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Cuisinart SM-55BK 5-1/2-Quart 12-Speed Stand Mixer, Black | 
 enlarge | Brand: Cuisinart
List Price: $349.00
Buy New: $299.00
You Save: $50.00 (14%)
Rating:  19 reviews
Color: Black
Autographed: No
Memorabilia: No
Shipping Weight (lbs): 24.1
Dimensions (in): 19.8 x 17.2 x 12.7
Legal Disclaimer: Sale Ends: 05-08-2008. You may return or exchange merchandise purchased from Macy's @ Amazon by mail only. Certain items are covered by warranty as indicated. To obtain a copy of the warranty prior to purchase, please write to: macys.com Customer Service Dept.; P.O. Box 8215; Mason, OH 45040; Small Ticket Department-Warranty;
MPN: SM-55BK
Model: SM-55BK
UPC: 086279019387
EAN: 0086279019387
ASIN: B000PBW98A
Availability: Usually ships in 3 to 6 weeks
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| Features:
| • | 800-watt stand mixer housed in durable die-cast metal | | • | 12 speeds; 5-1/2-quart stainless-steel bowl; slow-start and gentle-fold functions | | • | 15-minute countdown timer; 3 power outlets; auto shutoff; tilt-back head | | • | Chef's whisk, flat mixing paddle, dough hook, and splashguard included | | • | Measures 15-1/2 by 10 by 12-1/2 inches; 3-year warranty; 5-year motor warranty |
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| Accessories:
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| Editorial Reviews:
Product Description
The baker's pride, this sleek professional stand mixer has the power and assortment of helpful attachments to handle any baking task. A die-cast metal body is built for durability while the polished stainless steel bowl has the capacity for even the biggest baking jobs. Three-year limited product warranty. Five-year motor warranty.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 5 more reviews...
 I'm a satisfied Cuisinart convert! October 11, 2008
Steven J. Rickard (Denver, CO)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
I've been a long-time fan of the KitchenAid mixer. My grandmother has been using the same KitchenAid mixer since the late 50s, and it's still going strong. I was thrilled to get a KitchenAid "Ultra-Power" mixer as a gift about seven years ago, and it worked great for occasional use. Over the past couple of years I've been doing more and more baking, and about a year ago I began making my own bread. After about six months of using my KitchenAid to knead two loaves of whole-wheat bread every week or so, it made a terrible grinding noise, and stopped working. I decided I'd better buy a new KitchenAid with a more powerful motor, and went online to see which was recommended. Much to my surprise, the reviews for the KitchenAid were no longer as positive as they had been. People were complaining about a decrease in quality and customer service. The biggest complaint was that some metal parts had been replaced by plastic, and while it sounded as if the company had recently started making the parts out of metal again, people were giving tips on how to determine if the model you were purchasing had the metal or plastic gearboxes. On top of that, Cooks Illustrated ranked the Cuisinart mixer above KitchenAid in a March 2008 review.
I did more research and found that the warranty was much better on the Cuisinart than on the KitchenAid. So, nervously, I decided to switch from what I had always considered to be the top brand, and I bought the Cuisinart.
My first impressions were mixed. I immediately liked the way the mixer looked, but I was nervous about it, because the body and the mixing paddles are much lighter in weight than on the KitchenAid. It lacks the solid, all-metal feel of the KitchenAid. Since the KitchenAid jittered all over the counter when I was using it to knead bread or even whip butter and sugar together for cookies, I figured the Cuisinart would probably fly off the counter. I decided to use it pretty hard for six months, and then write my review.
I've used it every seven to ten days to make two loaves of heavy, whole-grain bread, have made many batches of cookies and several cakes and I'm very happy to write that this is a GREAT mixer.
Much to my surprise, It doesn't jitter at all, not even when I'm using it to knead bread. Ingredients are more thoroughly mixed, and I don't need to scrape down the sides of the bowl with a spatula nearly as often as I needed to with my KitchenAid. Counter space in my kitchen is limited, so I keep the mixer in a cupboard, and the lighter weight means that it's much easier to move around. In my experience, the lighter weight has NOT affected, in any way, the performance.
Once, when I was keading some heavy dough on speed #4 for about twice as long as the usual seven or eight minutes (I'd forgotten to add salt to the bread and was trying to knead it in) the mixer overheated and shut itself down. It hasn't done that since, and frankly, I'd rather that happen than have the gears freeze up and completely destroy the gearbox, as happened with my KitchenAid. Another greatly appreciated feature is that some clever person designed the bowl so that it's easy to remove, even after I've used the mixer to knead dough. The bowl on the KitchenAid would lock so tightly after kneading bread that I'd have to wrench it free, usually skinning my knuckles in the process. Some reviewers complain that the bread dough "climbs" the kneading hook, making a mess. I find that the dough actually climbs a lot less than it did when I used my KitchenAid. One reviewer mentioned that she finds the splash guard mostly useless, but I love it -- I find it truly useful, unlike the awkward, two-piece splash guard that came with my KitchenAid.
