Cookaholics Bulletin Board

A Williams Sonoma Exclusive, it is a new design even though it looks just like every other KitchenAid. $549.95. It is not yet on their web site, but is available in the Fall 2011 catalog that is in mailboxes now. A bit wider than a Professional 600, but other dimensions are pretty much the same.

From the March 2011 Press release that introduced this mixer:

“The new model, offering the largest bowl lift model available for home use, features a 7-quart stainless steel bowl and the most powerful motor KitchenAid has ever offered.
“Our new stand mixer was engineered for best in-class performance and long lasting durability,” notes Debbie O’Connor, senior manager of brand experience for KitchenAid. “Cooks who frequently make bread, fondant or large batches of dough will appreciate how quickly this new mixer gets the job done.”
In addition to handling the stand mixer’s extra large capacity, its 1.3 horsepower DC motor is not only the most powerful KitchenAid has ever offered but also the quietest. Engineering advances allow the motor to deliver more power to the bowl than previous models while using less energy and minimizing motor heat.
“Ultimately, it’s about effective mixing, and this is our biggest and best mixer ever,” notes O’Connor. “Its unique bowl lift design, with ‘arms’ that secure the bowl in place, allows for easy removal of the bowl after mixing large batches of ingredients.”
Beyond offering the largest capacity in a countertop bowl lift model, the 7-quart polished stainless steel bowl has an easy to grip handle with a wide design that allows ingredients to be added with ease. A new stainless steel 11-wire elliptical whip was designed to quickly incorporate the maximum amount of air for faster results when whipping ingredients such as egg whites and heavy cream, or when making frosting and mayonnaise. Additional accessories include a metal beater and dough hook with an easy release coating.'

Jim,

How does the HP compare to the 6-quart? Do you know?

Amy

Depends on whether the engineers or the marketers are talking. To an engineer, 1 horsepower is equal to approximately 735 watts. 1.3 hp would be about in the neighborhood of 950 watts.

The 6 quart mixers have a pretty capable 250 watt motor in them that the marketing department has reported at various times to be 450, 525, 575, and 590 Watts. An engineer would convert that to .33 hp, the marketing department to .75 hp.

The new 7 quart was reported in the press release to have a DC motor and the fact that they are calling it the most powerful and quietest KitchenAid mixer ever made, leads me to believe that the additional cost of the mixer goes toward putting a real motor in it that does not have to turn at a noisy 13,000 RPMS to develop enough torque to do the job.

My understanding is that HP/watts correlation is also based upon the efficiency of the motor. So, am I better off spending twice the price? I can get a 6-qt. for around $300 (after current rebate).

Amy

It will be some time before the capacity of the 7-Qt becomes clear. Considering the price and the length of time in development, I expect that KitchenAid did the job right and have built a mixer that is a good value to users who expect commercial capabilities.

I would love to get my hands on one for a couple hours to see if is the mixer I expect it to be.

In the meantime, my old Professional 6 is approaching its eighth birthday will almost no problems. They are extremely easy to repair and parts are available and inexpensive. Their real world comfort level for mixing heavy whole grain or multigrain dough is about 1 kg of any kind of flour, and being dirt cheap, they are still an excellent value and a reasonable choice.

Edit: It showed up the Williams-Sonoma Web Site. KitchenAid Stand Mixer, 7-Qt.

Thanks Jim.

This mixer is already on the streets in its commercial version with STAINLESS STEEL AGITATORS. A brief cutaway look inside in the promo video shows a glimpse of a drive train that has never been seen in KitchenAid before. The troublesome and torque robbing bevel cut and helical gears with drive worms appear to have been replaced.

This mixer is beginning to look like it is the real deal for those with heavy bread habits and claims an 8 lb dough capacity that is nearly double that of Professional 600.

KitchenAid® 7 Qt Bowl Lift NSF Commercial Stand Mixer with 1.3 HP Motor

Promotional Video

Owner's Manual

Well, it looks like they may have finally stepped up and made the mixer they should have. If I hadn't recently gave up on them and bought a Cuisinart, I might well have bought this one.

Parts lists and drawings for the KA 7 quart mixers are beginning to show up on the internet. In a big departure from past KA philosophy, the motor is bolted to the gearbox and they are being sold as a single part number.

In theory, a factory assembled motor and gearbox should increase durability by reducing alignment and gear binding problems that I believe are the source of many of the early failures experienced by Professional 600's. In practice, there are still some reports out there about noisy mixers that need immediate replacement even though reviews have been excellent.

Kitchenaid 7 qt. stand mixer - Case, gearing and planetary

I looked at this mixer so hard, but decided to go with the Pro 600 and to buy the DLX Magic Mill down the road for doing larger quantities of pizza dough if and when that becomes necessary. The existing gear for the 6 quart machines like the metro design beater, 1/2 size bowl and so forth made it seem like a better choice for small to medium sized jobs.