@hypnotika that was only for that 3 ways series... nothing outside, I think they've just been using their stuff as they've got a trust with the item (or they have them to hand)
Kenwood also sent them their first kit when they first started, so if they're loyal after all these years, that's quite a statement for the Brand's usefulness. c:
Useful things to add to your smart gadget reviews: - Does the app work without the internet (i.e. can it connect just over your wifi, without needing an external connection - which also means it should work if their servers are playing up/taken offline). Most of them don't, but it's a thing worth highlighting when they do. - And following from that - what are the controls like without the app? Easy to use? Any functions locked off? - Generally, I'd like to see a bit of the chefs playing around with it and making a recipe not on the app - having a tool that's only useful for the things the manufacturer suggests is one thing (and can be pretty good if there are enough of those), but seeing the process of using it as a more generalised bit of equipment would be great.
I've watched some cooking videos of a group of gamers/ let's players. One of them has this machine (i don't know if it is this version because some of those videos are many years old by now.) He's not using the app for anything (i don't know if his version even has one xD) but it works fine with everything they did in those videos and he used it for. (Sometimes he just didn't bother because he was too lazy to clean the thing up afterwards) They also didn't do any preprogrammed stuff or recipes explicitly for this machine. (They did some recipes for the Thermomix with the Kenwood and it worked just fine or even better iirc.) so i can't say if the app needs internet or not and stuff but i can say it's also doing it's job for other things than the preprogrammed ones (if they didn't change anything, of course)
@@serenetivit's kinda funny that by basically the first two sentences I had an idea who you were talking about and by the rest of the comment it just made it absolutely clear you were talking about PietSmiet.
Another I'd love to see is clean-up. How hard/easy was it to clean-up the entire device after? Automatic mixers are crazy for getting flour and stuff everywhere, would've loved to have seen what got dirty/where and ease of cleaning :)
Kenwood are by far the best brand in the UK, I think. I can't afford them, but I did splash out on a food processor and it's much better than the other ones I've owned.
@@jaspercandoit I nearly got sucked in by the pretty colours of the KitchenAid, but I noticed in a lot of cooking videos that the motor of it made a noise that was just the pitch that hurts my ears (hyperacusis), so no pretty colour was worth that. And I think the Kenwood are better. I also had a motor noise issue with the Thermomix when I was considering that, and ended up getting a Magimix Cook Expert which also has the food processor that uses the same base unit. Love that too. An awesome bit of kit.
Not sure if I would describe this, as Mike said, as excellent, knowing that out of two tested recipes, only one worked without a trained chef interfering. The first one would've completely failed if he wouldn't have stepped in. For the price of 2.5 months of rent in my area, I would expect that the included recipes would just work if I followed them step by step.
Agreed, perhaps the building quality of the machine is excellent. Adding the app, recipes and a wobbly scale, the entire experience doesn't seem excellent. Certainly not for that price.
Yeah Kenwood are built like tanks. I have had the same machine as this but without all the smartness, and it’s a beast. And I must say you have a very cheap rent 👍😂
As an IT guy, I deliberately avoid 'smart' appliances. More to go wrong, and what happens when the servers get decommissioned on Kenwood's side? Sounds like some extra planned obsolescence to me.
Yup. I'd rather pay a similar amount for a really well-manufactured device without the screen/internet connection, that'll keep going for 15+ years, by which point this will have long since ended up in the recycling centre
Yep, exactly why I won't buy any smart cooking devices. I'd love to know the percentage of kitchen gadgets with an app that have been featured on the channel that have apps that still work.
As an IT guy as well, I think you’re assuming that the info isn’t stored client-side. Because if that were the simple case then your argument doesn’t mean shit. Which isn’t very IT and everyone that followed you. How many KB of info is needed in these algorithms?
Also IT guy, at least it seems like you can use the device on its own without the app/cloud. I probably wouldn't connect the thing to the wifi in the first place.
Interesting to see how it works but 1. I'd never be able to afford it and 2. I wouldn't want it if I could afford it. I was thinking of how Ben knew what to do when the filling for the profitiroles didn't come out right. If the machine does everything for you, you never learn how to fix those mistakes--or even know if it is a mistake. I love learning and perfecting my techniques. It gives me way more a sense of accomplishment than a machine doing it for me.
Agreed, and I also think there's a point about that element of romance to it. Accepting that there's a helpful aspect to this and for the right person it might be an absolute game changer, if I make time to cook then I'm going to accept the fiddly/pain in the neck bits, and benefit from the sense of direct control and judgement I get by turning raw ingredients into something more whole. And if I don't have the time to cook properly, then I accept I'm going to make compromises and that'll come in the form of ordering in, having a ready meal or just simplifying a dish down. I do think there comes a point where the general need for everything to be easy just means that cooking increasingly is just a science based on getting from A to B as quickly as possible rather than an art and a process which is learned and crafted, but also brings with it all the other things which come with cooking.
Agreed you buy a store bought cake mix and it failed even if you followed the instructions you would be fuming and never buy it again. This costs a thousand times more and still fails on their own recipes 🤦♂️
Lovely video guys. I would love a follow up video where you test some of the other functions to see if they are as sound as these were. The more functions that work as intended makes it more appealing for someone that would love to cook more but doesnt like to take a lot of time to do that. So every step that gets taken care of makes it easier to do
To add to this, I would love to see the machine passed around people on the team and used at home for a couple days / week and see their opinion using it on their own at home.
Agreed, for something so expensive if it can take the place of perhaps a stand mixer/hand mixer/kitchen scale/food processor/mandolin slicer etc then it would be more worth the large price tag
Back in 1975 we were given a Kenwood food mixer as a wedding present. 49 years later, it still works perfectly. Come back in 50 years.....will this machine still be working? I doubt it. There is a lot to be said for simplicity.
Yeah, my concern with any product that also has an app tied to it, is even if the hardware is still functional years from now, will the app still work?
Yes. Ultimately, a mixer is about a good machine. Well engineered, well made gears and motors. Add a scale, a heating element, a ‘smart’ component, etc etc,there are just more things to break.
I know Ben isn't a baker but I was surprised that he didn't do the little 'twist' on each piped choux pastry bit, to help not have the long hat at the top. Really appreciate the honest review!! ETA: 18:08 I really love that Kenwood made the mixer paddle in the shape of a 'K'. Brilliant!
No. It's a sensitive balance, just like a normal counter one. Mike should not bang the machine while pouring. That makes the weight different, just like a regular balance.
@@amyrotella1219 The issue is, as happened with adding the rice you can't really take anything out of the bowl once it goes in. The entire idea is fundamentally flawed. You should portion your mise en place before you start any recipe not at various stages of the cooking process. The scale is just a worthless add on that will certainly cause people to mess up recipes.
I think the real issue is that, because it's a "smart" machine, there is a significant time lag between adding something in and the display updating the new weight. Without having an innate sense of how much something weighs, Mike ended up pouring the rice in really slowly and stopping and starting many times because of this, and he still went over weight because the display didn't finish updating for a whole second after he had put the rice in.
One competitor is maybe the Electrolux Assistent, now Ankarsrum. Mine is from 1948 (I had do do some restoring, new wiring, new caps, new belt). It is an all metal, one speed monster, but it just WORKS. As do the many attachments. After 75 years. I fear that very impressive Kenwood will start suffering from computer errors and sensor malfunctions in a few years, as all smart gadgets tend to do.