The timer function is nice, especially now that I don't need to stand over the mixer while it's kneading, worrying that it'll jitter its way onto the floor. I don't leave the room, but now I set the timer and let the mixer do its thing while I prep other ingredients or grease the baking pans. I really like the slow-start feature -- no more cloud of flour when I turn on the mixer.
Basically, this mixer does everything my KitchenAid did, and does it better. The performance has been highly satisfactory, and if it breaks down any time in the next five years, it will still be under warranty ... unlike my KitchenAid, which was only covered for a year.
I don't hate KitchenAid -- I think the mixers are probably still a good product, overall. I know that I was using mine for more than it was designed to handle. However, I am happier with the Cuisinart and have recommended it highly to several friends.
This is still a relatively early review. I expect stand mixers to last for at least a decade, and ideally for much longer. Six months after my purchase, I'm very happy with this machine. If anything happens to change that, I'll update this review.
 I haven't used it too much August 28, 2008
Momma Jack (U.S.A)
3 out of 6 found this review helpful
I just bought mine a couple of weeks ago after scouring the internet, scouring the papers, scouring the sales, scouring various stores, in a process that took 3 weeks after casual observations lasting more than 1.5 years! :o !...this was quite a big purchase I didn't want my husband to spend more than he had to, on a gift for me. I had been considering, after wracking my brain and countless notes scribbled on post-its and notebooks, the Bosch universal mixer, the electrolux assistent, and the viking mixer, possibly a hobart if I could find a used one for a good price...
I ended up picking this one because the price was nice!!! (very!) compared to the rest of the ones mentioned above, the 5 year warranty for the motor and the 3 year warranty for the rest of the mixer, the reviews that I had seen were positive, the only thing I was kinda sad about, (though in hindsight not too heartbroken) is that it didn't have a grain milling attachment (that just means I get to research grain milling machines...hm tribest or komo??? oops sidetracking). It does however have three different speed uh.....knobs, outlets, things!!! so that you can attach a juicer (low), meat grinder (mid), and food processor / blender (high).....
I bought it for 280 plus free blender cup with mail in rebate! I took it home, unwrapped it, marveled at its (seemingly) sturdy construction, watched the included dvd, read the manual and passed out from lack of sleep! A couple of days later I used it to make pita bread and tzatziki, meringues and other doughs (banana bread, biscuits) it kneaded the dough great, wasn't overly noisy, cleaned up quick and was easy, and I didn't have a hard time changing out the attachments from mixing paddle to bread hook to whisk......So for its first couple of test runs, it seems like a champ, so I can't (in all fairness) give this a higher rating.....My next attempts will be to use it for whole wheat or sandwich (white) bread (heavier doughs)...and then I will update this review.
So if price is the limiting factor I would get this one, if it isn't and you are just a casual user, get this one...but if your funds are unlimited, or you are a heavy duty bread baker then probably the hobart or the electrolux would be your best bet....
 Failed to Handle dough but looks great with nice feature August 4, 2008
John Miller (Napa, CA)
4 out of 6 found this review helpful
Okay I gave in and replaced the first Cuisinate Mixer with an identical one. The old machine review is below.
I looked at bread machines. The reviews bring me to the conclusion that if you get a good model versus a bad model is more a `luck of the draw' situation than anything else. Most models have high levels of lemons.
I refuse to buy or eat bread made commercially unless it is unavoidable. I prefer not to eat foods that have things in them that I can't spell or pronounce. Given that I have had no luck with any bread machine, the only alternative is to buy a decent mixer.
Cuisinart seemed the best of the bunch. The replacement Cusinart works fine. Rather than make bread per the standard recipes, I either increased liquid quantities or reduced the amount of flour in the dough, depending on the whim of the moment. The dough is stickier than I am used to and results in a faster higher rise. Coat your hands with some butter or shortening, if you don't want your fingers coated with dough. It does not negatively affect the final product. Most importantly the mixer does not have to kill itself kneading the dough.
I suppose the pricier KA would last longer with similar dough density adjustments. However, the Cuisinart is a nicer machine with useful bells and whistles, which not available on the KA. I increased my rating to 4 stars. It would be five except for the failure of the first machine.
Note: The first machine had a rubber base seal that the mixer bowl sat on. You need to borrow the Governor of California to get it off the base. The replacement machine has a plastic base, which the mixing bowl is easily removed from..................
I have tried two of the Cuisinart recipes. I used their recopies rather than my own which killed the KA. My rationale was that they should make a machine that can handle their recipes. The basic white bread dough caused a momentary stop, which would not have been noticeable had I not been watching. The upright shaft moves as if it has to much pressure on it. To much of that and the machine will fail. I tried the cinnamon roll recipe. I was instructed to put the timer on for 8 minutes to kneed the dough. At 4 minutes the machine over heated and shut down. I had added extra water to the recipe with the regular loaf experience. The dough that caused the failure was much softer than normal bread dough would be - more like the consistency that you would have making shortbread cookies.
