Customer Reviews

KitchenAid KV25GOXOB Professional 5 Plus 5-Quart Stand Mixer, Onyx Black

5 star:		(114)
4 star:		(16)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(4)
1 star:		(20)

 

 

I received this mixer as a gift, and honestly, it is so great that I almost feel guilty I don't use it every day. I have heard good things about the reliability of Kitchen Aid mixers, and this one is far more powerful than what I actually need it to do.

One especially great thing is the slow-start feature--I do a lot of cake batter and icings, and it's nice to avoid getting flour all over the cabinets after each round of mixing. It mixes very thoroughly, although I was initially suspicious since the bowl doesn't rotate. You do have to stop and scrape the bowl, as with any mixer.

The machine is also incredibly quiet--it makes less noise than the microwave does. I like the fact that the bowl and white attachments are dishwasher safe, too. It might seem trivial, but I also like the styling of the wider bowl that comes standard with this model, instead of the narrower one that comes with the Artisan.

At first I thought the bowl-lift thing might be uncomfortable to use, since I'm used to tilt-head stand mixers. The bowl has two tabs with holes that fit on either side of the mixer, plus a metal nub that rests in a slot at the back. Once those three points are secure, you rotate the lever to lift the bowl to mixing position, and it's very stable.

I've only found two minor inconveniences with this machine. First, it's pretty tall, so it won't fit on the counter underneath my cabinets--I have to move it back and forth from another shelf to use it, and it's heavy. Second, when you're done mixing and lower the bowl, it's hard to scrape all the stuff off the beater because you can't get a good angle. So you have to detach the beater and let it fall into the bowl and when the bowl is off the mixer you can scrape everything out. Thinner stuff like cake batter wouldn't be a problem, but for frosting or mashed potatoes, a lot of stuff is left on the beater. This is not a big deal--just a different thing to get used to after a tilt-head mixer.

I have the cobalt blue model, and I hesitated because I thought it might be too "loud," but it's beautiful and I'm so glad I got this one.

I'm not a professional baker, but I use my mixer frequently, and I'm delighted to have something that looks great and works so well.

On the positive side:

The mixer "seems" (see below) to be well made. The fit and finish of external parts is excellent. When tightened with vigor, the tightening nob that holds excessories like a grinder (which works very well) in place, no longer falls into the mixing bowl while something is being mixed.

Kitchenaid has an exceptional warrangy. You need only call Kitchenaid, explain the problem and they send a new mixer and prepaid labels to return the defectve mixer. Definitely retain the box the mixer arrives in.

On the negative side:

Mine is the third KV25GOXCV I have had following the return of a proceeding model with a smaller motor. All were returned because the sound made by the mixer suggested that the gearing was self-destructing. All emitted uneven grinding sounds, especially when operating at mid-range speeds. It suggests that the gears were poorly machined and were wearing badly and would fail before long. (The gearing in my last Kitchenaid stand mixer lasted 15 years before it had to be rebuilt after which, the mixer was given to my son who is still using it.)

My present mixer makes the same troubling transmission sounds but after having had three others that made those same sounds, I concluded that Kitchenaid cannot do any better.

When mixing doughs approaching the mixer's maximum capacity, the dough rides up the dough hook and must be dragged back down before mixing can again proceed normally. It must be done every 30 seconds or so.

Do not plan to mix any stiff doughs that an older recipe (nonKitchenaid recipe) suggests mixing for longer than 3 or 4 minutes. If you do, the mixer will overheat and automatically shut off until it cools. When I contacted Kitchenaid's Customer Service Department, I was told that I must follow mixing directions in the accompaning operator's manual. (These suggest limiting mixing times to only a few minutes.)

Before buying one of these mixers I recommend looking at a Viking stand mixer. It is more expensive but its bowl capacity is considerably larger and its motor is much more powerful.

If it comes as an option, I do not recommend buying the plastic splash guard that fits around the top of the mixing bowl. It is a hassle to take off and replace, which will be required because of the need to scrape the bowl frequently as a result of Kitchenaid's questionable beater and dough hook designs.

