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Breville Twin Motor Hand and Stand Mixer
by Holland1
Back at the height of my impulse spending last year, I read a review about this mixer in work, and subsequently stopped at John Lewis on the way home to buy one. I am very passionate about baking, and had dreamed about owning a free standing mixer for ages. In my mind, I was expecting to have to spend around £200 for a decent mixer, ... from a brand such as Kenwood or KitchenAid, I honestly didn't realise you could get versions like this which although are intended for domestic use, are well made and realistically priced. I paid £35 in John Lewis for this last August, but looking around online now the cheapest I can find it for is £49.96 from Asda Direct. This is still a good price to be honest.
==PRODUCT SPECIFICATION & FEATURES==
I'm not one for listing meaningless technical specifications, but below are some of the basic features and details which are the minimum you need to know about when considering a purchase of this nature:
* Twin motor for superb beating action, including 3 way beating motion
* 2 litre liquid capacity
* 1kg dry capacity
* Hygienic stainless steel bowl
* Includes 3 attachments (see below) and plastic spatula
* 10 speed settings
* Boost button
==DESIGN==
The mixer is actually quite attractive looking...if you're into that kind of thing! By that, I simply mean it doesn't look cheap or poorly built. It's quite curvy, and the body of it is predominantly white, with a stainless steel mixing bowl. The functions and mixing speeds are clearly labelled, making it easy to use without having to refer back to the instructions. There is the option to tilt the head of the mixer to allow easy insertion of the attachments, and there are two release buttons - one to release the attachments, and one to release the top of the mixer to use by hand.
==THE ATTACHMENTS AND MIXING SPEEDS==
The mixer comes with three attachments: the beaters, whisks, and dough hooks. They also throw in a plastic spatula which is very useful for scraping your cake mix off the sides of the bowl without scratching the metal inside it. The mixer can also be used as a hand-held mixer, by pressing the release button on the neck of the body to release it. This means it has dual functionality, so if you're short on space this is ideal. Technically it has ten speed settings, although this is derived from various permutations of the bowl and beater speeds, and in reality I only ever use one or two different settings, but more on that later.
Generally speaking, I use the attachments for the following:
Beaters - for most kinds of cake mixes
Whisks - for buttercream, meringue, cream cheese which needs thickening (e.g. for cheesecake or cream frosting)
Dough hooks - for all breads, focaccia, pizza bases
==GETTING STARTED==
The instruction booklet is very detailed, and tells you all about the attachments, what to use them for, and how to remove and attach them to the base unit. It also gives safety advice such as ensuring the bowl is fully attached before turning it on, starting on a low speed and so on. It even gives some recipes and ideas on what to use your mixer for, although I haven't tried any of these as I have a large stock of baking books I'm currently working my way through trying out.
However, this is where the instructions get a bit complicated, because they give different recommended speeds depending on what you're mixing. This meant that when I first started using it, I must admit, I didn't get on with it very well. I found the instructions confusing and kept having to refer back to find out what speed the bowl and mixer should be on for different types of food. In the end, I used my instinct to decided it made sense to have them both on the same speed, starting on the lowest so I didn't end up splattering food across my beloved kitchen. This has worked well for everything I've tried so far, so in general I only really use the first couple of speeds, and most often than not, I use the slowest one.
==THE GOOD BITS==
The great thing about this mixer is that the bowl rotates at the same time as the head of the mixer, so this ensures none of your cake mix is going to be left sitting unmixed at the bottom of the bowl. It makes mixing cakes absolutely effortless, as you simply add your ingredients as it's running, and it will combine them for you without you having to put any elbow grease into it. I also find my cakes come out lighter and more consistent, because sometimes when creaming by hand I get a bit impatient and don't bother waiting till it's done properly before preforming the next stage!
For some reason, I used to see it as a big effort to get my hand mixer out for things like buttercream and meringue, but with this I can just leave it running, and add the icing sugar bit by bit. This means I can let the machine do the work, and I have a free hand to add the ingredients gradually, ensuring they're evenly mixed and I don't end up with too bad a cloud of icing sugar. I also find this particularly useful when trying to add colour to buttercream and the like, because I can just drop a little in at a time and add colour gradually without having to stop and start.
The maximum dry capacity is 1kg, which is perfectly adequate for domestic use. Obviously, if I was to fulfil my dream of starting a cake business any time soon, I would have to consider upgrading as the demands of larger cakes would be too much for this mixer, but for the average sized family cakes and breads, this is a perfect size. It's also reasonably lightweight, which means I can store it underneath my worktop in a cupboard and just bring it out when I need to use it.
