The Cooks' Den » KitchenAid http://www.thecooksden.com Cooking Tools - Gear for Cooks and Chefs Thu, 27 Oct 2011 04:49:11 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 KitchenAid 2 Slice Metal Toaster | KMTT200SS | Brushed Stainless Steel Appliances http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-2-slice-metal-toaster-kmtt200ss-brushed-stainless-steel-appliances/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-2-slice-metal-toaster-kmtt200ss-brushed-stainless-steel-appliances/#comments Sat, 02 Jan 2010 23:25:23 +0000 Dan http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8772 KMTT200SS kitchenaid toasterUntil someone comes up with a radical new technology for toasting bread, we will be choosing our favorite device from small slotted boxes with spring plungers, little changed in a lifetime. All the while cursing the heavens for burnt or underdone toast. Into the fray comes this model from Kitchenaid that doesn't shake the paradigm but promises to do the job required effectively and stylishly.

This two-slice toaster is housed entirely in brushed stainless steel with an effectively insulated case that keeps the outer housing cool to the touch while in use. The company markets their products as more high-end, and the style is evident here in the brushed finish and substantial feel of the components. While there are no visible electronic controls or displays, the unit is governed by a sophisticated electronic sensor for the "Even-Heat" toasting system meant to better control the browning of bread. A dial control sets the darkness desired, and there is a bagel setting for toasting only the cut side while you find where the cream cheese is hiding.

A reheat button completes the controls on this model. There is no cancel button -- rather, the lever is used like toasters of yore. Just push up a bit on the lever while toasting to cancel and raise the toast. Extra-wide slots should accommodate the chunkiest of breads while a removable crumb tray catches all the mess. The tray is dishwasher safe, and the toaster comes with a 1-year replacement warranty.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-2-slice-metal-toaster-kmtt200ss-brushed-stainless-steel-appliances/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Ultra Power | 5 Speed Hand Mixer | Electric White Beater http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-5-speed-hand-mixer-electric-white-beater/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-5-speed-hand-mixer-electric-white-beater/#comments Mon, 14 Dec 2009 23:06:44 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8766 KitchenAid Ultra Power KitchenAid's Ultra Power 5 Speed Hand Mixer doesn't have the power the name implies and will require a light touch. More advanced versions of the Ultra Power mixers offer a wider range of speeds and options for higher torque. With this five speed hand mixer, you'll have to compensate by being careful.

Construction of the plastic parts is also less than expected. Be careful not to be heavy handed with the controls. Even the wire bladed whisks are a bit understated.

To some degree, you can compensate by becoming more skilled, but mixing is often a heavy duty task whether it's cookie dough at low speeds or egg whites on high. Sometimes you can't baby the machine.

KitchenAid's one year limited warranty does cover most issues. Lighter duty mixers may vary considerably in performance even within the same production lot, and you may indeed get one of the best and love it. The mixers which work properly work well, so be critical and deal with any problems immediately.

Rather than gamble, you could consider stepping up to a model with more options and a heavier build. KitchenAid's 9 Speed Professional Hand Mixer has the same good looks and a better reputation.

Also take a look at the Ultra Power Plus mixer.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-5-speed-hand-mixer-electric-white-beater/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl | Stand Mixer Attachment K45SBWH http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stainless-steel-mixing-bowl-stand-mixer-attachment-k45sbwh/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stainless-steel-mixing-bowl-stand-mixer-attachment-k45sbwh/#comments Sat, 28 Nov 2009 22:49:01 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8613 KitchenAid Stainless Steel Mixing Bowl If you have a KitchenAid stand mixer, one or two of these spare bowls are the best accessory you can buy. How often are we ever mixing a recipe that requires only one bowl? For a cake with icing, separate premix of wet and dry ingredients, double batches, breads or cookies where the recipe is split and different flavorings added... you need an extra bowl to get the job done. Why not choose one which will fit your mixer?

Improvements on the bowl design include a flat bottom to help it sit more solidly on the counter and a well-sized handle for those times when a heavy bowl or wet, slippery hands make maneuvering difficult. If something needs a quick chill, I can pop it right into the refrigerator or freezer. Let your bread rise right in the original bowl and keep yourself from overhandling the dough.

I've tried using a single mixing bowl, only to find each time that the items I need to mix are the ones in the regular bowl. By the time I transfer them, I have made a larger mess, dirtied another bowl, and left ingredients behind each step of the way. With one of these bowls, it works both with the mixer and independently. You won't have to stop midway through and wash your mixing bowl.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stainless-steel-mixing-bowl-stand-mixer-attachment-k45sbwh/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials Cookware Set | Nonstick Anodized Aluminum 10 Piece http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-gourmet-essentials-cookware-set-nonstick-anodized-aluminum-10-piece/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-gourmet-essentials-cookware-set-nonstick-anodized-aluminum-10-piece/#comments Fri, 16 Oct 2009 23:51:04 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8282 KitchenAid Gourmet Essentials CookwareKitchenAid's Gourmet Essentials ten piece Cookware Set is constructed from hard anodized cast aluminum that's both light and strong. Three saucepans in one, two, and three quart sizes, plus two saute pans and a stock pot, are enough to start out a small kitchen.