@@SortedFood That's not the point though. Requiring constant connection to the internet is the problem, not that they're smart. If you can connect to it via wifi and control it this way, it's not a problem and not a security risk. It takes a moment for the manufacturer to go "okay, glad you like the device, now you need to pay a subscription if you want to access "premium" recipes" and the whole thing is ruined just like that.
Just a thought in regards to chopping the onion - if the chopping attachment can go through a dishwasher then being able to use the chopper over cutting the onion with a knife can make a big difference to someone who struggles with cooking being overwhelming. I recently bought myself a cheap veggie chopper (one of the ones where you push your veg through a grid of blades) and having to only slice my veggies and press them in the chopper means I am cooking a lot more frequently than I used to.
I love the way you get the measurements on a separate display because some of us are neither gifted with maths nor gifted with eyeballing ingredients. 6:21 “But we have a Le Dangle there…We are le conflicted.” 7:11 PRODDERS and Dabbers
So what am I doing after the live show? That's right watch more Sorted ❤ I love Kenwood!! I've gotten the machine my parents got for their wedding it's over 30 years old and still works like a treat 🎉
@@toriasummers2670the Thermomix is a touch more I think. Can't remember how much I paid for mine. If the processor attachments come with the Kenwood it's better value and a better mixer for baking. However as a smart device the Thermomix is better and easier to use going off this video.
I know the temperature can be adjusted, but did you test if the heating results are accurate? If you're tempering chocolate, it would need to be spot on. Was the scale jumping around? Several times, it moved after taring or when nothing was touched. Also, was the mixer squeaking? That would drive me nuts, but I know sometimes new machinery does that the first or second time it's used.
The squeaking is from the rubber blades scraping the bowl, that sound doesn't go away with use. It's not there with any of the other attachments though
@@nicfab1 yeah, it's a really nice paddle for mixing without whipping, but I have to do this in earbuds with something heavy cause noise makes me shiver
I hated the noise too. As a baker I know it means it scraps the bowl very well but I could not stand that for long, I find that noise worst that the heavy sound of my kitchen aid
Re: the temperature, I have an older version of this (not smart, no scales), and in mine the temperature is pretty much spot on. Varies by 1-2 degrees at most.
I love the idea of how it removes the guess work but I also feel like at this level of handsoff I rather just buy something from a bakery. Like its cool tech but at this point I wouldn't feel like I was making it anyways
This! One great thing of cooking is "the personal touch". When my wife and I cook the same dish with the same ingredients and the same recipe...the end product WILL taste different. I feel with appliances like this the dishes will taste the same everywhere. Good for people who can't cook, or who don't like cooking. But I think it's not foodies and good cooks, let alone chefs.
I became disabled a few years ago and can no longer whisk or sit for the length of time it takes to make a risotto. I would happily save up for a new Kenwood Mixer (we already have a beloved 20 year old Kenwood Major that is going strong) so that I could cook like this again. Absolute genius. As for the heart and soul of cooking, not at all. The cakes my wife makes with the Major are stunning. You still have to understand the machine. I have learned how to use the bread hook attachment to make really good bread, as I can also not knead any more. I miss getting my hands into the dough, but I love eating home cooked bread. And given how much we paid for the Major, the £1k price tag isn’t as steep as I was expecting.
I'd be down for a mixer with a scale, no smart connect feature, but also the different stir methods as physical buttons. The only way a smart connect machine like this would be worth while is if you can create your own recipes for it. Not necessarily publish but just create for personal use.
Remember when Ben reviewed the Instant Pot. I now have two of them as one lost it's beep for some strange reason. Use the new one nearly every day. Made so many different things in it from meals to cheesecake and more. I have two Kenwood Chefs. A 901 I bought at a flea market 20 years ago - it's still going strong and a second one, a KM330 which my friend's sister gave to me. She'd inherited it from a relative who passed away but said she'd never use it and it was just taking up space in her kitchen. It needs to go back to Kenwood to be serviced as it blew the front seal when I was making sausages. Must admit, I'm tempted by this new all singing, all dancing model. Kenwood Chefs are great workhorses in the kitchen. Wouldn't be without mine.
Just FYI, Risotto doesn't need to be constantly stirred - Adam Ragusea did a side by side, and found that just dumping in most of the liquid at the start, letting it cook, then finishing the usual way (adding more liquid and stirring until your preferred doneness) gives the exact same texture as stirring constantly :)
You've reviewed a lot of smart gadgets now, you should have a normals battle where they each pick a smart device to use to make their dish. No hobs. Jamie will likely pick the Smoker, Barry will pick the sous vide oven, Mike will pick this or the Tokett.
I hope I am not the only one who finds prep work in the kitchen and "just" stirring boring. I sincerely believe it makes you appreciate the end result much more. These smart appliances are very tricky in my mind. If you are a true beginner then they will not prevent you from failing (exactly what would happen in the cream patisserie case if someone did not know what to do except follow their instructions). If you are an experienced cook, you probably do not want the guidelines anyway. As a stand mixer, perfect; as a smart helper? Eh, I am not sure.
What it needs is a controlled hopper where the hatch is, so you can dose it up with your weighed goods, then when you're happy with the amount, flip a lever, and it drops them in. Then you can remove some if you need to!
Ooh, what about a couple of separate hatches the machine can open from the bottom, so you can pre-measure stuff for it to drop in when the timing is right? Dry ingredients in section A, seasonings and an egg in section B, or whatever.
Perhaps not mentioned but really important to consider in terms of lowering wastage etc. is once you have a Kenwood- you'll never need another one! They produce spare parts still for my Kenwood K701 and KM230 (both handed down to me)- which are both over 20/30 years old at least. They're are well used and still going strong!!
Except with this you're reliant on the app being updated for the next 30 years, and still remaining backwards compatible with a 30 year old machine. Good luck with that.
Watching this in between segments of the live show. It is absolutely amazing and I am loving every minute of it. Thanks to the whole team! #GrillTheIce
I have just invested in the Baker XL version of this machine and it is incredible!!! Don't het fooled by yhe baker label, it comes with spice grinder, blender, food processor and mini chopper as well as a ton of grating blades and paddle attachments. Even has a meat mincer attachment. Every attachment and the machine feels like excellent quality. Would highly recommend!
Video ideal: beat the chef but the normal has to use the cooking chef for most of the cooking, and do blind judging with people other than the normals or chefs.
I love my kenwood cooking chef…I have had it for a few years now, just not one that connects to the net….i have also had a kitchen aid and compared to the kenwood the kitchen aid was a piece of pretty junk, that was all it had going for it, it was pretty…from new the kitchen aid couldn’t even whip 3 egg whites to stiff peaks for a pavlova, my Kenny does not skip a beat, bread dough is a breeze, silky smooth buttercream, oh and the best passion fruit curd which was so easy to make because I didn’t have to stand there and stir…this is my second kenwood I have ever had…my first one was from my mother who bought hers before I was born in 1973 and it is still going to this day, I just passed it on to someone else to use, when I upgraded…LOVE MY KENNY…
I love my cooking chef too. My son bought it for my birthday 8 years ago and I make so much in it, and it certainly saves on stirring time. He has my old one.
