You are probably wondering what in the world you should do when you enter the kitchen appliances department at the local department store.  The plethora of gadgets will undoubtedly make you wonder why in the world you had decided you needed to graduate to a stand mixer during your last unsuccessful attempt at making perfect mashed potatoes with your hand mixer.  Indeed the smiling salesperson at any such store would be enough to intimidate the most determined Emeril want-to-be.  The thing to remember is that this appliance will be in YOUR kitchen, not his, or anyone else's.  And like all the other chefs on Food Network, and around the world, you have your own style of cooking that makes you unique. 

So when you are looking for that perfect mixer, just remember that they are all tailored to specific desires and needs. You have to ask yourself what you are looking for, and what you need this appliance to do.  I would recommend making a list of things, such as capacity, and how much room it will take on your kitchen counter, and what kind of power and repair rate it has.  I would also look at all the things that it can do, especially when you go to do a price comparison.  For example, some mixers come with an attached blender, so it can mix and blend, which eliminates the need for buying a blender.

Most mixers come with attachments, which are easy to use, and are recipe specific.  In other words, the dough hooks on mixers are to mix bread and pizza dough, and the wire whip will whip the fluffiest meringes.  The mixing attachment, well, it mixes things like mashed potatoes, and brownie and cake mixes. 

Another thing to factor in when buying a mixer, is how often you will use it, and how big your recipes will be.  If you have an average family, and will be using the mixer for cake mixes, bread mixes such as banana nut bread, cookies and the occasional brownie mix and pizza dough, then a 4.5 to 5 quart mixer in the color of your choice, such as a Kitchen Aid, Viking or the Jenn-Air Attrezzi stand mixer would probably be best.  If, however, you plan on cooking bread from scratch, in large batches, say 5-6 loaves at one time, with your own milled whole grains, then something larger such as the Electrolux DLX Assistant or Bosch mixer would be a better choice, as they are designed to last for years with heavier use than the smaller mixers, come with longer warranties and have larger bowl capacities. 

Finally you come to the bottom line, and you have to ask yourself the big question, HOW MUCH IS THIS GOING TO COST ME? Well, all I can say is, go to EBAY FIRST !!!  After all, why do you want to pay those really high prices, that the store will charge you so they can keep their lights on?  If you have ever gone to one, and talked to a salesperson, they always say the same things.  "You won't be able to find a cheaper price" or  "No one else has one" they say to you smugly.  I just smile, and tell them thanks for their time.  Then I go home, hop on my computer, and presto!  There it is, on Ebay, and CHEAPER !!!  Who are they kidding, anyway?