If you bake heavy bread doughs or large batches, this is the mixer for you. I had a slightly smaller Kitchen Aid mixer, which I also loved, but the extra size and motor power of this model is invaluable. It is a beautiful machine. It is heavy and quiet, and very powerful, like an expensive luxury automobile. It is also very beautiful, I have it in red, and it is just gorgeous with my red le creuset pans (they have the exact same color and finish). It has a very useful feature where it starts out slow when you first turn it on, then gradually speeds up. This keeps things from slopping out of the mixing bowl. There are three things I do not especially like about this mixer, but you will notice I give the machine 5 stars anyway. The first problem is really minor. It takes some degree of coordination to get the bayonet at the back of the mixing bowl attached to the mixer. The other two problems stem from the top of the mixer not swinging up, as it does on the smaller mixers. Using the plastic chute accessory to load ingredients is a bother, so I soon stopped doing that. When I put ingredients into the bowl, it is kind of an awkward, messy procedure. Then, when you finish mixing, it is also awkward to get the beater out of your food product. If something were to happen to the machine I own, these problems would not keep me from buying the same exact machine again. For people who cook large batches, this mixer is just wonderful. If you don't really need the volume, you would be happier with one of the smaller mixers, the top of which swing up.

This stand mixer does not disappoint. If you buy the accessories and other attachments you can virtually do anything with this; prepare baked goods, make pasta, make ice cream, grind meat, beat or whip eggs, juice citrus, etc.

I don't mind the lift, but now I wish I bought a model that has a tilt head instead. It seems easier to get the bowl and attachments out with the tilt head.

Inspect everything carefully after when the package arrives! Make sure everything you have matches the product description! I made the mistake of not realizing amazon DID NOT (forgot to) include the wire whip and spiral knead hook. Amazon could not help me replace these items since it was over a month ago, but Kitchenaid customer service was very kind about it. When they say hassle-free they mean it! They sent me the parts I needed free of charge. All they asked for was the model # under the mixer. Make sure you don't lose that sticker!

This machine replaces a Kitchenaid mixer (still running strong) that we have had for 25 years. The slow start feature is helpful when mixing dry ingredients, no shower of flour. The new dough hook is spiral shaped with no shield on the top; it is a major improvement. The kneeding is more like you would do by hand, rather than the rotating ball in the bowl. The 450 watt motor offers more than sufficent power for anyone who makes bread. Kitchenaid still builds a quality product that is solid, dependable and a pleasure to own.

If you're looking for a heavy duty mixer that almost belongs in a restaurant but is really for the home, this is the one for you. A couple of things to be aware of though. This mixer is a bit louder than the artisans. And because it has the lifting bowl design, it's slightly taller. You may want to measure the height of your counter-to-cabinet space. The mixer doesn't fit under some of my cabinets.

Had I known what a difference this would make with my cooking, I would have bought one a long time ago. Everything is faster, now, and everything I mix, from potatoes to icing, comes out smoother, too.
There are a variety of things you can make with this mixer, and I use mine a lot. Perhaps not every single day, but almost. I bake bread with it every few days, and I decorate cakes for parties and special occasions on the side. My mixer has never let me down. In fact, I am buying an extra bowl just for convenience, too.
Sometimes you do get a strange smell when you use it to whip something up. They even tell you in your mixer's manual to expect it and that it is normal.
I've had mine for almost a year, now, and was waiting until I had it awhile before I reviewed it. But I have yet to have any problems with it.
It's cut preparation time more than half for everything I've made with it. From cakes to meatloaf and bread. It's sturdy and somewhat heavy, which means it's not going to easily be knocked off your counter.
It does have a slow start to prevent flour from going all over. However, if you are using a lot of powdered sugar or flour to the point of it being more than half full, you will still want to use the stir speed until it's a little more settled and moist or you will end up with a mess. Not a big one, but a mess nonetheless.
It comes with a book of recipes, but I've only used a few. I've never had any issues with it handling all the cookie dough and other heavy doughs I've mixed with it, however. In fact, I've made more cookies just since getting this than I did for years before. It's just so convenient and easy that I don't mind. I mean heavy doughs, too, like monster cookies and peanut butter m&m cookies, etc.
I don't know what else to say about it. I don't think you will be disappointed in this purchase. I'm usually someone who doesn't like to spend a lot of money, but this was more than worth it, and I will be buying my daughter one someday, too.