Now I have to pack it up and take it back. I don't need an expensive heavy-duty machine to do anything, but make bread. A small inexpensive machine or hand mixing can do light/easy work.
Maybe I got a lemon. Maybe I did not. I revised my rating to one star from four stars, based on machine failure during an average task. Neither the Cuisinart nor the top end KA handle dough worse luck.
I bought this machine to replace a Kitchenaid Professional 600 model with 525 watts (KA). I hated the KA from the day that it came. It was outrageously noisy. That is a common user complaint that KA customer service says is normal - both the complaints and noise. The machine should come with ear plugs!!!
It was much noisier than this 800 watt Cuisinart ( C ). The tolerance of the bowl on the Cuisinart is much finer. KA's left much to be desired and often required scraping both the sides and the bottom of the bowl. I owned the KA for about two years. Most of its service was lighter duty, making things such as cakes. In the last few months I made bread with it. The KA labored from the task finally dying after making about 20 loaves. The gears broke or stripped. I did not bother to take the machine apart to see what the issue was, but as the motor continued to run and the tools did not that seems to be the obvious problem. I was relieved that it broke, so I could justify buying a new something else. LOL
Other than turning on the Cuisinart, I have not been able to compare its mixing capability. It comes with three standard attachments. They all insert and come out easily. Optional equipment is driven by one of three connections. All are unexposed versus the power takeoff located in the front of a KA.
Overall the machine is more modern looking. I will probably not use the splash guard. It requires firmer pressure to seat the head than without it. (I was afraid to push to hard and break the plastic. KA's splash guard assembly is a better design, but probably more apt to break than this one.) The automatic slow start-up and build up to dialed high speeds of the Cuisineart, probably mitigates most of the flour poof factor. Cuisinart has a functional timer and an alternate couple of revolution `On' button, which is supposed to be used for folding materials in.
Cuisinart comes with a recipe book, which you'll probably never use, and an instructional DVD. It is a great way to learn how the machine basics work, exposes you to optional attachments, and shows the machine making various recipes that are in the provided recipe book. I love the manual and recipe book. Why? Because it is all-English.
I bought the machine today (8/4/08) at Bed Bath and Beyond (BBB). With a 20% off coupon, BBB's or Linen and Things' works, it was $280 plus $23 sales tax for a total of $303. BBB has a special mail in offer. If you buy the machine from BBB, they will send you a free Blender attachment - list price $90 Amazon price $48.
If you don't have a Linen and Things, which is closing many of its stores, or a BBB near by, Amazon is a good place to make your purchase. I have always been happy with Amazon's fast delivery and excellent customer service.
I looked at the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics 63221 All-Metal Stand Mixer, which cost $172 at Amazon. I did not like the number of defective machines reported even though the manufacturer was responsive and replaced the defective machines.
The Cuisinart machine is significantly cheaper than the competing less powerful KA, is quieter, is smoother running, has a nicer appearance, and has a three-year warrantee versus KA's one year. The extra features may or may not be of use to you, but they are there versus not there for the KA.
My two cents worth:
I make and eat about three loaves of bread a week at a cost savings of a tad more than $3 a loaf for more or less comparable store bought bread. The machine will pay for itself after making 100 loaves, about eight months.
I much prefer cooking at home to dining out or buying processed foods. I know what goes in my finished product. I have never had any luck with bread machines even the top models like Zojirushi. Making bread the old fashioned way does not take long (hands on time) or require much more effort than a bread machine.
Love this Mixer!! July 25, 2008
B. J. Theurer (Missouri)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After doing without a stand mixer for four years, because I couldn't make up my mind what to buy after my Kitchenaid quit, I finally decided on the 5 quart Cuisinart and I am so happy with my purchase. It has so much more power than the Kitchenaid. It is a little noisy, but I can live with than. The different speeds and the fold button are great. I really like having a timer on the mixer also. I have made several loaves of bread, cheesecake, rolls, etc. I have not been dispppointed yet. Time will tell as to how the machine holds up. My old Kitchenaid only lasted about 4 years. Hopefully this one will last much longer. The warranty was one of the reasons that I purchased this brand. Cuisinart stands behind their products.
Great stand mixer! July 9, 2008
Love Baking
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
After reading for days the reviews on Kitchenaid stand mixers and comparing product prices and reviews I decided to go with the Cuisinart 5.5 qt. stand mixer. I have no regrets. I am in love with this mixer. I find myself cooking and baking more. It kneads like a dream, whips in no time, easy to operate and clean it. It is a very good looking addition also to my kitchen.
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