructed, corporate answer about how it doesn't matter if the gearbox is plastic or metal because KA stands behind this product, bla bla bla. I told her it mattered to me and I couldn't feel good about doing business with KA without knowing what I'm getting.
  
  She then proceeded to tell me that she doesn't know if they will ever go to a metal gearbox, but if they do there will be no way for me to know if I was buying one with a plastic or metal gearbox because some retailers have existing stock, bla bla bla. Then, I asked her a point blank question, "Ma'am (I live in TN), is KA currently producing this item with a plastic or metal gearbox? I'm not asking about anything or anyone else. I just want to know if the current production is with a plastic or metal gearbox." She said she had no idea and we then sat silently for a moment. STILL trying to pull the answer out of her, I asked her if there was anyone there she could ask who might be able to find out the answer to my question. She said she'd ask her supervisor. I was on hold for a few minutes, then she returned to tell me that the 600 is now being manufactured with the metal gearbox. I asked her what serial numbers are now being produced and she said there is no way to tell, and there is no way for me to know if I was buying a unit with the plastic or metal gearbox.
  
  I give this model two starts because it (purportedly) is now being manufactured with the metal gearbox. I knock off three starts because KA gave me the runaround when I asked a straightforward question. Additionally, KA is not interested in helping me purchase one with the metal gearbox. Basically, I really can't be sure what I'm getting for almost $400. Sure, I could buy it and return it, etc...but why should I have to waste all that time and energy?
  
  If anyone has a 600 with a metal gearbox I'd love to hear from them, know where they purchased it, when they purchased it, serial number, etc.
  
  
• Don't put the beater in the dishwasher
  By A2XPDTOX5FQ1F6 on 2006-08-29
  Wow. The beater and dough hook are "burnished aluminum" and you CAN'T PUT EITHER ONE IN THE DISHWASHER! I have read that you can get coated ones, but people then complain that the coating comes off in the food.
  
  What kind of a deal is that? My old Sunbeam came with stainless steel beaters and dough hooks and they go thru the dishwasher just fine.
  
  Why is this thing the most expesnive thing on the market and they skimp on the beater & dough hook???? Makes me wonder what ell ELSE they have skimped on that you can't see.... the profit margins must be HUGE.
  
  
• It Rocks
  By A33IOKH5T7FMF4 on 2005-08-11
  With 575 watts of power what's not to like about it? It's a well made power house. It's big and heavy compared to the not so powerful tilt head kitchenaids. If you plan on making bread dough with your mixer don't get a tilt head one because they wobble too much. The new dough hook is awsome. Love it.
  
  
• FANTISTIC MIXER
  By A2YUIOJSPRAEY0 on 2007-03-23
  First, let me say Amazon is super-swift in processing orders. I ordered on Sunday (19th) & received in excellent condition (UPS, of course) late morning on Thursday (22nd). Not expecting to receive until Saturday at the earliest. It didn't prove to be a problem on this shipment but there was a sticker on the outside of the box stating that the packing slip was inside the box. There was no packing slip anywhere.
  
  I would like to address the negative reviews on this mixer:
  
  1. Beaters clanging side and/or bottom of bowl: I tested with water in the bowl & the beater did touch the bottom in one place - MY ERROR. Bowl was not seated properly on the back side of the bowl. Before realizing it, I moved the set screw & could not tell any difference. It took me about one minute to figure out it was operator error. I readjusted the set screw back to the manufacturer setting as there was obviously no need to change it in the first place.
  
  2. Space, Height, Weight and Tilt Head versus Fixed Head: Being a fixed head actually takes up less space than a tilt head because you're not forced to move it toward the front of the counter in order to use it. Having to move the mixer to tilt the head would mean you would be using even more valuable counter space. My husband is a builder (built our house) & he installs cabinets/countertops to a normal standard. We have at least 2-3" between the top of the mixer & cabinet allowing for heat to escape & to cover the unit without moving it. This mixer only weighs maybe 2 lbs. more than the lesser wattage models. The only time you would need to move it is to give your counter a more thorough cleaning. Yes, it will take some getting used to inserting & taking the bowl out but I think I can manage. This unit is so convenient I may never use a hand mixer again. Ridding myself of the hand mixer would certainly free up an already busy cabinet.
  
