I bought my wife the 5.5Qt lift bowl model number "KV25mexer5" from Costco. It has all steel gears. I got when they had basically 2 sales on it at same time. $50 off from KA and $30 off from Costco so we paid $249.00 total. For $250 it is probably the best choice you can find for a mixer, we have not had any problems with ours after 5 months of use so far. Hasn't had any problem making a 3 cup batch of bread dough using the dough hook and on speed 2 like it says to do. So far for us and especially for the price it was the best deal for our needs. It is loud but so is every other mixer in this power range. It seems rather solid, no grinding, everything works smoothly. I seriously looked at the Bosch Universal which is definitely a better mixer especially if you make a lot of large 6+ cup dough batches. But for the one I would buy (stainless bowl with blender) is $550 on sale. So more than double the price. For how much we use a mixer this Costco KA was our best deal by far, plus the added perk of if anything happens to it the first year or maybe even longer we could just take it right back for a full refund or replacement with no hassles. IF you use the hell out of a mixer though I would pay the extra and get the Bosch Universal. As far as where the KA "Stand Mixers" are made they are actually made in Greenville OH. The KA hand mixers are however made in China. But like most everything else made in China it is made there under the exact specifications that the American Company wants, unfortunately that happens to be cheap as humanly possible which is why they are made there. IF the American company stated we want the best possible mixer you can make and stated exactly what they wanted, what materials to use etc that is exactly what they would get from China. So while everyone continually puts the blame on China it really has next to nothing to do with them. It is the American company that purposely wants crap at the cheapest price possible.

This puppy appears to be a new product so there's not that much out there on it yet, but I did find out some possible helpful info: Cooks illustrated reviewed hand mixers in DEC 2006 and rated the Cuisinart very highly. They reviewed stand mixers in Mar 2008 and the Cuisinart garnered their top rating. So while there are no guarantees, the interpolation of these two reviews is very promising for your hybrid mixer. There was a positive review on Amazon.com which I've linked below for you. One caution with brand new products - Often it's better to buy them in the second year of production after they're had a chance to correct minor (or sometimes major) defects in the product line. Here is the relevant part of the hand mixer review: Best wishes! Here is a link that might be useful: Review on Amazon.com

I have the cuisinart stand-alone.. 2 quart size -- and I love it. To get good results you MUST: 1) freeze the drum/tub SOLID for 12 - 15 hours 2) chill ALL of the ingredients you are going to use prior to making the ice cream or sorbet 3) the ice cream does not come out solid -- it comes out with a nice semi-soft texture.. if you want it more solid, pop it in the freezer for 20 minutes or so. 4) do NOT take the drum out of the freezer until you are completely ready to add the ingredients. In the long run you'll find making sorbets to be much quicker/easier.. I make them several times a week (I make a half gallon of simple syrup at a time and keep it chilled in the fridge - I also keep the drum in the freezer unless I am in the process of making the sorbet). I have had no problems with soupy or bad textured sorbets or ice creams. Good luck!

I have the Magic Mill. Purchased it from King Arthur. I went to their store & we worked all of the major brands for an entire day. I'd been using a Bosch for 20+ years but after using them side-by-side that day...switched to Magic Mill. I've now had it about six years & have never regretted my decision. The Magic Mill will handle 22-24 cups of flour. I'm also impressed with the lack of splatter when mixing liquids. A couple years ago, I made 6 white chocolate/macadamia nut bread puddings at the same time. I had over 2 dozen eggs & enough milk/cream to fill the bowl to just under the rolled rim. I held my breathe & turned the dial...stood back in case eggs flew everywhere. Not a drop left that bowl! It was sorta fun to watch those rollers mixing the custard. Sorry, can't help with the Cuisinart mixer but I have one of their food processors & am happy. /tricia