Something like this (minus the errors in recipes) can be a gateway for getting into cooking or a gateway to increase the complexity of dishes. Basically building confidence. On the other hand if someone relies on this completely they will never learn. So this type of smart machine is a double edged sword.
About 50 years ago my Mum felt she needed the newest and most raved about sunbeam mixer. She put aside her small, humble mixer that you could detach and use by hand. The new machine cost a few hundred. The machine gave her no end of trouble, making it inconvenient. To this day, it has collected dust in her kitchen. The lesson - keep it simple.
as someone who has a cooking chef (not xl) i have found that it is great at first but then soon becomes a gimic. Also the scale never seems quite right and fluctuates quite a bit. Unless you are cooking all of these amazing things on the regular it isn’t worth it. That being said what i do use it for ( a lot of one thing) it is amazing, a workhorse that is strong and sturdy.
After watching your test and review of the Tokit Omni Cook I did some research and bought myself a Cuisinart cooking food processor. I LOVE it! Now I believe this Kenwood Cooking Chef XL would be the perfect complement! I guess I’ll have to start saving up.
Decades of young cooks were trained with these machines in Australia and New Zealand. I have my Mother in-laws kenwood she was given as a wedding present. It still goes just as hard today as it did in the 60’s.
On the twelfth day of Sortedmas, my true love gave to me: 1 Smart Gadget, 1 Smart Chef, 1 Cross Normal and 9 ways to prepare different things. (Also yay not an ad gadget discourse and Ben making risotto) P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKE!
I adore mine, it's the best and I paid a lot of money for other machines over the years. And all the extras make it the gadget you do everything with. From grinding spices to cooking soup.
As a tech person, the thing I value most is robust build quality and no needless digitalization. Anything "smart" just instantly gains a big price tag, a huge number of tiny, fragile components, and a software where many things can go wrong. Just asking for trouble, especially in environments with a lot of heat, dust, and/or vibrations. I'll take a high-quality mechanical device over a flimsy high-tech gadget any day. This is definitely the most promising-looking device out of the many I've seen you test, but I personally still wouldn't buy it. Takes the magic out of cooking, too. Mistakes and experimentation are meant to be a part of the process. It's what makes you a better cook. Going from following recipes, to adjusting them, to making your own.
This was great! I've been salivating over this product for a good while now and questioned how good it actually is. Now I can continue to long for it even more knowing I will probably never excuse such an expensive purchase
At this point, I feel like the normals are pseu-chefs at the very least. They've grown and learned so much and should be proud of their achievements. Especially Mike!
Oh, the mise mushroom risotto Mike mentions is one of my absolute favorites, too! In fact, that entire pack (Twisted Italy if anyone is wondering) is phenomenal, and probably the pack I've coked most often.
Loved the video guys, thanks! Looked up the price of this mixer chef thingee..... It's about $3400.00 CAD mate! Unless I win a lotto and I'm looking for neat stuff to spend it on.... not a chance!
I am a bit surprised that you didn't test the accuracy of the scale considering how much fluctuating was going on while you were putting in ingredients. I also see a problem when you accidentally add more of an ingredient than you intended. It's harder to take it out especially if the bowl is hot or the ingredients share the same color/texture. Doesn't that go against the idea of mise en place? Having all your ingredients measured out and in place?
15:04 would be a huge problem for bakers. Much of baking is an exact science, so it relies on precision. If your measurements are off, then you need to adjust for all other ingredients. Moreover, if you don’t realize an ingredient is out of balance by weight, it can affect the final product.
I've got the earlier version of this machine, it's great for constant gentle heat/stir foods i.e. lemon curd, the real benefit is multitasking, you can get on with something else while it does the donkey work.
As a pastry chef... I can say with total confidence that no new mixer will ever separate me from my Kitchenaids. One of them is 9 years old and still working like new.
My current Kitchen Aid is 10 years old...the one I had before that was 40 years old when I replaced it (had been a hand-me-down from my mother). Love my KAs!
@ Well, yes. I am quite aware of that. I am not British, so I didn’t grow up with Kenwood appliances. I was raised in the US, so our standard appliances are usually the Kitchen Aid appliances. There are other American brands, but the gold standard for a stand mixer is always going to be a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for us. I think the better conversation to be having is that do we really need to put smart technology where it doesn’t belong. Not only did this Kenwood stand mixer have an issue with timing and temperature, but there was an issue with giving accurante weight measurements. For pastry chefs, we rely on accuracy and precision heavily for our baked goods. This extends to timing and temperature as well, because we can’t have certain ingredients introduced in the mixture if the bowl is too hot or cold. Ben mentioned tempering chocolate, which is so damn finnicky because one degree over in temp, you have to re-temper the chocolate.
@@sukhmanisreadingcorner6811 It gives precise weight measurements when people don't lean over it pressing the bowl. And yes, it is accurate enough to temper chocolate.
I remember your series of 3 levels of a dish that you did with Kenwood as a sponsor, those videos are brilliant, really well done. Great to see this one isn't sponsored, though. 😊
I own the machine for 3 years I use the scale only with the arm open when everything is stopped and nothing leans at the machine and it reacts to a slight press so nothing interfering with it. I use the scale sometimes but not everytime because when it is in the bowl you can't get it out. 😉
When my Nana passed her 1970s Kenwood chef dissapeared, like a lot of her other cooking things. Anyway that was a awesome bit of kit and if whoever has it looks after it, I don't doubt it will a lot longer.
Watching both of you lean on the work surface next to the machine whilst trying to use its weight function, it's easy as a viewer to imagine the weight being wonky because you have touched the machine accidently by leaning over it.
I've got the original Kenwood Cooking Chef (still going strong after nearly 20 years. No app, no scales, no smart functions - BUT it has the 1 degree accurate induction heating and one of the strongest mixer motors out there. I'm making souse-vide coffee in it right now for a liquor ;). The attachments are the best quality I have seen for a mixer at ANY level, almost like high-tech surgical instruments. The pasta extruder even uses bronze dies!
You might claim that this is not an ad, and I believe that you purchased it with your own money, but I 100% do not believe that you are not sponsored by Kenwood for this obviously uncritical review of their very expensive stand mixer right before the holidays.
iI think you are right. This machine has a lot of „contras“ . The bowl is heavy and not well balanced. German Johann Lafer was / is a Kennwood ambessador and told inngerman clips that you could held the hit bowl under the left arm covered with towels and used the right arm to scratch the risotto out of the bowl. And its a really big hot water mess opening the machine while or after finished cooking. Johann Lafers tip with to took a bowl around the vertical part of the machine under the arm before opening. But inlove mine for making dough !
They tried it out and it worked. Theres no more to this. Its still a critical review. Plus Ben absolutely mentioned that he had to use his chef skills once to make it perfect. So you are saying they are doing something thats highly illegal?! Because thats what not disclosing a paid ad is. That is bullshit. They will always tell us that.
@@metalpuppet5798 Lol it's not a critical review. There is far more to a review than it's good. If it was a critical review then why didn't they touch on repair ability?