The lead is quite long on this mixer, although this isn't an issue for me as I tend to place it next to the socket anyway. I've never experienced any movement from the mixer in use, as the base is solid and this is a good safety feature. You do have to make sure the bowl clicks in fully before switching it on, although I'm not sure what happens if it's not, i.e. if it just doesn't work or if it makes a mess of your kitchen. And no, I'm not willing to find out for reviewing purposes! It's reasonably small (31cm high, 33.8cm wide, and 24.5cm deep) so I find storage isn't too much of an issue, and remember you can remove the top of the mixer to use as a hand mixer so it's dual purpose.
I was expecting to have to use the spatula to scrape the bottom of the bowl, to ensure the mixer combined all the ingredients without leaving any at the bottom unmixed. However, I'm pleased to say that I've not once had an issue with mixture not being mixed properly, which is surprising as I'd expect this even on the more expensive mixers.
Removing and changing attachments is really easy, you just press the release button and you can alternate between the beaters, the whisk, or the dough hooks. The attachments can be placed in either slot, apart from the dough hooks which are colour coded (one has a red dot which matches the slot) to ensure they are in the right position.
Maintenance of the mixer is easy, as the attachments can be put through the dishwasher to get every last bit of food off. For some reason I prefer to hand wash the mixing bowl, as I don't like the watermarks that can get left on stainless steel items, so I tend to wash it by hand and then dry it immediately so there are no drips down the side. I use the plastic spatula when removing cake mix from the bowl, and as a result of this there are no scratches or marks on it, nor has it been tainted by any of the colours I've used in it. The bowl (and mixer) literally looks as good as new.
==AND THE NOT SO GOOD?==
Ok so I'm not going to be too harsh considering this mixer is such an excellent value for money product, but the only other thing I would like to have seen included is a paddle attachment. This is the one you see celebrity chefs using on their mixers, admittedly top of the range Kenwoods and Kitchen Aids, and is useful for all sorts of things including cakes and biscuits. Although I use the beaters for cakes, I was reading a biscuit recipe the other day and it said if you're using a mixer, to use the paddle attachment, not the beater or whisk. However, for the price I paid I really can't grumble too much, as it's such a fantastic little product.
The mixer is noisy enough to send my cat running when I turn it on, but no noisier than any other hand mixers or blenders I've used in the past. Considering the job they're doing I expect some noise from a product like this, it just means I can't bake in the middle of the night which is probably a good thing.
Functionality wise, this mixer is pretty much perfect in my opinion. The only issue I have occasionally is I find it quite hard to get the bowl to click into place as there's nothing to grab hold of as you're trying to turn it and press down at the same time. I always get there in the end, but anyone with arthritis or mobility issues may take a few attempts at getting it to click into place.
==SUMMARY==
As you can probably tell, I love this little gadget, and would highly recommend it. I paid £35 for it, so it's worth shopping round, but even for the current price of just under £50, it is still excellent value. It's lightweight and easy to use, although I would advise not paying too much attention to the different combinations of speed settings in the instructions. If you start it on the slowest setting (to avoid getting food flying everywhere), and then increase it gradually, you can use your own judgement instead of referring back to the instruction booklet constantly. I love using mine, and never thought I would own such an item for such a small price. It would make an excellent affordable gift for a keen baker, especially as a housewarming present as it doubles up as a hand mixer at the same tiem. Five stars from me despite the (very miniscule) flaws. As far as impulse purchases go, this is one of my best!
(Review also appears on Ciao under the username Gingerkitty)
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Kenwood FP190 Food Processor
by elysia2003
~~~Kenwood Food Processor FP190~~~
The Kenwood brand is synonymous with cutting edge, quality and long lasting appliances since being established in 1947. I wasn't looking out for a food processor when I bought this, but as my previous machine was on its last legs, and this one being somewhat of a bargain, I couldn't resist. ... It was a total impulse purchase but one I've not regretted and my review discusses the appliances features and my thoughts about it.
~~~ The Unit~~~
This Processor is available widely from most high street vendors. Sainsbury's seem to be selling a white version at the moment (January 2013), although mine is a rather classy chrome and black. I like this because if I should want to, it could be left out on the counter top to be within easy reach and use - It's not an ugly looking machine that you feel the need to hide away at all. The smart and shiny effect could be seen as a downfall though, as the chrome is rather a dirt magnet and no matter how much you try, it will not remain fingerprint free. It's easily wiped over with a damp soapy cloth though.
The whole machine except the blades (and internal motor I expect) is manufactured from plastic and although hardwearing, it doesn't have the robustness of a metal construction. The black detailing adds a smart touch, and blends well with my gloss black fitted kitchen, although I'm sure it will be just as at home in many styles of home.
The 600 watt motor isn't the most powerful on the market, but is adequate for home use. I find it copes adequately with whatever job I throw at it, and after roughly around 8 months use, it hasn't failed me once.
