CuisinartPrecision Master™ 5.5-Quart Stand Mixer

Built like a tank

It's built like a tank but it runs quietly. It's still fairly new, but I am expecting to get many years of happy service. I'm astounded that people are still paying money for KitchenAid models as "the standard" mixer considering the direction that their quality has gone in. It's sad listening to the denials of people who are presenting the plastic gears, which always break, as a great feature. It's so insane that I have to wonder if it's an astroturf campaign by the company. As a former health researcher, I was initially concerned with Cuisinart's non-stick coatings on the paddle and dough hook, but I realized that it wouldn't cause the health risks that nonstick pans do, because they will never be in contact with food at extreme heat. By the way, the non-stick coating works amazingly well. It's almost like magic. Even the stickiest doughs peel right off of the dough hook. So far, I'm very pleased. I hope that it stands the test of time like I'm expecting it to. It wasn't just the price that steered me in the direction of Cuisinart. I appraised the strong motor, the steel attachments (instead of plastic), the fact that it runs quietly, and the durability of being built like a tank. Because of its sturdy metal design, it's heavier than most mixers, but that's a good thing. It won't dance around the counter like many mixers would and then potentially fall off the counter. I had been doing everything by hand, but now I've made some of the best bread that I've ever tasted and some of the stretchiest pizza dough. The thoroughness of the mixing allows me to get a higher hydration and that gives me better options. It has plenty of power. I think it has 12 speed settings, and I never have to go past speed 2.