I had wanted the Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for years. After going through several other mixers, I became convinced that Kitchen Aid was clearly a leader in its field. My father, who was a chef and restaurant owner, always used Kitchen Aid in his restaurants and at home.

I embarked on the research about which model was going to be best for my kitchen. At first, I was very attracted to the Artisan Series, liking the looks and color choices available. But I discovered this series featured a smaller motor (375-425 watt) and bowl capacity. After discussing this with a couple of chef's I know, I came away determined to buy the 5 Plus 5. With its larger 450 watt motor and deeper larger 5 quart mixing bowl, I knew it could stand up to the heavy use it got in my kitchen.

When it arrived, I unpacked it and after reading the instruction book thoroughly, set it up in literally seconds. This is a very big small appliance. I fortunately, have huge counter space, so I set it up under the cabinets within reach. For anyone having limited counter space or limited use for this model, a smaller machine might be a better choice.

Performance: This is a real workhorse of a stand mixer. It whips egg whites and heavy cream quickly and easily. The balloon whisk is ideal for use with dishes which require that a lot of air be incorporated into the mixture you're creating.

The spiral dough hook does a fantastic job with kneading doughs for breads, biscuits, pie crusts and rolls. This is a fairly quiet machine that doesn't rock or shake when working with larger batches of batter.

The mixing paddle is perfect for blending cake batters, or whipping mashed potatoes, or one of a hundred cooking tasks requiring mixing. One irritant is that the bowl is so deep, that you have to stop the machine for mixing, to scrape up dry ingredients from the bottom of the bowl.

Changing your different attachments is quick and easy. Simply turn, remove, and insert your next accessory. The bowl is stainless steel, making it ideal for chilling before beating egg whites or heavy cream or making a flaky pie crust. I simply chill my bowl and attachments in the freezer until ready to start.

Cleanup is very easy. I hand wash my attachments and my bowl. They cleanup in literally seconds. The mixers exterior wipes up easily. I use a Clorox cleanup to wipe any spatters off and keep it looking shiny.

Though at $319.00 this is an expensive stand mixer, it can quickly pay for itself in saved time and effort. So, if you are a serious cook who uses stand mixers on a weekly basis, I highly recommend the Kitchen Aid 5 Plus 5.

I really wish people would read the instruction manual before complaining about things.

Yes, the mixer starts off slowly. This is called the soft start feature. it is intentional. The idea is the mixer starts slowly and ramps up to full speed. This keeps the ingredients from spraying all over the place.

Yes this mixer is louder than older KA mixers. It has an all metal gear set and they are louder than the older mixers that have a nylon gear.

I make on average about 6 loaves of bread each weekend, stiff French and Italian style dough. This mixer has never bogged down, quit or failed in any way in my use for nearly one year.

You will love the spiral dough hook and the wider bowl.

I own quite a few mixers, 38 to be precises(OK, I am a little nuts) and the 4 I uses regularly the Pro 5+ is the one I use most. You will be pleased. But please, read the instruction Manual.

I bought one of these just over a year ago. The gear housing broke after a year and since then it has been in for repairs twice. Both times, it broke again the first time I used it. It cost over [...] to get fixed and takes a month since the part has to be ordered in. I would never buy a Kitchenaid again. Kitchenaid has not been helpful on the phone as the warranty is expired and they say I should just take it in again. They also told me that mixing bread dough is hard on the machine ... then perhaps they shouldn't promote its bread kneading capability so enthusiastically.