The Thrifty Gadget Guy is finally getting around to a review of one of his favorite recent purchases, the Kitchenaid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Mixer. You might say this is a premium product and not a thrifty item, you’d be partially correct. While the product is a bit more expensive than it’s no name competition it is a great deal in the Kitchenaid lineup.
Let’s talk about why it’s a thrifty value. There are less expensive mixers such as the Kitchenin 5 quart but you just can’t compete with the quality of the Kitchenaid. The solid build can be felt the moment you touch the mixer. The all metal construction and weighty feel despite it’s smaller stature makes it feel like an appliance you will have for many years. The fit and finish is as you might expect, top notch. With a strong 250 watt motor and ten speeds you can mix, blend or whip most anything. Another plus is the attachment drive at the front of the mixer. This is a well known feature of Kitchenaid mixers. You can fit over ten different attachments such as the Kitchenaid Food Processor .
How about using the mixer? Well it’s a delight to use. The solid construction and easy to use speed adjustment makes for a no nonsense experience. With 10 speeds you will find the right setting for any mixing need. Now you might want a bigger mixer Like the 5 or 6 quart but those might blow the budget with $500-600 price tags as compared to $299 for the Artisan Mini and unless you make large batches of dough or other items the extra size is a waste. When you are done cleanup is quick and easy. The stainless steel bowl washes easily and is dishwasher safe and simple wet cloth wipe of the body of the mixer cleans it up. All bowl mixer attachments can be tossed right in the dishwasher as well.
If you know the Thrifty Gadget Guy you know he loves pizza and nothing is better than homemade. Naturally the first mix was of a Neapolitan style pizza dough. Typically this is a slow hand mix process that is messy. Not so in the mixer, it’s quick and clean. The beauty of this little mixer is the very granular speed control. With 10 speeds you can utilize a slow mix with the included dough hook. The slowest speed is great for a delicate dough, it won’t create too much gluten and make your crust overly chewy or heavy. This is critical for Neapolitan style pizza dough. In just a matter of minutes after combining the flour, yeast, salt and water I had a beautiful smooth ball of dough. At least a ten minute time saving over hand mixing. From there it was just a waiting game for the dough to rise. Once you have your dough rolled out and topped I would recommend using something like the Hans Grill pizza stone and pizza peel for placement and cooking. If you haven’t used a pizza stone you really must give it a try. Light, crispy and perfectly chewy pizza every time.
So why is this a thrifty gadget? Well the Kitchenaid Artisan Mini 3.5 Quart Mixer is well built from a name brand with all the quality and technology in it’s bigger mixer line. It’s not as cheap as some of the knockoffs but it should also last you a lifetime if cared for. The availability of parts, attachments and support mean the extra dollars spent on this mixer provide a lifetime of use. If you mix it up in the kitchen and want to save money and space versus a larger more expensive mixer this is the one for you.
Eat well and save some money!
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The Thrifty Gadget Guy 