  3. Inability to dishwash beaters: Not a problem for me as I only cook for my husband & myself. I clean as I go so the kitchen won't look like an impossible task once I've finished eating. My mother cooks without cleaning during prep & it looks like Hurricane Katrina has taken up permanent residence before she begins cleanup. Since I don't normally use my dishwasher just cooking for 2, I might find it more problematic if I cooked for 4 or more.
  
  4. Mixing 14 cups of flour: I know KitchenAid touts that on the label & in the product description but to me, I don't want to push an appliance to unreal limits. I have to wonder what people are preparing even using 10 cups of flour! Wouldn't it be simpler for them to just spring for a bread machine?
  
  5. 6-Quart Mixer too big for small batches? Why would it make a difference when the beater moves through every part of the bowl? I certainly don't understand why that comment was made.
  
  That pretty much sets the record straight on the negativity in the reviews I read.
  
  I chose the Nickel Pearl color because it's neutral & will go with any decor. Fingerprints don't show on this color since it is not a shiney finish. "Flour puffs" probably won't show should I overlook one. (By the way, I used a box brownie mix to test it as I was pressed for time & there were no "dust plumes." Although I didn't need it I inserted the pour spout cover just to examine clearance for adding ingredients. The slow start eliminates flying flour). I'm not a flashy gal so red, blue or black were never considered. Why bother with color when I plan to keep it covered anyway.
  
  My recommendations are:
  
  If you cook, buy good equipment. Looking back, I could kick myself for making me so miserable in the kitchen with cheap stuff. You'll enjoy cooking with the right equipment. And your cooking ventures will prove it to you.
  
  Go for the wattage whether you think you need it or not. Cooking habits & desires change with time & circumstances. With this model, you get metal beaters whereas on the lesser models, the flat & dough beaters are plastic.
  
  Make sure the mixer has metal gears, not nylon or chances are really good you'll be shopping again soon for another mixer because the nylon gears are stripped. If it's not stated that it has metal gears, it probably has nylon.
  
  I did notice on my KitchenAid mixer bowl that the bottom of the stainless bowl where it's concave is finished differetly from the rest of the bowl & left a black substance on my counter top. It wiped up easily but now I know to use a silicone mat or marble hot plate to protect possible damage to my counter.
  
  If there's something to dislike about this mixer, it's that there's not as much batter left on the beater for me to lick clean as there was on the beaters of my old glorified Sunbeam mixer diguised as a stand mixer.
  
  
  
  
  
  
• It's amazing!!!!!!!
  By A2EZF5CII9AH5A on 2005-02-01
  I bought this item because I do alot of baking and I love it! It's very easy to use and very heavy duty. The only thing to remember when you receive this item is that it snaps down in 3 areas the sides and you have to push it down in the back too. It was worth every cent.
  
  
• Mixer cannot handle bread dough
  By AWZO4HKR8O2FK on 2007-01-15
  I have owned 3 Kitchenaid stand mixers, starting with the Artisan. I just replaced my 600, Professional, unit because the motor burned out after less than 2 years of use. While these mixers look good, are easy to operate, and they work well for cake and cookie batter, etc., they are not built rugged enough to handle yeast bread and pizza dough. The new model 600 I purchased last month has the same problem. I went to make 2 loaves of wheat bread with 6 cups flour, using the dough hook, and setting the mixer speed to number 2 as the manual states but within 3 minutes, the mixer over-heated and shut itself off. I checked the manual and it said that the mixer has a built in fuse and that the unit would be operational again in 30 minutes. Great, but what do I do with the yeast dough that needs more kneading? Of course I had to finish the kneading the old fashioned way, by hand. I've basically had it with Kitchenaid small appliances. They are okay for the casual person in the kitchen, but I am turning my attention to the Viking Mixer which is the same price and has 900 watts of motor power as opposed to 575 that the "professional" Kitchaid 600 model offers. For this reason, I do not recommend spending so much money on a mixer that is really not built tough enough for kneading bread and for serious home bakers.
  
  
• A can't miss item, highly recommend
  By A1115ST6F5CWYP on 2006-04-09
  I am a long time user of Kitchen Aid stand mixers. My original mixer was received as a wedding present 18 years ago and it is still going strong. The original just found a new home with one of the "kids" at the office, when this beauty arrived.
  
  The metallic pewter color works wonderfully with the other stainless in the kitchen.
  
