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Kenwood KM010
by Lauriec
When looking for a mixer that would take away the elbow grease of having to mix cakes manually, I didn't look at any other brand than Kenwood. After remembering what my parents mixer was/is like I knew that Kenwood was the way forward. Their mixer has lasted them well over 20 years and is still going strong!
The Kenwood Chef ... Titanium came with many attachments, including; a K Beater, balloon whisk, dough hook and Flexi Beater. I was also very pleased with the clear splash guard which has been a god send when using flour and icing sugar. The mixer also came with a liquidizer attachment, which has been very handy when making soups and milkshakes. The instructions and the recipe book is very clear and helpful, I was and still am amazed at the number of things you can do with this mixer. The attachments you can buy to add to it, the amount of meals, and food products you can make with it and the performance it gives, whipping up cakes in a matter of minutes, have all exceeded my expectations. Overall this mixer is quieter than it's predecessors, has a stylish matt silver finish and is an adequate size for standard family use (4.6l bowl). The only bad thing I can say about this mixer is that I was surprised it didn't come with the protective cover, however, this was easy and cheap to purchase from the same store.
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Kenwood HM310
by hanmillie
The kitchen hand mixer, not the most exciting of all kitchen appliances but definitely a must if you enjoy baking cakes as I do. I was given my Kenwood HM310 as a wedding present a couple of years ago, and whilst it was not something that I had initially given much thought to it has actually proven a real vital tool on many a wet ... day.
The Product ~
Kenwood are widely regarded as a quality manufacturer of kitchen appliances and therefore I selected my hand mixer for its longevity rather than its looks. The 220 watt hand mixer comes readily packaged in a cardboard box. Upon opening you are presented with a white plastic body which has a moulded handle around the back with two holes for the mixer attachments. Above the handle is a switch which provides three setting options to chose the speed that you require the mixer to run at, be it a slow speed, medium or fast.
The mixer is fed through a long grey-white cord which wraps around the body of the mixer and provides a long lead to enable maximum manoeuvrability of the mixer. This hand mixer comes with two types of attachments the first being your standard pair of metal beaters and the second being a pair of coiled beaters, the benefits of which I still have yet to figure.
As with a number of Kenwood products, this hand mixer comes with a one year guarantee although I have had mine for a couple of years now with no problems.
To Use ~
When using this product you should initially select the pair of beaters required for the job. I usually tend to select the standard pair as they are more than enough for most regular cake mixes. These accessories can be simply clicked into the holes at the base of the mixer and you will know that they are in properly by the click that they make. The mixer then requires plugging in at the mains by simply uncoiling the lead and plugging in at the nearest socket. I usually tend to plug in as close to the mixing bowl as possible.
Finally the mixer can be turned on by simply moving the switch with your thumb to your desired speed. From experience, I tend to select a slow speed to start to prevent bits of flour lying all over the kitchen. I then build up the speed and once everything is thoroughly mixed I go back down to a slow speed and switch off.
Being plastic this mixer is particularly easy to clean, simply unclip the detachable beaters and wash with your everyday dishes and wipe the body of the mixer clean with a damp cloth. Or with tasty cake mixes simply give the beater to any member of your household for a lick-able treat.
The Price ~
Whilst I did not buy this mixer myself, I did select it on my wedding list at Debenhams for £21.99. It can currently be purchased from a number of online retailers including 'electric shopping' for £23.99.
My Experience ~
This hand mixer is perfect for all of my mixing needs. As previously mentioned, I really enjoy baking cakes and this mixer has come in handy for a number of cake recipes where the task of mixing manually would take forever; in particular fruity cakes where the task of mixing pieces of apple and other dried fruit would test even the strongest of biceps. My mixer however has not been limited to cakes; it has also served me very well in making a number of desert recipes, particularly meringues where the mixing of egg whites to a stiff peak has been shortened considerably by putting my mixer on a speed three setting. The mixer creates a smooth and even mix which is free form any lumpy bits or pockets of flour.
This multi use has meant that I have tested this hand mixer to the limit, the heavy fruit content in a number of recipes really testing the motor. I can report no problems and no overheating of the product throughout, and have been left with only a smooth mix with the flour distributed evenly. Being so easy to use also means that this mixer can be used by all the family and cleaned accordingly.
Being a small hand mixer also means that when not being used this product fits snugly into the smallest of kitchen cabinets with the lead wrapped neatly around the base. The beaters than then be slid into a utensil drawer.
My only criticism is the mess that can be created when mixing in a small bowl, although of course this will be experienced with all hand mixers due to the fact that they do not come with a ready mixer bowl.
Overall I have awarded this product five stars out of five for quality, usability and compactness.
Thank-you for reading my review.
This review is also posted on Ciao under the same user name.
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Kenwood HM324
by jo1976
Last Fathers' Day, my boys decided to treat Daddy to a hand mixer so that he could whisk their Angel Delights without lumps! A quick visit to the Argos website led me to purchase the Kenwood HM324, partly because it was on offer for below £20 (from the RRP of £27.99.) I also thought the design and colouring looked suitably neutral and ... unisex for the 'man about the kitchen'.
After reserving online, I was very pleased with my decision. The body of the mixer is predominantly black and grey which co-ordinates well with the stainless steel attachments and gives the mixer something of an expensive appearance. The weight and build quality are reassuringly solid, without being too heavy, giving this a sturdy feel when in use and reducing the sensation of any vibrations during mixing.
The two metal beaters click easily and securely into position, without any worries that they are going to fly off halfway through the mixing process. This also came supplied with two dough hooks, for more adventurous cooks. The release button is simple to operate and a firm push ensures that both beaters neatly ping out after use. The attachments are all dishwasher proof and, through sheer laziness, I always pop the beaters in the dishwasher after use with no ill effects thus far.
The mixer is extremely straightforward to use with a built-in handle at the top, logically positioned for comfort, control and ease of use. The gap is decently proportioned so both I and my husband, with his larger hands, feel comfortable using this. The cord length is certainly more than adequate, giving enough room for manoeuvring around the edges of a bowl without having to be uncomfortably close to the plug socket. The three speed settings are easy to switch between, using a single sliding dial. I find that I rarely need to go beyond the middle setting anyway, certainly for the basic uses in our household - mainly simple batters, cake mixes and Angel Delights! Having a 250 watt motor, there is some noise during use but this is certainly bearable for short periods.
After use, the main body of the mixer wipes down incredibly easily, thanks to its shiny exterior. If things have been allowed to dry and set, of course, this becomes slightly more difficult. The mixer is also cleverly shaped to allow the cord to wrap firmly around the mixer after use, for ease of storage. This is so straightforward that even a man can use it and tidy up after himself!
As a basic kitchen tool to be used for simple tasks, this is a very reasonable purchase - even more so at its current sale price of £18.59 from Argos. Its stylish colour scheme, decent build quality and ease of use make this is a practical kitchen essential and one that I'm happy to recommend. Now Daddy can make lump-free Angel Delight too!
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