Kenwood Chef XL KVL4100W Stand Mixer White

i wish i could tell you this is good, i love Kenwood, owned my last one for 10 years, i'm a cook, run restaurants and have brought Kenwood mixers for the pastry sections. So my experience has been excellent so far.Pros - large mix bowl,Cons - front cover for attachments is held on with the weakest of magnets so can fall off it you touch the top of the mixer into the bowl while working. Same for the cover for the blender attachment on top, held on barely with a magnet fall off when moving around to put away.is quite top heavy so if your attempting for instance a mix of pasta dough can rock servery and tip.i had such high hopes but unfortunately will return and upgrade to the Titanium which is really excellent. This is its poor sibling made to sit as a in-between ... Morei wish i could tell you this is good, i love Kenwood, owned my last one for 10 years, i'm a cook, run restaurants and have brought Kenwood mixers for the pastry sections. So my experience has been excellent so far.Pros - large mix bowl,Cons - front cover for attachments is held on with the weakest of magnets so can fall off it you touch the top of the mixer into the bowl while working. Same for the cover for the blender attachment on top, held on barely with a magnet fall off when moving around to put away.is quite top heavy so if your attempting for instance a mix of pasta dough can rock servery and tip.i had such high hopes but unfortunately will return and upgrade to the Titanium which is really excellent. This is its poor sibling made to sit as a in-between model with lower price point with large capacity but poor build quality.To top it off the head of mixer has worked loose and on inspection looks to have broken.it may have been a rouge build but im not so sure.

A bakers helping hand.

I was very excited to receive this Kenwood Food Mixer. My mum has had her Kenwood food mixer for 30 something years and it's still going strong so I'm hoping mine will do the same.The machine was surprisingly quiet and even my 4 year old daughter who hates loud noises enjoyed being able to help and turn the speed dial. The large bowl and splash guard prevents the flour/icing sugar billowing out and creating a thin layer of dust across your kitchen. The stainless steel bowl is also light compared to the old Kenwood bowls.I'm not sure whether it's me that hasn't quite gotten used to the machine yet, but the bottom of bowl has a dome in the middle which seems to form a cavity around the edge which the k-beater doesn't quite reach. Therefore I was having to stop the ... MoreI was very excited to receive this Kenwood Food Mixer. My mum has had her Kenwood food mixer for 30 something years and it's still going strong so I'm hoping mine will do the same.The machine was surprisingly quiet and even my 4 year old daughter who hates loud noises enjoyed being able to help and turn the speed dial. The large bowl and splash guard prevents the flour/icing sugar billowing out and creating a thin layer of dust across your kitchen. The stainless steel bowl is also light compared to the old Kenwood bowls.I'm not sure whether it's me that hasn't quite gotten used to the machine yet, but the bottom of bowl has a dome in the middle which seems to form a cavity around the edge which the k-beater doesn't quite reach. Therefore I was having to stop the mixer every so often to scoop round with the spatula to ensure it was all getting mixed properly. This is why I've only given it four stars. I have read on other reviews that this machine does struggle to mix small amounts and that might be where I was going wrong. You can also adjust the height of the k-beater which I've not had a chance to experiment with yet.I was most impressed when it made the fluffiest/lightest meringues I've ever had. I ran out of time to try my third test which was to make some pastry so I could comment on each tool it comes with (k-beater, whisk and dough tool).It's a large machine so you do need ample storage space or work top space. It's a good looking machine so it'll compliment your kitchen nicely if it is out on the work top.The extra bonus is that you can buy extra attachments to fit to your mixer such as a blender or food processor etc. Unfortunately the attachments from my old Kenwood Food Processor do not fit so it does have to be the specific attachments for the Food Mixer.Overall it's simple to use, smart looking, quiet, easy to clean and very versatile. It gets the thumbs up from me!

