Buy Factory-Reconditioned KitchenAid RRK150BU Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Cobalt BlueFactory-Reconditioned KitchenAid RRK150BU Artisan Series 5-Quart Mixer, Cobalt Blue Product Description:
- 325-watt mixer with 10 speeds; 5-quart stainless steel bowl
- Tilt-back head for easy access to mixture
- Includes flat beater, dough hook, and wire whip; pouring shield not included
- Measures 14 by 8-2/3 inches by 14 inches
- Reconditioned by the manufacturer to "like new" condition; includes 6-month warranty
Product Description
Factory Reconditioned Model
Customer Reviews
Most helpful customer reviews
257 of 267 people found the following review helpful.
The Gold Standard in Mixers Made Affordable
By John H. Henderson
I've always had a Tim Taylor attraction to quality kitchen appliances, and have always dreamed of owning a good Kitchenaid stand mixer. About 10 years ago while in grad school, I needed a stand mixer for some of my baking and kitchen experiments. The Kitchenaids were priced well out of my reach, but I was able to get a Sunbeam Mixmaster, which still had a good reputation as long as it was operated within its limits. That Mixmaster has served me well until I started experimenting with pizza making lately. The poor Mixmaster got pretty hot while kneading dough. Finally, the other week, a puff of smoke came out, and it was no more. I had already bookmarked this factory-refurbished Artisan on my Amazon wish list. I gave my wife a chance to veto the purchase, but she realized that losing my stand mixer was like losing a few arms and legs to me, and told me to get blue. (And she accused me of purposefully killing the Mixmaster so I had an excuse to the get the Kitchenaid!). I placed my order.The Kitchenaid mixer has always had a good reputation, and is mentioned in several cooking books and web sites. In GEAR FOR THE KITCHEN by Alton Brown, host of the Food Network's GOOD EATS, Alton highly recommends the Kitchenaid, as well as Dominick DeAngelis in THE ART OF PIZZA MAKING. Alton highly recommends a tilt-head design, as this allows easier bowl scraping, and specifically mentions the Artisan by name. The Artisan is Kitchenaid's most powerful tilt-stand mixer. (The more powerful models are bowl-lift.)With the Kitchenaid mixers, I really like the one big beater. It's infinitely easier to clean (and lick off) that trying to clean inside the tines of the two smaller Mixmaster beaters. The Kitchenaids have an accessory drive, which may be of dubious use for me, and of course, have the power to do the job (the Artisan features 325W) and the reputation for holding up. The bowl locks to the base, and the head locks down. The machine is heavy and doesn't walk across the counter while kneading dough like my old mixer did.On the downside, if you are like me and believe, in the manner of the priests of Old Testament Israel whom were allowed to stab a fork into the boiling sacrifice and keep for themselves whatever meat came up, that whatever is left on the beater is yours, you may be disappointed at how it just sheds dough. I am also used to the fact the bowl of my old Mixmaster rotates, which made it easier to scrape. As for the Kitchenaid accessories, they are expensive. It may save a little counter space to add a can opening attachment, but a good, easier-to-use stand-alone model costs a third as much. In GEAR FOR YOUR KITCHEN, Alton Brown recommends the Krups ice cream machine which costs less than just the attachment for the Kitchenaid.This is a factory-reconditioned model. Often, factory-refurbished products prove more reliable than new because someone has carefully examined and tested the unit. There were minor cosmetic flaws. There were scuffs in the bowl as though it had been used before, and a barely-noticeable dent as though the beater and head were dropped into the mispositioned bowl. Also, there are minor scuffs on the base of the mixer as though a monkey struggled with getting the base of the bowl into the base of the stand. I would have scuffed the bowl by now myself. You are warned in the description that there may be minor cosmetic flaws. The mixer comes with the manual and all the packing material as though it were new, but with a specially-printed box clearly indicating that this is a reconditioned unit. A sticker in the manual points out that the warranty is only six months.In the years since I bought my Mixmaster, Sunbeam has REALLY upped the ante. For two-thirds the price of the Artisan, the new Mixmaster features 350 Watts, a head that locks down, and a bowl that locks on. What did the Kitchenaid give me for a 50% more? A drive for overpriced accessories that I may never use, 25 fewer Watts of power, the nice, single beater, and one bowl. (Mixmasters have always been supplied with two bowls.) I went with the Kitchenaid anyway. Probably has to do some with its excellent reputation, (just because the Mixmaster can put out 350W doesn't mean it can do it for a long time.) the image it projects of its owner, and the fact that I always wanted one. I went with the Artisan, but as an alternative, you may want to consider the new Mixmaster.I AM very pleased with my Artisan, and, in fact, my mother is ordering one for my sister, and we will probably get one for my mother. Buying factory-refurbished just can't be beat.
140 of 144 people found the following review helpful.
Refurbished is the way to go - but only 6 month warranty
By M. Bradley
We purchased this mixer as soon as we saw it for this incredible price. I read others who received a mixer with scratches, etc, but ours is in like new condition. There are a couple of very small nicks, but you have to look hard to see them. The mixer works great.
As is stated in the description, this doesn't come with a pouring shield, but personally I don't mind. We wouldn't ever use that, anyway. It would just be something else to clean. Besides, the bowl is so deep with such tall sides that it's nearly impossible to splash out of the bowl. I added water to the bowl with the wire whip attachment and turned it on full power and there was no splashing outside the bowl!
NOTE: The warranty that comes with this mixer is a 6 month limited warranty instead of the full 1 year warranty with a new mixer. Amazon did not state that explicitly anywhere that I could see.
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful.
Love it, Love it, Love it!
By A. Green
Well, here I am reviewing a mixer. I'm not quite sure how I feel about this mixer being the high point of my entire week when it arrived, but I suppose now that I've hit 30 there are some things I need to come to terms with. I'm the kind of woman that loves to cook but hates to clean up. This thing is a breeze to clean - although I must say I wish the whisk could be put in the dishwasher. I've had minor issues with things splashing out so I do believe I will get the mixing/pouring shield. I love the wide variety of attachments available - I'm considering getting the slicer attachment to make hash browns/french fries/au gratin potatoes. I'd wondered about the amount of real estate this mixer would take up on my countertop, but it's not too bad. As for being factory-reconditioned, I did not notice any flaws with my machine. No scratches, dings, nothing. Ah, in the for what it's worth department if you're giving one of these mixers as a gift it will arrive in a box that plainly states it is "factory-reconditioned". We recently teamed up with friends to buy some mutual friends a mixer as a wedding gift, but they didn't mind at all - were delighted to get the mixer.In short, you should buy it - you won't regret it!
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Works, good value, needs heavier wire