The metre long electric cord means that it can be positioned more or less anywhere within reason, in your kitchen. A point to note is that there is cord storage to the rear of the machine, should it need to be stored away. I find it odd though, that the plug isn't a moulded one as one would expect from a kitchen appliance.
Four rubberised suction feet at each 'corner' keep this sturdy and absolutely rigid when in use. My last machine used to vibrate and manoeuvre around the work surface while I used it - this Kenwood FP feels totally safe and secure.
~~~Attachments~~~
~Blender~
This has a rather handy feature of being not only a food processor, but having a blender attachment too. With a black plastic base, it is quite strongly fastened into its home on the top of the main body of the processor. It locks into place and feels really secure. Other security features on the appliance means that it will not actually work until the main (chopping) bowl is securely locked into its position too. If I'm using the blender, I lock the FP bowl into place without the blade attachments in situ.
The main body of the blender jug is transparent, and made from some polycarbonate material. This provides three main benefits: 1, you can see through it, 2, it makes for easier cleaning, and 3, if you blend something that might stain such as tomatoes, beetroot or curry ingredients, the blender doesn't get tainted by either colour or odour. The addition of a pouring spout is a rather handy feature to have too; there's nothing worse than jug that dribbles.
There are increments up the sides of the blender for ease of measuring - one being in cups (presumably for the American market) and the other being in ml. This has a 1 litre capacity with room at the top to spare for the blitzing action.
The lid has two rather wide finger indentations, with room for three fingers in one, and your thumb in the other. This gives it quite a good grip for people with dexterity problems. The final feature of the lid is that it has a whole in which sits a little plug, this allows you to drizzle in liquids such as oils for making mayonnaise etc, while the machine is in use and the lid is still on, to prevent splashes and splatters.
~FP Bowl~
The Food Processor bowl has many of the same features noted above but with a maximum 800ml (3 cup) capacity, it is noticeably smaller. I find that even so, it's not small enough to make a huge difference when utilising it. You may need to empty it a couple of times during use, depending on what you are doing.
Like most other machines of this type, there is a handy feeding tube through which you can either pour liquids, or push through foods while chopping or grating, safely keeping your fingers from harms way.
Although I'm not 100% sure if they are dishwasher safe (I've lost the instructions), I've but both the blades and both vessels in the dishwasher with no ill effects at all.
~Blades-
All the chopping/grating/slicing blades are made from quality stainless steel and have not tarnished or become less sharp over time. The blending blades that are non-removable from the jug are easily able to crush ice, and have suffered no ill consequences from doing so. I feel that the Kenwood quality shines through in this respect.
~~~Speeds/Settings~~~
This is really just a basic food processor and only had two speeds plus a pulse. Speed one is slower (obviously) and two is faster. I haven't noticed any difference in results when chopping or grating at different speeds. The main benefit is when making dough or when you want to have keep foods chunky, having a slower setting means it's more controllable and you can obtain the texture you require.
The pulse feature is great when making soups or smoothies, and lumps and chunks are trapped either at the sides of the bowl or around the blades. This gives a quick blast of the motor and is often just enough to dislodge the food and enable a more consistent blend.
~~~Downsides~~~
Now, as you would expect with something that cuts, slices and chops, it does make a bit of a racket. This machine is no exception to the rule; in fact, I would say it is considerably noisier than my previous food processor. It wouldn't put me off buying it though, as you are unlikely to be using this for more than a couple of minutes at a time.
The absolute main downfall with this appliance though, and it could just be mine that is faulty - When I utilise the fast setting for anything over a couple of seconds, or hold it down in the pulse position, there is the most awful smell of burning rubber. In the eight months I've owned this; it has diminished a little, but not faded completely. This appliance is used quite regularly so it can't be due to newness. It doesn't stop me using it, or hindered its performance in any way. Having read many other reviews of this FP, I've not seen any other comments about this matter, so hopefully like I said before; this may just be a one off.
~~~Price~~~
Now here's the thing - At £90 I feel this is overpriced, even for the Kenwood branding. Half price is a much more reasonable price to pay, so I would say that if you're in the market for a Food Processor, if you can find one around the £40 - £45 mark, I would still go for it despite the (possible) burning smell when in use. However, I purchased mine from Tesco's for an unbelievable £9 - no, that wasn't a typing error, it was £9!!! If you see one for that price, grab one, hand over your money and get out of the shop as fast as you can; it's a bargain.
~~~My Thoughts~~~
Despite its flaws, I would still buy this again. Granted, if I had more money to spend I might go for a higher spec model, but I think this one is more than adequate for my needs at the moment. It does everything I need it to, so why waste money by spending more than you need? The Kenwood name continues to live up to the high standard expected of it, in my opinion, and therefore I would give this a five star rating despite its minor flaws.
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