Best value

I bought this for mainly sourdough bread baking. I bake multiple times a week I don't bake much otherwise.Pros large bowl capacity means I can mix 2kg of dough for two sandwich loaves at a time. High wattage gives me confidence it can cope with heavy doughs. It is still cold to the touch after 8 mins of constant kneading. Attachments are adjustable so the bottom of the bowl can be reached even with small quantities - I did this for making mayonnaise. Simple design, easy to clean. The less 'bling', the less to go wrong. I'm expecting this mixer to last me a long time.Cons timer would be the only 'unnecessary' function I would appreciate. The creamer attachment thing doesn't scrape the sides of the bowl very well, but maybe I'm using it incorrectly because if it's not ... MoreI bought this for mainly sourdough bread baking. I bake multiple times a week I don't bake much otherwise.Pros large bowl capacity means I can mix 2kg of dough for two sandwich loaves at a time. High wattage gives me confidence it can cope with heavy doughs. It is still cold to the touch after 8 mins of constant kneading. Attachments are adjustable so the bottom of the bowl can be reached even with small quantities - I did this for making mayonnaise. Simple design, easy to clean. The less 'bling', the less to go wrong. I'm expecting this mixer to last me a long time.Cons timer would be the only 'unnecessary' function I would appreciate. The creamer attachment thing doesn't scrape the sides of the bowl very well, but maybe I'm using it incorrectly because if it's not bread I don't really know what I'm doing. Dough rides up the hook and I usually have to release it part way through the kneading. But this is my first stand mixer, and I think this is more likely to do with the nature of a dough hook rather than the mixer, and maybe the dough consistency. May not happen with yeasted dough as much.But I still give it 5 stars, because there's nothing that's going to beat this mixer for the same price by far. Specs to a KitchenAid are rather abysmal by comparison, and you're paying about 30% more. So more $ for less oomph... although the red option was almost enough for me to fork out for such an irrational decision. But I'm glad I didn't. I'll put the extra $ aside for attachments so I can simplify my kitchen. Kenwood attachments have largely great reviews so I'm optimistic.

Good solid mixer

The dough hook worked well for a 3 pizza base mix without the machine moving around on the bench. The creaming paddle reached all parts of the bowl without needing adjustment. The sound level is quite acceptable. Cleaning is easy and there was no mess on the bench when I finished! I bought the larger Chef XL for the extra power and larger bowl and I think I won't regret the decision. Next I'll be adding the citrus juicer.I like to pay the little extra for a machine which will comfortably handle anything I'm likely to need it to do, assuming that it will last longer by being overpowered. This model feels solid enough to me.

Great all-rounder for the family who enjoy baking

Love it. Perfect for the home baker! We are constantly baking stuff - especially during lockdown. My daughter has used it more than me to bake cakes, cookies and all the usual kid treats. I made a perfect pizza dough in it and infinitely prefer it to hand kneading! Seems to have great power, and love the industrial bowl size. Perfect for my family of five which will often need a larger portion of something baked up! Love the removable/cleanable silicon base, the numbers on the dial which really help and the simplicity of the machine, yet the workability. Easy to wipe down and easy to swap over heads too. It doesn't vibrate like mad on the bench like some do, and it packs away perfectly altogether in my appliance cupboard.

Great for volume baking

This is definitely an XL machine...but it's perfect for large and bulk baking. It's around 1.5 inches taller than my old model and this is also reflected in the size of the bowl-great for large mixes.I'm not really a bread maker, so I haven't used the dough hook, but the whisk and the beater attachment (which are the same as my previous 10 year old model) are great for egg whites, meringues, cakes and anything else you can mix - the k beat in particular is very sturdy.The operation of the machine was very straightforward and the bowl easy to attach, the lever Switch to open the machine was very easy and can be opened without to much effort, particularly handy if you have batter all over your hands and are trying to keep the machine clean by opening with a couple ... MoreThis is definitely an XL machine...but it's perfect for large and bulk baking. It's around 1.5 inches taller than my old model and this is also reflected in the size of the bowl-great for large mixes.I'm not really a bread maker, so I haven't used the dough hook, but the whisk and the beater attachment (which are the same as my previous 10 year old model) are great for egg whites, meringues, cakes and anything else you can mix - the k beat in particular is very sturdy.The operation of the machine was very straightforward and the bowl easy to attach, the lever Switch to open the machine was very easy and can be opened without to much effort, particularly handy if you have batter all over your hands and are trying to keep the machine clean by opening with a couple of fingers!My main reason for 4 stars and not 5 is that my old attachments do not all fit the top of the machine - blender, food processor attachment, spice grinder, some do and some don't as the old machine had two different fixings on the top - this only has one. As the machine is a little taller, it also makes the attachments a little harder to reach if they are placed on the top.I understand there are a large number of additional attachments that can be bought easily to fit the machine and some fit on the front - as older models, such as a pasta roller and meat mincer- I haven't personally used these, but it just shows what a versatile machine it is.The other features I particularly like are the pulse function which can be helpful when you want to control the mixing speed and also the splash guard on the top which is great for adding ingredients as you go as it has a little hinged opening and also for not getting icing sugar everywhere!All in a great product just wish it would fit all my current attachments.