@svn5994 they did touch on the pretty high price, they did touch on having to adjust some things with chef abilities (which most dont have) multiple times. They still had a great experience using it and therefore their opinion is that it is a great product. If thats not a balanced review I dont know what is. Again, taking money in any capacity from a brand and not disclosing it is HIGHLY illegal. You are not watching freaking Logan Paul here. This is a very educational channel with a great responsible team behind it
Would love to see a collab with Jay over at smash fishing (Guernsey) He could take you out foraging and then you could bring back the catch and him to the sorted kitchen and cook it all up! I suggested this to him in a live chat and he is down for it!
I literally just bought myself a KMix because kenwood are the best - my Nana’s mixer (one of the original chef mixers) has been on the go successfully. I don’t think I’d enjoy using this machine, I quite like the manual/automatic mix in baking makes it enjoyable !
Adding in stock to a risotto gradually is essentially an Italian "old Nona's tale" - i.e. it's never been proven to be better than putting all the liquid in one go. Case in point is that in a classic Paella recipe, you do just that! I tend to cook mine in a pressure cooker/Instant Pot - done in 6 minutes with no stirring (because the rapid boiling does more than enough mixing).
I’ve had my Kenwood Chef since 1996 without it skipping a beat. My Mum’s is from 1969 and still as good as the day she got it. My question is, do the new ones last as long? I’ve heard not, but wonder if that is true. They are an absolute workhorse in the kitchen.
See this is the kind of kitchen tool I would invest in. I can't cook for my life, so I can't make risotto but spending some extra money on a machine that could help me to enjoy cooking and make more nutritious meals, peaks my interest in investing in something like this.
I think the idea of this is pretty cool, and on one hand I really like the accessibility it brings in terms of being able to make things at home that maybe you don't have the skill for doing it on your own. And, that you can focus on other things while it mixes things up for you. But, on the other hand, I do think it takes away from the romance of it all. If I really wanted to make profiteroles for a gathering, part of me wants to learn and have the satisfaction of making them myself. Baking can be extremely frustrating, but also very rewarding if you are diligent and figure out what works for you. So while this machine might give you ability to make something nice for people, I do think it takes away a little of the spirit of learning how to do it yourself.
My take on this is that a stand mixer, measuring equipment and utensils can be bought for a fraction of the cost and you can get wonderful step-by-step instructions in places like the sidekick app. Save yourself hundreds of pounds, enjoy the process and get lots of incredible recipes. If this was half the price and it buttoned up finicky issues like the recipes and the scale, I think it would find a home in a lot more kitchens.
Great review, boyz! I own a Thermomix myself, and I have to say, that the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL looks quite impressive. However, it does seem less mature software wise and much bulkier compared to my Thermomix including the accessories, which is a consideration for those with limited kitchen space. That said, it’s great to see you testing alternatives like this - whether sponsored or not - (as long as you make it clear at the beginning of your videos 😜) as it appears to offer a more affordable option (±150£ compare to the Thermomix) for those considering a high-end kitchen tools. Keep up the fantastic work!
Oooh! I’m so excited to watch this! I’m switching to the tv so I can watch on a bigger screen lol. I have this mixer and I’ve barely used it. It has so much potential that I’m not tapping into. I’ve made a meringue, which was perfect, and a custard which splattered everywhere even with the heat and splash guards on. I’ve made 2 cakes since buying it and both were whack it in a bowl and whisk types 😂 I chose this one because my plan is to have my own dairy animals in the next year or two. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll have a cow or goats or sheep. But whatever I have I’ll be making my own cheese, and I’m hoping with this I can set the temperature and have it stir slowly and free me up from standing in the kitchen just stirring curds. It will limit me to making 5L batches but as long as that doesn’t mess up the ageing process that will make a good sized block for me.
I do not mind when these are sponsored but I ESPECIALLY like videos like this when they are 100% not an ad and paid with Ben's personal debit card.
*nervous laugh*
I think Ben had already talked himself into buying one for himself and they are milking it for videos.
I do not have a problem with this :)
Hasn't Kenwood been a sponsor of the show for a relatively long time?
@hypnotika that was only for that 3 ways series... nothing outside, I think they've just been using their stuff as they've got a trust with the item (or they have them to hand)
Kenwood also sent them their first kit when they first started, so if they're loyal after all these years, that's quite a statement for the Brand's usefulness. c:
Useful things to add to your smart gadget reviews:
- Does the app work without the internet (i.e. can it connect just over your wifi, without needing an external connection - which also means it should work if their servers are playing up/taken offline). Most of them don't, but it's a thing worth highlighting when they do.
- And following from that - what are the controls like without the app? Easy to use? Any functions locked off?
- Generally, I'd like to see a bit of the chefs playing around with it and making a recipe not on the app - having a tool that's only useful for the things the manufacturer suggests is one thing (and can be pretty good if there are enough of those), but seeing the process of using it as a more generalised bit of equipment would be great.
I've watched some cooking videos of a group of gamers/ let's players. One of them has this machine (i don't know if it is this version because some of those videos are many years old by now.) He's not using the app for anything (i don't know if his version even has one xD) but it works fine with everything they did in those videos and he used it for. (Sometimes he just didn't bother because he was too lazy to clean the thing up afterwards) They also didn't do any preprogrammed stuff or recipes explicitly for this machine. (They did some recipes for the Thermomix with the Kenwood and it worked just fine or even better iirc.)
so i can't say if the app needs internet or not and stuff but i can say it's also doing it's job for other things than the preprogrammed ones (if they didn't change anything, of course)
Great feedback, I’ll pass your comment onto the team - thanks!
Hayley @ Team Sorted
@@serenetivit's kinda funny that by basically the first two sentences I had an idea who you were talking about and by the rest of the comment it just made it absolutely clear you were talking about PietSmiet.
Another I'd love to see is clean-up. How hard/easy was it to clean-up the entire device after? Automatic mixers are crazy for getting flour and stuff everywhere, would've loved to have seen what got dirty/where and ease of cleaning :)
@@Far1988 yep xD
Now we need Barry vs Kenwood battle for the sous-chef position
Hahaha excellent comment 😂
where does the apron go on the Kenwood?
Haaaaa! 😂
@@SortedFood Janice's new bf is named Ken Wood
@@SortedFood Actually a Kush + Barry vs Ben + Kenwood battle could be incredible
anyone who's watched for a while knows how much the boys love kenwood lol it feels like the whole kitchen was kenwood at one point!!
The whole kitchen was at one point 😂
And that was part of my decision to go with a Kenwood mixer! If the Sorted boys are that happy with Kenwood, I will be too.
Kenwood are by far the best brand in the UK, I think. I can't afford them, but I did splash out on a food processor and it's much better than the other ones I've owned.
@@jaspercandoit I nearly got sucked in by the pretty colours of the KitchenAid, but I noticed in a lot of cooking videos that the motor of it made a noise that was just the pitch that hurts my ears (hyperacusis), so no pretty colour was worth that. And I think the Kenwood are better.
I also had a motor noise issue with the Thermomix when I was considering that, and ended up getting a Magimix Cook Expert which also has the food processor that uses the same base unit. Love that too. An awesome bit of kit.
I think that was due to the video where kenwood sponsored them though
Not sure if I would describe this, as Mike said, as excellent, knowing that out of two tested recipes, only one worked without a trained chef interfering. The first one would've completely failed if he wouldn't have stepped in.
For the price of 2.5 months of rent in my area, I would expect that the included recipes would just work if I followed them step by step.