Aluminum cookware like this looks tougher than it is, so be aware of weak points like skillet handles where you'll have a lot of stress on handle rivets if there's a lot in the pan. Short handles on saucepans and the big stockpot aren't so much at risk. Another vulnerable point is the nonstick coating on the interior -- use wooden or plastic utensils to stir food, not metal. The lids that accompany this set are tempered glass, break resistant and heavy. The see-through quality is a handy bonus, especially for the saute pans.

All the handles are fitted with silicone exteriors that provide a comfortable and safe grip. The silicone is oven safe to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, so in a pinch you can use these pans for baking or roasting.

The nonstick interior is not dishwasher safe, so be prepared for hand washing. The pots and pans generally clean up well, though, and the extra effort you spend in cleaning them extends the lifetime of the cookware. KitchenAid provides a one-year hassle free replacement warranty on every item in the set.

Compare this with the Circulon Classic cookware set.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-gourmet-essentials-cookware-set-nonstick-anodized-aluminum-10-piece/feed/ 0 Kitchenaid Stand Mixer | Food Grinder Attachment FGA http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stand-mixer-food-grinder-attachment-fga/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stand-mixer-food-grinder-attachment-fga/#comments Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:46:01 +0000 Lora http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=8190 Kitchenaid Stand Mixer A Kitchenaid Stand Mixer does it all. You can use it to make pasta, fettucine noodles, spaghetti. You can even use it to make raviolis. Yum.

You can use your Kitchenaid Stand Mixer as a food processor, to knead bread, to open cans, to mix cake batter.

The possibilities are seemingly limitless. The Kitchenaid Stand Mixer is the wonder machine of the kitchen -- if, and this is a big if, you have all the right parts.

By right parts, I mean the appropriate attachment for the product. The ravioli maker, the can opener, the pasta sheet roller, etc...

The Food Grinder attachment -- one of the many attachments -- fits all Kitchenaid Stand Mixers. (All Kitchenaid attachments will fit all Kitchenaid Stand Mixers). The Food Grinder attachment includes coarse and fine plates for grinding meats, firm fruits, and vegetables. It also comes with a stomper to help push those last bits of food through the plates.

There's a myriad of possible uses for this attachment. Just looking at meat, for example, there's many ways you could go: ground turkey, meatloaf, home-made sausage, salmon burgers. Or you could go the veggie route and try using it to make hummus.

Having the attachment opens up a new world of possibilities.

Now, if Kitchenaid could come up with an attachment that would wash the dishes for me, I'd be set.

If you don't have the stand mixer, try a separate meat grinder like this one from Panasonic.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-stand-mixer-food-grinder-attachment-fga/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Mixing Bowl w/ Handle | Stainless Steel Mixer KN2B6PEH http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-mixing-bowl-w-handle-stainless-steel-mixer-kn2b6peh/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-mixing-bowl-w-handle-stainless-steel-mixer-kn2b6peh/#comments Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:37:19 +0000 Dan http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=7811 KitchenAid Mixing Bowl w/ Handle If you are fortunate enough to own a Kitchenaid mixer, you already know how incredibly useful it is in the kitchen. And the one thing that will increase its usefulness more than anything else is an extra bowl.

There are many recipes that call for mixing ingredients separately before blending, and having to transfer them to and from the lone mixing bowl is not only inconvenient, it can prove disastrous to delicate recipes. Egg whites in particular don't like being moved about too much, the point of mixing being to inject air into the food. Every time you spoon or pour fragile mixtures like that, you lose the volume you just mixed in. The other reason you may want an extra bowl on hand would be for a backup; just think if you had a big baking weekend ahead and your mixing bowl proved defective at the last minute and snapped its anchor rings? Sure, you could contact the company and have the bowl replaced, but that wouldn't happen in time for your baking deadline.

This stainless steel bowl is built to the heavy duty specifications of all the original Kitchenaid components. It has a solid handle riveted onto the side and the mounting holes to fix it into the fittings on the mixer. It is in fact heavier than the standard bowl that comes with the stand mixer; those that use the commercial version will recognize this as the bowl that accompanies their model.

Here's a similar KitchenAid stand mixer bowl without the mounting holes.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-mixing-bowl-w-handle-stainless-steel-mixer-kn2b6peh/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Porcelain Tea Kettle | Gourmet Essentials 2 Quart Green http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-porcelain-tea-kettle-gourmet-essentials-2-quart-green/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-porcelain-tea-kettle-gourmet-essentials-2-quart-green/#comments Sat, 12 Sep 2009 19:11:57 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=7631 KitchenAid Porcelain Tea Kettle Call me old fashioned, but I like to return to the simple things, including in the kitchen. I associate the whistle of the tea kettle with my great grandmother. I enjoy taking the time to complete the ritual of preparing my cup of coffee or tea, laying out the spoon and cup,
choosing my tea bag or coffee flavor. I like to measure the sugar as I hear the water begin to hiss and bubble. I like the delayed ratification that comes with having to wait, having the opportunity to listen for the whistle, knowing that when the hot water meets the coffee, mixes with my cooled cream, it will be the perfect temperature and completely satisfying.