Jacqueline's review of Kenwood Chef XL Stand Mixer (KVL4100S)

Pros: Gone for a larger Kenwood chief mixer this time as specialise in making celebration cake. Bowl allows me to mix large portions. Good bowl splash guard.Cons: It would have been nice if kenwood provided a recipe book with every Kenwood food mixer. Just purchased my 4th Kenwood mixer in 45 years. Disappointed as I didn’t receive a recipe book with this Kenwood mixer. It also would be nice if Kenwood provided a cover to slip over Kenwood whilst not in use to protect it.

Kenwood Chef XL

I was really excited to purchase this product in August 2021. I had been using my Mother's 30+ years Chef Major Which has been sturdy and reliable I was excited to buy a brand new model. I could not be more disappointed . Almost immediately an attachment fell in the bowl whilst mixing. Sometimes the K beater or Whisk will become loose when I lift it to scrap down bowl. After numerous occurrences of retrieving items out of the mixture I decided to return to JL. where after 6mths. It was being sent back for r repair. Apparently a common fault ! Wish I just kept old model. was definitely better .

Kenwood Chef XL - siliver

Colour fits in with appliances on show inner kitchen. Easy to use. Everything I heard about a Kenwood is true,, a pleasure to use.Couldnt fault the Good Guys yet again. Good Guys Albury exceptional no matter who you speak with and from the moment you arrive. Nothing is a bother. I am in an electric wheelchair with voice impairment and get treated like anyone else always - unfortunately that is a surprise. Professional, pleasant, helpful, answer questions and even make some suggestions. Great place to shop and in my opinion its worth looking at Kenwood Chef brand before making a decision on an electric mixer, there's something for all cooks new or experienced. Happy shopping, happy cooking!

Solid choice in a stand mixer

The Kenwood Chef XL stand mixer is a great starter mixer for any keen baker.The mixer has two attachement outlets for various other Kenwood products, making the mixer pretty versatile if you did want to expand the set. If you don't already have items like a food processor, blender, pasta maker etc this could save cupboard space.The XL bowl has a capacity of 6.7l, which is heading towards a professional capacity. The bowl itself appears taller rather than wider to increase the volume, but I would be very nervous about filling too much as the top of the beater attachments sits about 2 inches below the rim of the bowl.The speed setting goes from 0 - 6, short of whisking meringues, I'd be unlkiely to go above about 3, which is plenty fast enough to mix a cake ... MoreThe Kenwood Chef XL stand mixer is a great starter mixer for any keen baker.The mixer has two attachement outlets for various other Kenwood products, making the mixer pretty versatile if you did want to expand the set. If you don't already have items like a food processor, blender, pasta maker etc this could save cupboard space.The XL bowl has a capacity of 6.7l, which is heading towards a professional capacity. The bowl itself appears taller rather than wider to increase the volume, but I would be very nervous about filling too much as the top of the beater attachments sits about 2 inches below the rim of the bowl.The speed setting goes from 0 - 6, short of whisking meringues, I'd be unlkiely to go above about 3, which is plenty fast enough to mix a cake batter. There is also a pulse function for a quick blend. This goes at full speed, I made the mistake of finding that out with unmixed dry ingredients and flour went everywhere! It is a great idea if you do need to blitz something quickly without going all the way through the speeds.The mixer is not great for really small quantities, the beater doesn't quite get to the bottom. There does appear to be a way to adjust the height, but I was too nervous to cause damage to the mixer to make changes.I did not like the fact that the bowl does not have a handle - having used other mixers that do, its a feature that I really missed when turning out the food. It also attaches to the base using slots in the bowl. I learned pretty quickly to not put the whole bowl into the the sink as water gets into the channel, so you have to take care to get it all to drain out.The mixer is a bit bulky, which is to be expected for an extra large mixer, but it feels like it could be a bit smaller as it isn't a really weighty / solid mixer compared to others I've used.