Agreed and I would also expect the weighting to be 100% accurate and it really wasn’t. For the price it’s definitely not excellent
Agreed, perhaps the building quality of the machine is excellent. Adding the app, recipes and a wobbly scale, the entire experience doesn't seem excellent. Certainly not for that price.
Yeah Kenwood are built like tanks. I have had the same machine as this but without all the smartness, and it’s a beast. And I must say you have a very cheap rent 👍😂
As an IT guy, I deliberately avoid 'smart' appliances. More to go wrong, and what happens when the servers get decommissioned on Kenwood's side? Sounds like some extra planned obsolescence to me.
Yup. I'd rather pay a similar amount for a really well-manufactured device without the screen/internet connection, that'll keep going for 15+ years, by which point this will have long since ended up in the recycling centre
Yep, exactly why I won't buy any smart cooking devices. I'd love to know the percentage of kitchen gadgets with an app that have been featured on the channel that have apps that still work.
That's when you jailbreak them
As an IT guy as well, I think you’re assuming that the info isn’t stored client-side. Because if that were the simple case then your argument doesn’t mean shit. Which isn’t very IT and everyone that followed you. How many KB of info is needed in these algorithms?
Also IT guy, at least it seems like you can use the device on its own without the app/cloud. I probably wouldn't connect the thing to the wifi in the first place.
Interesting to see how it works but 1. I'd never be able to afford it and 2. I wouldn't want it if I could afford it. I was thinking of how Ben knew what to do when the filling for the profitiroles didn't come out right. If the machine does everything for you, you never learn how to fix those mistakes--or even know if it is a mistake. I love learning and perfecting my techniques. It gives me way more a sense of accomplishment than a machine doing it for me.
Agreed, and I also think there's a point about that element of romance to it.
Accepting that there's a helpful aspect to this and for the right person it might be an absolute game changer, if I make time to cook then I'm going to accept the fiddly/pain in the neck bits, and benefit from the sense of direct control and judgement I get by turning raw ingredients into something more whole. And if I don't have the time to cook properly, then I accept I'm going to make compromises and that'll come in the form of ordering in, having a ready meal or just simplifying a dish down.
I do think there comes a point where the general need for everything to be easy just means that cooking increasingly is just a science based on getting from A to B as quickly as possible rather than an art and a process which is learned and crafted, but also brings with it all the other things which come with cooking.
Agreed you buy a store bought cake mix and it failed even if you followed the instructions you would be fuming and never buy it again. This costs a thousand times more and still fails on their own recipes 🤦♂️
Lovely video guys. I would love a follow up video where you test some of the other functions to see if they are as sound as these were. The more functions that work as intended makes it more appealing for someone that would love to cook more but doesnt like to take a lot of time to do that. So every step that gets taken care of makes it easier to do
Yes, I'm curious about what other functions and attachments it has and how well they work
To add to this, I would love to see the machine passed around people on the team and used at home for a couple days / week and see their opinion using it on their own at home.
Would definitely be down for a part 2
Agreed, for something so expensive if it can take the place of perhaps a stand mixer/hand mixer/kitchen scale/food processor/mandolin slicer etc then it would be more worth the large price tag
Back in 1975 we were given a Kenwood food mixer as a wedding present. 49 years later, it still works perfectly. Come back in 50 years.....will this machine still be working? I doubt it. There is a lot to be said for simplicity.
Yeah, my concern with any product that also has an app tied to it, is even if the hardware is still functional years from now, will the app still work?
@@Tannhauser42electronics are naturally more fragile, too.
Yes. Ultimately, a mixer is about a good machine. Well engineered, well made gears and motors. Add a scale, a heating element, a ‘smart’ component, etc etc,there are just more things to break.
I know Ben isn't a baker but I was surprised that he didn't do the little 'twist' on each piped choux pastry bit, to help not have the long hat at the top. Really appreciate the honest review!!
ETA: 18:08 I really love that Kenwood made the mixer paddle in the shape of a 'K'. Brilliant!
yeah they do this since forever, i think, but i love it xD
Funny enough it's actually a pretty good set up for it too like realistically speaking
Tap it with a finger dabbed in water that also helps ❤
The weight changing when you weren't adding something seems like it could be problematic.
Indeed, if it's all about being precise, that isn't it. :) I would love to know what the specs say about the variance.
No. It's a sensitive balance, just like a normal counter one. Mike should not bang the machine while pouring. That makes the weight different, just like a regular balance.
@@amyrotella1219 it's also really precise that wind affects it. i have a table top scale that i use that does that too
@@amyrotella1219 The issue is, as happened with adding the rice you can't really take anything out of the bowl once it goes in. The entire idea is fundamentally flawed. You should portion your mise en place before you start any recipe not at various stages of the cooking process. The scale is just a worthless add on that will certainly cause people to mess up recipes.
I think the real issue is that, because it's a "smart" machine, there is a significant time lag between adding something in and the display updating the new weight. Without having an innate sense of how much something weighs, Mike ended up pouring the rice in really slowly and stopping and starting many times because of this, and he still went over weight because the display didn't finish updating for a whole second after he had put the rice in.
That squeak alone would drive me INSANE!
Once you get one, your mouth will start to water like Pavlov’s dog when you hear the squeaks 😅
I was watching this from in bed and got worried that it was the bed squeaking 😂
Yeah I would be pissed of if I spent 1200pounds and the machine does that noise.
You can adjust the attachment connector to remove the squeak
One competitor is maybe the Electrolux Assistent, now Ankarsrum. Mine is from 1948 (I had do do some restoring, new wiring, new caps, new belt). It is an all metal, one speed monster, but it just WORKS. As do the many attachments. After 75 years. I fear that very impressive Kenwood will start suffering from computer errors and sensor malfunctions in a few years, as all smart gadgets tend to do.
I second this
I think this would be lucky to even last one tenth as long.
Love having a SORTED video every day ❤❤❤
Tiny detail I liked was the text and the scale graphic stayed level when the mixer part was tilted. Makes it stay readable.
Same.
An actually smart detail, NGL
It’s a nice touch 👌
@@SortedFood That's not the point though. Requiring constant connection to the internet is the problem, not that they're smart. If you can connect to it via wifi and control it this way, it's not a problem and not a security risk. It takes a moment for the manufacturer to go "okay, glad you like the device, now you need to pay a subscription if you want to access "premium" recipes" and the whole thing is ruined just like that.
Just a thought in regards to chopping the onion - if the chopping attachment can go through a dishwasher then being able to use the chopper over cutting the onion with a knife can make a big difference to someone who struggles with cooking being overwhelming. I recently bought myself a cheap veggie chopper (one of the ones where you push your veg through a grid of blades) and having to only slice my veggies and press them in the chopper means I am cooking a lot more frequently than I used to.
I love the way you get the measurements on a separate display because some of us are neither gifted with maths nor gifted with eyeballing ingredients.
6:21 “But we have a Le Dangle there…We are le conflicted.”
7:11 PRODDERS and Dabbers
absolutely smashing work mates watching for over 3 years
Thanks 😁
So what am I doing after the live show? That's right watch more Sorted ❤
I love Kenwood!! I've gotten the machine my parents got for their wedding it's over 30 years old and still works like a treat 🎉
Maybe I'm too demanding, but for 1200, i expect the recipes to be on point and not need fiddling. Inexcusable for costing more than a month's rent.
