Customer Reviews

KitchenAid KN15E1XJB Accolade 400 Stand Mixer, Juniper Berry

5 star:		(51)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

Do you have a couple of ovens to load up all at once? Then maybe you need the Hobart-styled Pro model! But if not - if you work out of an ordinary home kitchen - check out this Accolade version of the classic KitchenAide stand mixer.

What's the difference? Not much... except the price.

The Accolade has a 5 qt. fixed bowl and a tilting head, instead of the racked up and down 6 qt. bowl on the Pro model. Many users find the tilting head more convenient, and now that the Accolade tilt models lock the head in both up and down positions, there should be no occasion to miss the greater rigidity of the fixed head Pro models.

The Accolade's 400 watt motor can handle whatever you like, just so long as you remember to keep the speed down on the 2 setting on really heavy, very high gluten dough. The exact same thing has been said for the 575 watt Pros - but they will take on about 20% more dough, if need be.

Both machines now have soft-start motors and electronic controls which help maintain their selected speeds. Both have all steel gears, reportedly. The Pro looks a bit bigger on the counter and it definitely weighs a couple of lbs. more, but neither machine is small or lightweight! They need their weight and solidity to do what they do so well.

I admit that I was originally coveting my neighbor's Pro model, but in the after-holidays sales wars my local Williams-Sonoma put their remaining Accolade models 'in Autumn colors' to steep discounts - below two hundred and just over half what the 'regularly discounted' Pro would have cost. One week into my ownership, I have nothing but praise for the machine.

I bought it in March for $280 and it has done good for me so far. I would totally buy it for the price they have now on Amazon ($200). I have baked everything from cheesecake to bread to mashed potatoes. I bought this one b/c I have a pink kitchen and it matches perfectly.

For the price I would buy this over an Artisan anyday. It is a higher wattage and looks better b/c it comes in a pearl color. It also has metal gears so the only draw back is it is loud. The pouring shield it comes with is also nice to use and what also makes it better than the Artisan is the "soft start" feature. This basically makes it so that powered sugar or flour doesn't go everywhere when it add it to the bowl and turn it on.

Oh and the weight it good. Its a heavy machine, especially when you have to turn it upside down to get the model # if you ever want to call Kitchenaid Customer service.

I have lusted over the various models of the Kitchenaid Mixer for the past 5 years. Finally, because of a great one day sale from Amazon, this one was available in my price range. I have had it now for a couple of months. I have made lots of things with it already including dough for 7 dozen cookies and a double batch of crab dip for tailgating. It comes with a great instruction manual and a cd-rom that gives good directions on how to use the different attachments. Also included in the instruction manual are a variety of recipes that include very specific directions on how to use the mixer (like, beat for 2 minutes on speed 4). This is very helpful for those who are just learning how to use the machine. It is easy to use for the beginners and powerful and versatile enough for more experienced cooks. Also, it looks fabulous on the kitchen counter :). I love mine already and highly recommend this mixer.

After staring at these things for over a year, I finally decided to hit ebay and get one of the cheap-o models (150 watt, Classic style). They were about $150 for reconditioned ones. Seeing as I'd only save about $50, I thought I'd do some research on the other models first. After looking around a bit and reading a few reviews, I thought I'd go for a larger model instead. I figured if I'm going to spend the money, the larger bowl size, and the increased motor power would be worth the additional expense.

So, I checked here on Amazon, and found the Artisans and Accolades. After noting that the Accolades were actually cheaper and had more features, I thought I'd contact Kitchenaid directly to find out if I was missing something obvious in the product description that made them so much cheaper for a larger motor with special features.

After telling the Kitchenaid Customer Service fellow the prices, he basically said to me..."You got that price on Amazon? Wow...guess I'll have to check out the website and see if they have one left!"

Bing! Sold!

The Accolade slow start feature has been very nice for mixing in flour, as the slow speed increase doesn't kick up alot of dust. Plus, with the pour shield (extra $$ on some other models) it cuts it down the flour fog to about zero. The motor is a beefy 400 watts, and had no problems mixing up a cake batter I put together the moment the mixer arrived at my door.

One of my favorite features about the Accolade line of mixers versus the other KitchenAid mixers is the color choices. The colors on the Accolades are a bit different than the others, with more subtle "in-between" shades that seem to fit a wider variety of kitchen colors. The Sorbet is a cream color that would go in just about any kitchen with the exception of perhaps a white on white one.(And who wants that clean-up nightmare anyways?) The Dijon model is a nice orange-yellow that is going qutite nicely in a friend's off white kitchen, and will go even better in her green kitchen when she moves. (I found it was nicein my kitchen as well, and I have Orange walls!)

