Kenwood Major KM005

This food processor is a worthy kitchen utility and it looks very nice in the kitchen. It has one speed plus pulse it performs well in all tasks, seems to be able to adapt its speed to whatever it's required and good at processing food in different consistencies. Making french fries or grating carrots takes no time. as well as mashing fruit pulps to making thick shakes is done in no time. Good to have it from eastwestusa store where they also provide discounted prices on different items ...

I bought the KM005 about 3 years ago after reading rave reviews about it and also after watching a very seductive demo of the product on the "you tube". I distinctly remember the promoter saying that the machine attachments are suitable for blending Asian spices. The fact that it came with the a glass liquidizer attachment was what finally made me put down my savings on this machine. Little did I know this was the beginning of my nightmare.

A little over a week after I've brought the unit I decided to use the the liquidizer attachment. My experience with other brands of liquidizer had been that once the unit had been properly attached I could leave it alone to run and if the the liquidizer had not been properly attached the machine do not work until the problem had been rectified. After attaching the blender unit to my new Kenwood and having been satisfied that it is running properly, I left it running for a minute to attend to something on my stove. Imagine my horror, when the liquidizer suddenly detached itself from its socket and crashed landed on my floor.

The very next day, I took the unit to the only service agent in my country. Here I was told that there was nothing wrong with my machine and that it is my fault for not holding onto the blender unit when it was running. I pointed out to them that I've used lower end models that do not require me to hold on to the machine while its running. Besides, I also pointed out to them, there was nothing in the instructions that came with the machine that had warned consumers to do so.

Finally they agreed to replace the glass for free but I had to wait longer than a month for the replacement. After that whenever I use the unit I hold on the unit and watch it like a hawk. The blender unit blends the spices very well and I'm most happy with its performance. The downside is, I have to watch the unit for 10-15 minutes while blending my spice, the time I could have used to do other chores in the kitchen.

Now 3 years later, the glass of of my blender unit is still perfect. However, the plastic under the blade housing has worn out and so has the white teeth of the high powered socket of my KM005. I brought it down to the service centre for repair and to buy a spare blade for my blender.

Two shocks awaited me:

1) I'm told that they no longer sell spare parts for the blender unit. They said they used to but they have changed the policy and now I'll have to buy a whole new attachment which of course doesn't come cheap. Mind you the optional attachments that you buy for the machine do not come with a warranty. For just a few extra dollars I can buy a stand alone unit that comes with a year warranty. I just do not see why they just can't sell the blade as a spare part. I think Kenwood is trying to rob me blind.

2) I'll have to wait a month for the plastic teeth of the high powered socket to be repaired. Which means my entire unit would have to languish in the workshop. I won't even be able make cakes. I can accept a repair period of a week but a whole month or more ....ridiculous!

Every time I call their agents here in Singapore, I'm told any spares I need I'll have to wait for months. A steel mixing bowl I ordered in February is only arriving today 12/04/10, too bad I won't be able to use it until a month later,since my whole unit will be with the agents for a month waiting for repairs. The rubber ring of the spice mill attachment tore while I was grinding some nuts. I have not been told how long I'd have to wait for the spares. In any case I'll not be able to use it till I get my entire unit back.

My review is mainly targeted to consumers in Singapore. The service I had from the agents is horrendous. I'm sure Kenwood appliances is a good machine (the review I've read from customers around the world confirms this) and I'm sure Ill be a happier customer if the service from Kenwood agents had been better. As it stands, I regret buying the machine mainly because of the way my problems had been handled by the agents.

I have entertained the idea of buying more optional attachments such as the mincer and the food processor. Now I no longer want to. Just the thought of the problems I may face if any of these units should fall into disrepair has put paid to the notion.

The kenwood major is a work horse and very durable. However I wouldn't recommend it. It's large and heavy for a start, if you don't have room to keep it on the work surface don't bother. I make a lot of cakes and find it a hassle when creaming to keep stopping the machine and scraping the sides every few seconds as the beater will be turning without touching any of the mixture which has stuck to the sides. I usually end up getting out my hand beaters, it's quicker. I believe the kenwood chef is available with a flexible k-beater which scrapes the sides as you go, if this was available for the major it would increase my rating. It's great for merangues, making smoothies and making bread though. Still overpriced.

Everyone I know that's had a Kenwood has raved about it. I always fancied one but always found an excuse not to buy one. Eventually I bought one as a housewarming present when I moved house.

The big choice was Kenwood or Kitchen Aid? I opted for Kenwood on the basis of looks (OK it may not be on the cutting edge of high tech but it's not the 50s retro of the Kitchen Aid) and the fact that all the sales staff I spoke to that only sold Kitchen Aid seemed more eager to talk down the Kenwood rather than talk up their product. So, having decided on Kenwood it was then a choice of Chef or Major? I plumped for the Major because of the higher capacity and more powerful (1300 W) motor.

Short of actually doing the cooking for you this machine will take the sting out of almost any job you can think of in the kitchen, it whisks, beats, blends, needs dough, chops, slices, liquidises, grinds, minces, makes and rolls pasta, makes ice cream, makes sausages and more depending on the attachments you get for it.

The machine itself and any accessories you buy come with a detailed and comprehensive set of instructions, not that you'll probably need more than a casual glance as these machines couldn't be simpler to use. The operation is smooth and, perhaps more importantly, controllable and the results consistently excellent.

The machine is solidly built and if my Nan's 30+ year old Kenwood Chef is anything to go by (still going strong) will give years of service without any problems at all. In the unlikely event of anything going wrong there are Kenwood servicing centres dotted around the country and plenty of places on line to buy the spares if you'd prefer to do the job yourself.

On the downside the machine is quite large so, unless you're going to make a feature of it in your kitchen, finding somewhere to store it and the attachments may pose a few problems, depending on the size of your kitchen. Also you have to use it fairly close to your electrical outlet as the flex fitted to the unit is a bit on the less than generous side. This is a powerful piece of kitchen machinery and, as such, it isn't silent in its operation - true, it's quieter than some of the older (less powerful) Kenwood Chefs used to be but don't expect to be able to whip up a batch of scones for the church fete while listening to The Archers unless you've got some fairly powerful speakers on your radio or some headphones.

I bless the day I bought this machine and my cooking has benefited no end for having bought it. I now make my own bread as a matter of course rather than as an occasional treat, I make my own sausages (some fairly exotic ones too) and my dessert repertoire has grown beyond measure. When the sun is shining I'll use the Kenwood to knock up sausages for a BBQ, ice cream for dessert and frozen margaritas for afterwards and that's barely scraping the surface of what this machine can do - No passionate home cook should be without one.

The Kenwood Major KM005 food processor has made life so much easier. Having broken our hand whisk with a thick batter, we decided to invest in one of these. What a good decision! This really takes the elbow grease out of cake making. Madeira cakes and fruit cakes turn out perfectly. Meringues are light and airy. It has been well worth the money, and if you bake a lot I would definitely recommend it.

Kenwood Major KM005 - I am generaly very pleased with this having had a Kitchen Aid and a Kenwood before I find the Major much easier to use than the Kitchen Aid.