I think the thermomix is far better than this and it's about the same price
Kenwood have this on sale at£999 as of today 15/12/24 .
@@johnmccallum8512 for £1000 it should have recipes that actually work
@@toriasummers2670the Thermomix is a touch more I think. Can't remember how much I paid for mine. If the processor attachments come with the Kenwood it's better value and a better mixer for baking.
However as a smart device the Thermomix is better and easier to use going off this video.
id also expect the scale not to fluctuate +/-50g
I know the temperature can be adjusted, but did you test if the heating results are accurate? If you're tempering chocolate, it would need to be spot on.
Was the scale jumping around? Several times, it moved after taring or when nothing was touched.
Also, was the mixer squeaking? That would drive me nuts, but I know sometimes new machinery does that the first or second time it's used.
The squeaking is from the rubber blades scraping the bowl, that sound doesn't go away with use. It's not there with any of the other attachments though
@@nicfab1 yeah, it's a really nice paddle for mixing without whipping, but I have to do this in earbuds with something heavy cause noise makes me shiver
I hated the noise too. As a baker I know it means it scraps the bowl very well but I could not stand that for long, I find that noise worst that the heavy sound of my kitchen aid
I paused the video to check if the squeaking was on my side. (Luckily it wasn't.) 😊
Re: the temperature, I have an older version of this (not smart, no scales), and in mine the temperature is pretty much spot on. Varies by 1-2 degrees at most.
I own a Kenwood Chef from the 1950s. LOVE it.
I love the idea of how it removes the guess work but I also feel like at this level of handsoff I rather just buy something from a bakery. Like its cool tech but at this point I wouldn't feel like I was making it anyways
This!
One great thing of cooking is "the personal touch". When my wife and I cook the same dish with the same ingredients and the same recipe...the end product WILL taste different.
I feel with appliances like this the dishes will taste the same everywhere.
Good for people who can't cook, or who don't like cooking.
But I think it's not foodies and good cooks, let alone chefs.
I became disabled a few years ago and can no longer whisk or sit for the length of time it takes to make a risotto. I would happily save up for a new Kenwood Mixer (we already have a beloved 20 year old Kenwood Major that is going strong) so that I could cook like this again. Absolute genius. As for the heart and soul of cooking, not at all. The cakes my wife makes with the Major are stunning. You still have to understand the machine. I have learned how to use the bread hook attachment to make really good bread, as I can also not knead any more. I miss getting my hands into the dough, but I love eating home cooked bread. And given how much we paid for the Major, the £1k price tag isn’t as steep as I was expecting.
I'd be down for a mixer with a scale, no smart connect feature, but also the different stir methods as physical buttons.
The only way a smart connect machine like this would be worth while is if you can create your own recipes for it. Not necessarily publish but just create for personal use.
Remember when Ben reviewed the Instant Pot. I now have two of them as one lost it's beep for some strange reason. Use the new one nearly every day. Made so many different things in it from meals to cheesecake and more. I have two Kenwood Chefs. A 901 I bought at a flea market 20 years ago - it's still going strong and a second one, a KM330 which my friend's sister gave to me. She'd inherited it from a relative who passed away but said she'd never use it and it was just taking up space in her kitchen. It needs to go back to Kenwood to be serviced as it blew the front seal when I was making sausages. Must admit, I'm tempted by this new all singing, all dancing model. Kenwood Chefs are great workhorses in the kitchen. Wouldn't be without mine.
Just FYI, Risotto doesn't need to be constantly stirred - Adam Ragusea did a side by side, and found that just dumping in most of the liquid at the start, letting it cook, then finishing the usual way (adding more liquid and stirring until your preferred doneness) gives the exact same texture as stirring constantly :)
the split second of them just staring at the plates is hilarious 10/10
You've reviewed a lot of smart gadgets now, you should have a normals battle where they each pick a smart device to use to make their dish. No hobs.
Jamie will likely pick the Smoker, Barry will pick the sous vide oven, Mike will pick this or the Tokett.
Great idea! Thanks for the suggestion 😁
I hope I am not the only one who finds prep work in the kitchen and "just" stirring boring. I sincerely believe it makes you appreciate the end result much more.
These smart appliances are very tricky in my mind. If you are a true beginner then they will not prevent you from failing (exactly what would happen in the cream patisserie case if someone did not know what to do except follow their instructions). If you are an experienced cook, you probably do not want the guidelines anyway. As a stand mixer, perfect; as a smart helper? Eh, I am not sure.
What it needs is a controlled hopper where the hatch is, so you can dose it up with your weighed goods, then when you're happy with the amount, flip a lever, and it drops them in. Then you can remove some if you need to!
Ooh, what about a couple of separate hatches the machine can open from the bottom, so you can pre-measure stuff for it to drop in when the timing is right? Dry ingredients in section A, seasonings and an egg in section B, or whatever.
I think I have seen a Japanese machine that does this
Perhaps not mentioned but really important to consider in terms of lowering wastage etc. is once you have a Kenwood- you'll never need another one! They produce spare parts still for my Kenwood K701 and KM230 (both handed down to me)- which are both over 20/30 years old at least. They're are well used and still going strong!!
Except with this you're reliant on the app being updated for the next 30 years, and still remaining backwards compatible with a 30 year old machine. Good luck with that.
Risotto inthe instant pot is amazingly good and easy. No stirring after all ingredients are in and sauted in the pot.
Nice 👌
Watching this in between segments of the live show. It is absolutely amazing and I am loving every minute of it. Thanks to the whole team! #GrillTheIce
I have just invested in the Baker XL version of this machine and it is incredible!!! Don't het fooled by yhe baker label, it comes with spice grinder, blender, food processor and mini chopper as well as a ton of grating blades and paddle attachments. Even has a meat mincer attachment. Every attachment and the machine feels like excellent quality. Would highly recommend!
What's the differences between the one shown and the Baker XL you have?
Oh man, I miss all the old Kenwood videos... But it's so cool to see how far the guys have...
their videos sold me on getting my own food processor, a few time an ad worked and i like it
Video ideal: beat the chef but the normal has to use the cooking chef for most of the cooking, and do blind judging with people other than the normals or chefs.
All these years.....one of the best moments happened in this video. ***Don't forget the Flour Cover or You'll suffer***. 🤣
Nice, another episode in the classic Sorted series "Will this make risotto easier for me?"
I love my kenwood cooking chef…I have had it for a few years now, just not one that connects to the net….i have also had a kitchen aid and compared to the kenwood the kitchen aid was a piece of pretty junk, that was all it had going for it, it was pretty…from new the kitchen aid couldn’t even whip 3 egg whites to stiff peaks for a pavlova, my Kenny does not skip a beat, bread dough is a breeze, silky smooth buttercream, oh and the best passion fruit curd which was so easy to make because I didn’t have to stand there and stir…this is my second kenwood I have ever had…my first one was from my mother who bought hers before I was born in 1973 and it is still going to this day, I just passed it on to someone else to use, when I upgraded…LOVE MY KENNY…
I love my cooking chef too. My son bought it for my birthday 8 years ago and I make so much in it, and it certainly saves on stirring time.
He has my old one.
Would love a part 2 with other recipes!!