  This machine performs magnificently. I regularly make whole-wheat pizza dough (with added bran, germ and vital wheat gluten) enough for 3 pizzas in this machine at one time. The machine doesn't whine or skip a beat during the long kneading process. I have also prepared enough dough for 3 whole-wheat baguettes at one time without a problem.
  
  Additionally, the customer service at Kitchen Aid is very helpful. When my machine originally arrived they had sent the wrong color. When they were contacted they told us to repackage the machine and send it back their expense (they e-mailed a shipping label and scheduled pick up) and we received our replacement less than a week later. Fast, friendly and courteous customer service was able to make a mistake a non-event.
  
  If you are looking for a workhorse machine this is the one for you. I am only sorry that it took me so long to retire my original machine. This machine is used three or four times a week in my home. I cannot imagine living a whole grain lifestyle without this little beauty. If you are a serious home cook, you will get a lot of use out of this machine.
  
  UPDATE: July 7, 2006
  
  The machine has now been in my kitchen for a full year. Even though I give it a workout every day or so with whole grain bread it is still going strong. I wanted to add this comment after I saw that other reviewers had indicated that they had problems with their machines.
  
  
  
• Quality control issues?
  By A2UQHEGKVYOO4 on 2007-08-16
  Good news: it is a great mixer while it lasts, and the customer service is fantastic.
  
  Bad news: I'm waiting for my third replacement in 18 months. That's why I know the service is fantastic.
  
  The original one failed after about 10 months when one of the little pins that the bowl hooks over popped out. Amazingly, they don't try to fix even a little thing like this. They send you a whole new mixer. Had it happened a few months later I would have had an expensive paperweight.
  
  The replacement failed immediately; the bowl lifter assembly was apparently not correct and the thing popped on the first lift. I could see what needed to be done to fix it but didn't have the right tools. Their 'computer wouldn't let them' ship another until the first one was back, so I was without a mixer for some time.
  
  The second replacement worked for six months and then the banging / gear failure others have described occurred. I do make bread a lot but I never went above '2' and I did insert rest periods for anything long; most of the time six or eight minutes is plenty though.
  
  I found the pasta attachment useless, too hard to separate strands. I like the grinder.
  
  
• Kneads Heavy Dough With Ease
  By A2XN2ZN9FGJYBD on 2005-07-10
  I wanted a machine that would knead heavy dough for Sourdough bread and this machine will mix a large batch for 15 minutes on speed #2 without any sign of strain. The design of the dough hook is perfect and I don't have to scrape the sides at all.
  
  
• Not quite my mom's mixer, but close enough.
  By A3J9R8HFWRRP1V on 2006-06-05
  I grew up learning how to bake with my mother's KitchenAid tilt-head 5 qt mixer from around 1982. When I got married, my parents gave me this 6 qt model and I absolutely adore it. I tend to make heavy breads at least 2 or three times a week in this mixer without any signs of problems. The only complaint I have is that the attachments are not dishwasher safe. Take it from me, it was not a pretty sight when I realized my husband had put the dough hook through the dishwasher! (Although I guess I should be thankful he loads the dishwasher at all. hehe)
  
  Overall, I feel the quality of the machine is not as high as my mother's old machine. The knobs feel a little more flimsy, and some of the attachments (like the flour shield) are definately not as sturdy-feeling. And if we're going to shell out hundreds of dollars for this thing, I really think KitchenAid could go the extra mile and make the attchments dishwasher safe. On the other hand, I definately feel that the KitchenAid is the highest quality home-use mixer on the market today. I've taken other brands for a "test drive" at various stores and friends' homes, and you could definately feel the difference between the KA and others.
  
  Plus, it's rather comforting to see that familiar white hunk of metal sitting on the countertop. It almost makes me feel like a kid again, waiting at the kitchen table for my mom to finish the brownies so I could lick the bowl. :)
  
  
• Check out other mixers..
  By AM2DM87SC3K50 on 2007-09-01
  My first experience with this mixer was in a video on bread baking. The instructor advised that to prepare the dough we should run this mixer for five minutes then turn it off to give the mixer a rest so the motor won't burn out. What?! Huh? Why on earth in this day and age should the motor of a $4-500 machine burn out with over five minutes of dough mixing?
  
  I looked around and decided (based on many experienced bread baker's reviews) that there are several better ways to go. These would be Electrolux Assistent, Bosch, and even Viking. Stripped plastic gears, burned out motors? No thanks, seems like the Kitchenaid is more about marketing than anything else.
  
  

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