Can The Russell Hobbs 18553 Kitchen Machine Really Do It All?
With its multiple functions and seemingly capable mechanics, the Russell Hobbs 18553 Kitchen Machine Blender and Mixer looks like a product than can do a lot more than your average food processor.
Highlights in the specification for this stylish looking machine are the planetary mixing action, motor overload protection, variable speed controls, a large range of extras – including the 1.25 litre blender, whisk, dough hook, beater and pasta maker – and a manual that even comes with a few recipes. This 18533 model looks like a kitchen aid that can do it all, but it this really the case?
Is this Russell Hobbs 18553 Food Mixer as versatile as it appears and what other potential benefits does it have?
The feedback for this machine in customer testimonials has been overwhelmingly positive and there have been a lot of comments about the great design features and accessories.
Versatility really is on offer here thanks to the range of well constructed parts and attachments that includes the decent sized 4.6 litre bowl and the high quality processor and whisk, which is great for cake mixtures and meringues.
Overall, these parts appear to be made from top materials, like the die-cast aluminium body, metal blades and glass blender, but there are some disputes over the quality of the speed dial.
Other helpful features that have been praised by users include the rubber feet that actually keep it in place during heavy, difficult loads, the plastic guard on the rim of the bowl and the side flap for adding extra ingredients during the mixing process.
In addition to this great design, this Russell Hobbs 18553 Kitchen Machine also appears to have a performance to match.
At 800W it is powerful enough for most needs and seems to handle heavy doughs with ease. Its noise level is quieter than you would expect from such a heavy duty operation. It is very efficient with its mixing – leaving very little behind in the bowl – and it offers some great speed settings.
Despite this high standard, there have been some failures with the pasta maker – although users are unsure whether to attribute this to the function or the recipe that was included as other have been praising it highly – and it can have a little trouble with drier, chunkier liquids and sauces.
Other than the potential problems with certain mixes and doughs, does this Russell Hobbs 18553 Kitchen Machine have any disadvantages?
The best place to start with the negative side of this product is the most frequently mentioned complaint – the short power cable.
At around only 50 cm long, this cord limits the machine’s use and placement in the kitchen, something that is not helped by the fact that this is a big, heavy machine; it may look good out on the counter and it can be easily dismantled if there is no room, but a simple, permanent home would be much more convenient.
Other criticisms include the size of the basic instruction manual, which only looks big because of the number of languages included, the idea that the attachments are a little fiddly to get in place at first and a slight safety concern over the fact that the blades and mechanisms can continue to work without the lid being on.
In addition to this, some would add that the price is a drawback because it is not the cheapest device around and there is an argument that all the accessories should be included if it is so expensive, some items like the meat mincer being sold separately.
Summary: is this Russell Hobbs 18553 worth the price tag and can it be recommended?
In short, it seems that this machine goes a long way towards perfection in terms of efficiency and design but unfortunately just falls short in a couple of areas.
A lot of thought has gone into the additional features and style of the mixer, which makes the oversight on the cord length stand out even more, and it is a shame that the highly praised mixer does not seem to be able to handle more complex mixtures with the same results as a soft cake mix.
This being said, it is difficult to come down too hard on this product because the numerous benefits and clever considerations do outweigh the small flaws and this Russell Hobbs food mixer is, therefore, highly recommendable to anyone wanting a stylish, multifunctional kitchen aid – providing they have the space and strength for it.
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