The KitchenAid kettles come in several colors. The most striking one is in shining stainless with delicate pink highlights. The body of the kettle is curved, and the design offers less places for cooking splatter to accumulate on the enamel, a definite issue with my old stainless kettle. The cool grip rubber handle is also gently rounded. With heavy gauge aluminum construction for fast heating, a durable porcelain enamel exterior, and a removable lid for easy filling, the kettle will last you a long time. The hard base ceramic nonstick system cleans easily. And, yes, it whistles.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-porcelain-tea-kettle-gourmet-essentials-2-quart-green/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Food Processor Slicing Disc Blade Set http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-food-processor-slicing-disc-blade-set/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-food-processor-slicing-disc-blade-set/#comments Tue, 18 Aug 2009 21:54:40 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=5140 KitchenAid Food Processor Slicing DiscKitchenAid designed this set for its nine and twelve cup food processors. The five blade collection includes french fry, julienne, parmesan and ice grating, 6mm slicing, and 6 mm shredding discs. The discs are an excellent purchase to expand the use of your food processor and provide back ups for your favorite blades.

The set allows you to express maximum creativity in the kitchen. A food processor is one of the most helpful modern kitchen items. With a processor, you can create large amounts of sliced, grated or shredded food quickly and simply. With five blades, you can be sure to get the most out of your investment. There will be a tool to fit every need.

With old fashioned hand graters you risk cutting your fingers. It can be awkward to juggle both the food and the grater. Depending on the angle and pressure, you may not get the neat appearance that a processor can give. Plus, cuts like julienne aren't possible with a manual grater and involve a lot of time invested with a sharp knife. The individual pieces are uniform in size and appearance, lending your meals that added touch of professionalism. Uniformity also ensures that your food will cook at the same rate throughout.

Also see this KitchenAid Knife Block Set.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-food-processor-slicing-disc-blade-set/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Hand Mixer | Onyx Black 7 Speed KHM7T http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-plus-hand-mixer-onyx-black-7-speed-khm7t/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-plus-hand-mixer-onyx-black-7-speed-khm7t/#comments Fri, 14 Aug 2009 21:24:33 +0000 Alice http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=5130 KitchenAid Ultra Power Plus Hand Mixer Absolutely the most shocking thing I have heard about a mixer- there are no beaters to lick. Can you imagine?! The design of the beaters has been reconsidered. Now, thinly torqued blades coupled with the absence of a center post equal: less clogging, less collection of ingredients on the blades, and easier cleanup. Moms will be thrilled! Children around the world will begin to sob.

People find the mixer to be powerful and very user friendly, with the controls well positioned. The improved blade design is welcome and makes a difference. The Soft Start feature allows you to begin mixing slowly, cutting down on splatter and flour dust. The digital touchpad controls offer seven settings with two slow stir speeds, and an electronic sensor adjusts the power to produce a steady mixing speed.

This model has a 200 watt motor, protected air vents, and a convenient beater eject. It is possible to prepare double batches with this mixer.

The power cord is rounded, a feature I appreciate, as I constantly get my stickiest dough caught in the trough of other cords (and in the air vents, so protected vents get a big thumbs up). The large number of helpful features makes this one of the most highly recommended models I've come across.

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]]> http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-ultra-power-plus-hand-mixer-onyx-black-7-speed-khm7t/feed/ 0 KitchenAid Easy Lift Toaster | Stainless Steel 2 Slice w/ Bagel Setting http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-easy-lift-toaster-stainless-steel-2-slice-w-bagel-setting/ http://www.thecooksden.com/kitchenaid-easy-lift-toaster-stainless-steel-2-slice-w-bagel-setting/#comments Tue, 09 Jun 2009 22:06:24 +0000 JT Hats http://www.thecooksden.com/?p=4798 KitchenAid Easy Lift Toaster Several important design improvements built into this classic KitchenAid 2-Slice Toaster help to ensure even toasting every time. Cheaper toasters have wire heating elements that change position as they heat and cool, making the toast color control a real gamble. In this toaster, the heavy heating elements are held flat against mica sheets, and the baskets beneath the wide slots automatically center the bread. This controlled heating distance gives much more consistent results.

KitchenAid adds a number of convenient perks to the system, including a one push button selection that browns sliced bagels on one side only, and another pushbutton setting for warming already toasted items. I'm remembering countless times I could have used that--every time I got interrupted before the butter hit the toast, actually.

A dark/light control knob with settings you can feel as you turn gives you full control of the browning cycle and keeps the setting you pick. If your experiment goes awry and you need to stop the cycle just push up on the Easy Lift lever and your toast is rescued instantly.

Stainless steel construction and internal heat shields concentrate the heat where it's needed and keep the exterior of the machine cooler. KitchenAid backs this toaster with a hassle free warranty that replaces defective machines with brand new ones for a full one year after purchase.

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