Something like this (minus the errors in recipes) can be a gateway for getting into cooking or a gateway to increase the complexity of dishes. Basically building confidence. On the other hand if someone relies on this completely they will never learn. So this type of smart machine is a double edged sword.
9:00 Cottagecore Ben while on long walks in the countryside. Never change
Ben: Worried about all the loss of water through steam. Mike and Ben: Continues to open lid, letting steam out.
About 50 years ago my Mum felt she needed the newest and most raved about sunbeam mixer. She put aside her small, humble mixer that you could detach and use by hand.
The new machine cost a few hundred.
The machine gave her no end of trouble, making it inconvenient.
To this day, it has collected dust in her kitchen.
The lesson - keep it simple.
as someone who has a cooking chef (not xl) i have found that it is great at first but then soon becomes a gimic. Also the scale never seems quite right and fluctuates quite a bit. Unless you are cooking all of these amazing things on the regular it isn’t worth it. That being said what i do use it for ( a lot of one thing) it is amazing, a workhorse that is strong and sturdy.
Favourite part of my Sunday!!!
Love to hear it!
After watching your test and review of the Tokit Omni Cook I did some research and bought myself a Cuisinart cooking food processor. I LOVE it! Now I believe this Kenwood Cooking Chef XL would be the perfect complement! I guess I’ll have to start saving up.
KENWOOD, eh?
That's a brand name I haven't heard of from this channel since the Three Recipes Compared series, lol.
They had, they might still have, a Kenwood mini food processor and blender. They were sponsored by Kenwood.
It’s been a hot min!
Decades of young cooks were trained with these machines in Australia and New Zealand.
I have my Mother in-laws kenwood she was given as a wedding present. It still goes just as hard today as it did in the 60’s.
On the twelfth day of Sortedmas, my true love gave to me: 1 Smart Gadget, 1 Smart Chef, 1 Cross Normal and 9 ways to prepare different things.
(Also yay not an ad gadget discourse and Ben making risotto)
P.S. HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MIKE!
So glad as I've had this in my basket for a while and you've given me a clearer view of it.
I don't want appliances that can connect to the internet. It's a vulnerability. Give me a good old Kitchen Aid any day.
I rescued a busted KitchenAid from the Nifty Thrifty and fixed it up myself. Nothing but grease and gears; I adore that thing.
I have my Kitchen Aid, when my girl born...30 years now, the other day change the carbons, that is, working perfect!
Smart gadgets definitely aren’t for everyone, they’re good to test though!
I had my grans old blender from the 70s worked perfectly until a couple of years ago. Can't find a similar one sadly.
I adore mine, it's the best and I paid a lot of money for other machines over the years. And all the extras make it the gadget you do everything with. From grinding spices to cooking soup.
Who doesn't love a profiterole? I went out last night and had some amazing salted caramel ones!
So good 😋
Wow! That is one I have never had.
We need a part 2 of this showing all the other functions (and to also reimburse Ben too 😂)
Can you use it's functions without the app? Like, setting the temperature on the induction heater, etc
Yes
Vorwerk (German brand) has been doing this with the Thermomix for decades and better. And no squeaking... You should try the OG!
As a tech person, the thing I value most is robust build quality and no needless digitalization. Anything "smart" just instantly gains a big price tag, a huge number of tiny, fragile components, and a software where many things can go wrong. Just asking for trouble, especially in environments with a lot of heat, dust, and/or vibrations. I'll take a high-quality mechanical device over a flimsy high-tech gadget any day. This is definitely the most promising-looking device out of the many I've seen you test, but I personally still wouldn't buy it. Takes the magic out of cooking, too. Mistakes and experimentation are meant to be a part of the process. It's what makes you a better cook. Going from following recipes, to adjusting them, to making your own.
This was great! I've been salivating over this product for a good while now and questioned how good it actually is. Now I can continue to long for it even more knowing I will probably never excuse such an expensive purchase
At this point, I feel like the normals are pseu-chefs at the very least. They've grown and learned so much and should be proud of their achievements. Especially Mike!
Oh, the mise mushroom risotto Mike mentions is one of my absolute favorites, too! In fact, that entire pack (Twisted Italy if anyone is wondering) is phenomenal, and probably the pack I've coked most often.
Idea:
Who made it chef, machine, or normal
Loved the video guys, thanks! Looked up the price of this mixer chef thingee..... It's about $3400.00 CAD mate! Unless I win a lotto and I'm looking for neat stuff to spend it on.... not a chance!
I am a bit surprised that you didn't test the accuracy of the scale considering how much fluctuating was going on while you were putting in ingredients. I also see a problem when you accidentally add more of an ingredient than you intended. It's harder to take it out especially if the bowl is hot or the ingredients share the same color/texture. Doesn't that go against the idea of mise en place? Having all your ingredients measured out and in place?
Challenge idea: One chef gets all smart appliances and has to accomplish another task at the same time vs one chef with only hand tools.
15:04 would be a huge problem for bakers. Much of baking is an exact science, so it relies on precision. If your measurements are off, then you need to adjust for all other ingredients. Moreover, if you don’t realize an ingredient is out of balance by weight, it can affect the final product.
User error, they kept leaning over the machine.
I love that the paddle has a K for Kenwood in it 😂
I genuinely love these videos, even if they are sponsored they are normally first-class.
I've got the earlier version of this machine, it's great for constant gentle heat/stir foods i.e. lemon curd, the real benefit is multitasking, you can get on with something else while it does the donkey work.
If it takes the place of a Sous Chef, does that mean that Barry needs to give back the red apron?🤔
👀
I’m curious about the Ankarsrum stand mixer. Thoughts on that? I hate how wobbly the top motor style mixers are.
As a pastry chef... I can say with total confidence that no new mixer will ever separate me from my Kitchenaids. One of them is 9 years old and still working like new.
As a pastry chef in training, I LOVE my Kitchen Aid stand mixer. It does the job extremely well.
My current Kitchen Aid is 10 years old...the one I had before that was 40 years old when I replaced it (had been a hand-me-down from my mother). Love my KAs!
You do realise there are Kenwoods in the wild that are 30, 40, 50+ years old and still working very well?
@ Well, yes. I am quite aware of that. I am not British, so I didn’t grow up with Kenwood appliances. I was raised in the US, so our standard appliances are usually the Kitchen Aid appliances. There are other American brands, but the gold standard for a stand mixer is always going to be a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for us.
I think the better conversation to be having is that do we really need to put smart technology where it doesn’t belong. Not only did this Kenwood stand mixer have an issue with timing and temperature, but there was an issue with giving accurante weight measurements. For pastry chefs, we rely on accuracy and precision heavily for our baked goods. This extends to timing and temperature as well, because we can’t have certain ingredients introduced in the mixture if the bowl is too hot or cold. Ben mentioned tempering chocolate, which is so damn finnicky because one degree over in temp, you have to re-temper the chocolate.
@@sukhmanisreadingcorner6811 It gives precise weight measurements when people don't lean over it pressing the bowl.
And yes, it is accurate enough to temper chocolate.
I remember your series of 3 levels of a dish that you did with Kenwood as a sponsor, those videos are brilliant, really well done.
Great to see this one isn't sponsored, though. 😊
WOW! That machine would be great for someone with a small kitchen because it can do so many things. A tad pricey at $1500 here in the states.
It’s more than that. Roughly $2,300 or so depending on the place. VERY expensive piece of kit.
