I’ve had a Kitchen Aid stand mixer for over 40 years. It’s one of the models for which you raise the stainless steel bowl up to the beater.

It weighs a lot and has been used for countless loaves of bread and cakes and making whipped cream, butter cream and meringues. I even had the pasta maker and meat grinder attachments, but passed them on to a daughter who is more likely to make regular use of them.

It’s a tank and I’m pretty sure I’ll be able to pass it on to a grandchild when I no longer want to try to heft it from its storage place to the counter top. It really has been a lifetime investment and I’d recommend spending the $$$ to anyone serious about baking.