I've been looking at buying the pouring shield

[hippywife]

for my KA but now I'm seriously reconsidering. KA site re-design is terrible and I can't seem to even find it on there. The reviews on Amazon are making me think it just isn't worth the money or the hassle and that I'll just have to put less than 1/2 cups of flour at a time into my 4 1/2 qt. bowl.
:shrug:

[spinbaby]

1. For what it's worth, I don't use mine

I've found it to be more of a nuisance than useful.

[hippywife]

2. That seems to be the

majority opinion. I really didn't ever consider buying one of these contraptions until I found one at a deal I just couldn't pass up. Now that I have it and have been baking more than I used to, I find that the mixer I have is really too small for the way I want to bake. I will not buy the professional model that would work better for me but that in all reality I really don't need.

Maybe I just need to make smaller batches of things.

[spinbaby]

3. I have the smaller Kitchen Aid mixer

I like that the head tilts up. The larger model has a stationary head and a bowl that lowers. That setup seems to be less convenient for getting at the bowl for additions and scraping.

[Lugnut]

11. I don't use mine either.

When I got my mixer a shield was included in the package. I used it once and decided it was a pain. It's been in the drawer since.

[Lucinda]

4. I like to use my large 1/2 cup measuring SPOON to add items but I also

found a set of inexpensive flexible cutting boards that work beautifully. Mine are white with color coding but the basic idea is the same as those pictured below. I think mine are from a local kitchen store, or possibly wal-mart.



You can also make a parhcment or wax paper cone to add stuff to you KA bowl.

[Warpy]

5. It's called parchment paper

if you're feeling fancy or a paper towel/sheet of waxed paper if you're not. Just sift all the dry stuff onto it, pick it up and use it to pour the dry stuff into the mixer.

I thought about that pouring shield, too, and realized it was just another big hunk of breakable plastic that would take up space in a tight kitchen while being another damn thing to wash when I baked.

Needless to say, I passed.

[hippywife]

6. For the record here,

I always shut it off when adding ingredients. Those things that everyone is posting they use doesn't keep the flour from shooting back out over the edge of the bowl when I restart it. And I always use the lowest speed.

[Lucinda]

10. Ah, thats the difference...I rarely shut my machine off when adding ingredients.

I'd go with a towel over the mixer then.

[Stinky The Clown]

7. I had one for my older KA and never ever used.

Not once. Not ever.

I didn't bother to get one for the new machine.

[housewolf]

8. You could try coving the bowl with a kitchen towel

You might be able to clip it (the ends of the towel) together somehow to make a tent, then you'd just need to lift the towel a bit to add your ingredients, then re-cover the bowl to mix them in. That would keep the flour etc. from flying out all over the counter. It would take some experimenting to figure out how to work with the towel and the bowl.

I've never used the KA shield. I think I tried once or twice and found it not worth the effort - it was easier to clean up the counter than to mess with the 2 plastic pieces. I've had a 5-qt bowl and a 6-qt.

[NMDemDist2]

9. I"m thinking Warpy is on to it

don't turn off the machine, just pour the dry stuff slowly into the bowl as it runs

I do the same with another bowl, but I think I'm gonna try Warpy's idea instead

:hi:

edit to add, I have a shield that I only use in the cupboard to keep the dust out, it never makes it to the counter :rofl:

[troubleinwinter]

12. Yep,

Parchment paper, waxed paper, a smooth plastic placemat, or a thin plastic 'chopping mat'.

I pick up those thin 'chopping mats' now & then at the "cheapies" type stores. A set of four I think at the dollar store about a year ago.

I'm lucky, the dollar store is right next door to Safeway grocery (I doubt I'd go out of my way). Ya never know what they might have. Last time a can of sardines $1.25, same brand at Safeway $2.75. Small canned ham (in case the world comes to an end) $2. Set of FIVE graduated sizes of plastic containers (including the vital 5 qt. for Artisan 5 min bread) with lids, $6 a set. Spray cleaner with bleach, $1. Steel (SOS) soap pads 60 cents a box.

OH!!!! And a stupid rigid thin plastic "cutting board" with handle that I'd never look at, but is a perfecto "peel" for the Artisan bread. $1. I thought it might not work or melt, but who cares for $1. It's just great! Foil pans $1/set, $3/set @ Safeway. 3 serving spoons to leave behind at potlucks & parties $1. Some name brand dog food that I thought we'd save for the end of the world or snow-storms, he loves it, less than what would be half price (I think an odd shaped can that was just a PR/marketing failure). Name brand zip-slide-lock bags, 1/3 normal price. Name brand cleaners & X brand. Paper towels. Good tortilla chips & Salsa con Queso. Canned tomato soup 50 cents.

Sorta a weird treasure hunt, depending on the store.