In all, it is a great mixer with the standard KitchenAid stand mixer features, and with the color choices and slow start-up motor, I think it was an amazing deal. On top of all this, with the price being 33% less than normal, Amazon's $25 September discount, and KitchenAid's $25 seasonal discount, the mixer came out to $170 shipping included...almost the original price I found on ebay for the reconditioned teeny 150 watt Classic models.

I ordered the Accolade 400 in Licorice through the "Bed, Bath, and Beyond" store, and was able to use my 20% off coupon! I saved about $56.00 this way (coupons are not good through their website, only at the store). I wanted this mixer instead of the Artisan model because the motor has more watts so there is more power, a real plus for making bread and cookie doughs. (Accolade is 400 watts, Artisan is only 325 watts). Also, like the Artisan, the mixing head lifts up, where the most expensive model pops up entirely to get to the beaters and bowl. I recommend ordering the cover also, and use another 20% off coupon on that. The mixer was so quiet compared to my old Oster Kitchen Center mixer, and the stainless steel ergonomic bowl (with the handle) is so light. Have only made cakes so far and they all baked and rose beautifully (this mixer does so much more than just cake mixes). Make sure you have counter space to keep your mixer on display as it is big and weighs about 25 pounds, so you don't want to have to keep lifting and storing. It is well worth the money, and I also am getting a free attachment from KitchenAid for their special Mother's Day 2005 promotion. It's a great deal. You'll love it. The Licorice color is very classy looking. It's a satiny/brushed black, not glossy, and goes well in kitchens with black appliances. The Accolade model has the best of both worlds, a lift up head (likes it less expensive model) and a stronger motor (like the professional model). Hope this helped.
UPDATE: I have used this mixer for making both bread and cookie dough. The motor is very powerful and stirs the dough very easily. Oh yes, and making meringue for my key lime pies...simply the easiest and best!

I was worried about buying the Accolade rather than the Artisan because I read that the noise level was high. The other features, however convinced me to buy the Accolade. I do not regret it. I don't know how it compares to the Artisan in noise but it is not as noisy as my old sunbeam so I am perfectly happy with it. the TV room is right next to the kitchen and my family has not complained about the noise at all. (They don't dare-They know that I would throw them out before my kitchenaid)

I expecially love the slow start feature. I can set my mixer to the 10 speed and walk away while it gradually starts on the slower speed and works it's way up to whip.

LOVE IT! LOVE IT! LOVE IT!

I've wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer for years, but didn't feel it was worth the investment. My friend, who is an accomplished baker, told me it was a must have in the kitchen, so I put it on my birthday list. My husband bought me the Accolade as a gift about 2 months ago. It's wonderful. It makes a little more noise than my friends Artisan, but the gears will last a lifetime. My friend recommended The Mixer Bible cookbook to go with it, just to familiarize me with the mixer and introduce me to all the attachment possibilities. That was a great investment, as I feel like I'm more "in the know" now, and all the recipes are great too.

I just received my Kitchenaid Accolade today! I ordered it in cinnamon, it is beautiful! You can feel the quality! I have my first cheesecake in the oven right this minute! It is not too loud. As a matter of fact, my 12 year old started using it before I could get my hands on it! I search for the best price and AMAZON was by far the best deal. Take advantage of the free shipping and the $25 off coupon! I wish I had ordered the smaller bowl. That will be on my Christmas List! I LOVE IT! Amazon was fast and the box arrived in perfect condition!

I have nothing but praise for the accolade. I had an Artisan, but I found it didn't work well with my Christmas cookie dough. The accolade had plenty of power to do that and more without taking up all of my kitchen space. My son is a Williams Sonoma employee, and was able to get me a good deal on the dijon color. Their price was originally $329, so that makes the Amazon price pretty good.

This is a great mixer, especially at the Amazon 1-Day sale price of $125 ($180 1-day sale price - $25 instant rebate for purchases over $125 - $30 rebates from KitchenAid = $125).

Took a while for Amazon to get it in stock and ship it out. But at this price, I am not complaining at all.

Very happy using the mixer for several cakes and banana nut bread:

- Easy to clean

- Easy to use - practically plug-n-play

- Beautiful result whipping up eggs and whipped cream

- Beautiful fluffy cake batter

- Well-mixed banana bread batter

I would recommend watching for the periodic 1-day sale for a good deal on any of the KitchenAid mixers.