It's a giant overpriced useless paper weight.
Really takes the misery out of making tea
That scale on the machine was suspicious as heck. Was changing constantly and going up in between scoops of flour lol
I own the machine for 3 years I use the scale only with the arm open when everything is stopped and nothing leans at the machine and it reacts to a slight press so nothing interfering with it. I use the scale sometimes but not everytime because when it is in the bowl you can't get it out. 😉
if you want one with a working scale than buy a thermomix, that thing works and is also used in starred kitchens if you want a mixer plus.
Sorry you don't know how a scale works
When my Nana passed her 1970s Kenwood chef dissapeared, like a lot of her other cooking things. Anyway that was a awesome bit of kit and if whoever has it looks after it, I don't doubt it will a lot longer.
Ok so super minor thing but because the recipe IS from Kenwood, I kind of hate that the milk measures are in volumes when the machine does grams 😂😢
Although they can't always trust weight to manage volume measurements?
@AuroDHikoshi baking is chemistry and way more reliable in weight than volume. Cooking food isn't that exactly and dont need measurements by weight
Mike was playing the Kenwood game, 5 stars. Ebber's wasn't buying any of that shit, his inner chef kept fighting through, great video.
Watching both of you lean on the work surface next to the machine whilst trying to use its weight function, it's easy as a viewer to imagine the weight being wonky because you have touched the machine accidently by leaning over it.
I've got the original Kenwood Cooking Chef (still going strong after nearly 20 years. No app, no scales, no smart functions - BUT it has the 1 degree accurate induction heating and one of the strongest mixer motors out there. I'm making souse-vide coffee in it right now for a liquor ;). The attachments are the best quality I have seen for a mixer at ANY level, almost like high-tech surgical instruments. The pasta extruder even uses bronze dies!
You might claim that this is not an ad, and I believe that you purchased it with your own money, but I 100% do not believe that you are not sponsored by Kenwood for this obviously uncritical review of their very expensive stand mixer right before the holidays.
iI think you are right. This machine has a lot of „contras“ . The bowl is heavy and not well balanced. German Johann Lafer was / is a Kennwood ambessador and told inngerman clips that you could held the hit bowl under the left arm covered with towels and used the right arm to scratch the risotto out of the bowl. And its a really big hot water mess opening the machine while or after finished cooking. Johann Lafers tip with to took a bowl around the vertical part of the machine under the arm before opening. But inlove mine for making dough !
They tried it out and it worked. Theres no more to this. Its still a critical review. Plus Ben absolutely mentioned that he had to use his chef skills once to make it perfect. So you are saying they are doing something thats highly illegal?! Because thats what not disclosing a paid ad is. That is bullshit. They will always tell us that.
@@metalpuppet5798 Lol it's not a critical review. There is far more to a review than it's good. If it was a critical review then why didn't they touch on repair ability?
@svn5994 they did touch on the pretty high price, they did touch on having to adjust some things with chef abilities (which most dont have) multiple times. They still had a great experience using it and therefore their opinion is that it is a great product. If thats not a balanced review I dont know what is. Again, taking money in any capacity from a brand and not disclosing it is HIGHLY illegal. You are not watching freaking Logan Paul here. This is a very educational channel with a great responsible team behind it
There were several small moments where they noted imperfections, like lumpy batter, and humans needing to adjust things.
Would love to see a collab with Jay over at smash fishing (Guernsey) He could take you out foraging and then you could bring back the catch and him to the sorted kitchen and cook it all up! I suggested this to him in a live chat and he is down for it!
I literally just bought myself a KMix because kenwood are the best - my Nana’s mixer (one of the original chef mixers) has been on the go successfully. I don’t think I’d enjoy using this machine, I quite like the manual/automatic mix in baking makes it enjoyable !
Nice, well done lads and team. that's a fantastic review.
Adding in stock to a risotto gradually is essentially an Italian "old Nona's tale" - i.e. it's never been proven to be better than putting all the liquid in one go. Case in point is that in a classic Paella recipe, you do just that! I tend to cook mine in a pressure cooker/Instant Pot - done in 6 minutes with no stirring (because the rapid boiling does more than enough mixing).
I love these gadget review videos. It’s cool to see how these new gadgets, which are supposed to make jobs easier, compare to a chef’s know how.
That machine looks amazing! Love your channel.
I’ve had my Kenwood Chef since 1996 without it skipping a beat. My Mum’s is from 1969 and still as good as the day she got it. My question is, do the new ones last as long? I’ve heard not, but wonder if that is true. They are an absolute workhorse in the kitchen.
you did have quite a lot of egg white in with your five yolks...I agree it's not up to scratch though! Appreciate the honest review as always!
From audio tech to cooking tech. What a leap!
KENWOOD! happy to see making a comeback to the channel 🎉🎉🎉❤❤❤
You should make a part 2, seems like so many functions haven’t been explored yet to really understand it’s value and capability
Ben demolishing that risotto 🤣
See this is the kind of kitchen tool I would invest in. I can't cook for my life, so I can't make risotto but spending some extra money on a machine that could help me to enjoy cooking and make more nutritious meals, peaks my interest in investing in something like this.
I think the idea of this is pretty cool, and on one hand I really like the accessibility it brings in terms of being able to make things at home that maybe you don't have the skill for doing it on your own. And, that you can focus on other things while it mixes things up for you. But, on the other hand, I do think it takes away from the romance of it all. If I really wanted to make profiteroles for a gathering, part of me wants to learn and have the satisfaction of making them myself. Baking can be extremely frustrating, but also very rewarding if you are diligent and figure out what works for you. So while this machine might give you ability to make something nice for people, I do think it takes away a little of the spirit of learning how to do it yourself.
My take on this is that a stand mixer, measuring equipment and utensils can be bought for a fraction of the cost and you can get wonderful step-by-step instructions in places like the sidekick app. Save yourself hundreds of pounds, enjoy the process and get lots of incredible recipes. If this was half the price and it buttoned up finicky issues like the recipes and the scale, I think it would find a home in a lot more kitchens.
Great review, boyz! I own a Thermomix myself, and I have to say, that the Kenwood Cooking Chef XL looks quite impressive. However, it does seem less mature software wise and much bulkier compared to my Thermomix including the accessories, which is a consideration for those with limited kitchen space. That said, it’s great to see you testing alternatives like this - whether sponsored or not - (as long as you make it clear at the beginning of your videos 😜) as it appears to offer a more affordable option (±150£ compare to the Thermomix) for those considering a high-end kitchen tools. Keep up the fantastic work!
Oooh! I’m so excited to watch this! I’m switching to the tv so I can watch on a bigger screen lol. I have this mixer and I’ve barely used it. It has so much potential that I’m not tapping into. I’ve made a meringue, which was perfect, and a custard which splattered everywhere even with the heat and splash guards on. I’ve made 2 cakes since buying it and both were whack it in a bowl and whisk types 😂
I chose this one because my plan is to have my own dairy animals in the next year or two. I haven’t decided yet if I’ll have a cow or goats or sheep. But whatever I have I’ll be making my own cheese, and I’m hoping with this I can set the temperature and have it stir slowly and free me up from standing in the kitchen just stirring curds. It will limit me to making 5L batches but as long as that doesn’t mess up the ageing process that will make a good sized block for me.