I am contemplating getting a stand mixer for baking purposes, and I’ve always known KitchenAid as the default choice here. I would instead want something European-made, but I am unfamiliar with the landscape.
Do any of you have any experience with European models, such as the Ankarsum or Bosch OptiMUM (what kind of name is that??), or any other?
I have a good food processor and blender from before, so I don’t need it to be able to handle all kinds of things that stand mixers are not meant for, but if there’s some extensibility beyond just kneading that I wouldn’t otherwise be able to achieve with those devices, that would be a plus.
One relative is still using an Ankarsrum Assistent with an ugly yellowed base. The machine has been helping make bread semiregularily for the extended family since at least the 70’s. Some plastic parts have become discoloured, but the machine keeps on going.
I have a Bosch MUM, it has been going strong for 20 years for bread, cakes, cookies, minced meat, smoothies etc. My only complaint is that the meat grinder has aluminium parts, would love to wash it in the dishwasher instead of by hand.
Thanks for sharing your experience. It’s at least a good indication that they used to be well-made. I always find it difficult to tell if new products are still going to be able to last as long, and I guess it is not very easy to find that out either.
The meat grinder part is not a problem for me, so if that’s your only concern, then that sounds very good to me :)