Oster Kitchen Center Mixer

The Oster Kitchen Center has been discontinued. What are some good alternatives?

Don't you love it when a product is so good that it lives on long after it is dead? Even though the Oster Kitchen Center Mixer was discontinued back in the 1990's, over 10,000 searches occur on the internet for each year.

Many are from people trying to buy replacement parts for their aging machines. However, a lot of searches are also from people hoping to find a great replacement machine.

I actually remember that my mom used to have one of these. She sold it at a garage sale for a steal back in the early 90's when she got the Kitchenaid stand mixer instead.

Two Good Alternatives For The Oster Kitchen Center

There are a lot of major stand mixers on the market. On the high-end, you have the over-marketed Kitchenaid and the little know, but very powerful Bosch.

In addition, you have all of the cheap manufactures that want to imitate the big machines. Companies like Sunbeam churn out so many new models constantly that its hard to keep track of all of their models.

Today we will look at to of the best-quality options available: The Bosch Universal Kitchen Center and the Kitchenaide Professional.

Alternative #1 - The Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine

The first alternative to the Oster Kitchen Center Mixer is the Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen machine. The secret to its strength is its ample, 800 Watt motor which can handle about any household task that comes its way -- including kneading up to 15 pounds of dough.

I have personally watched as one of these machines mashed 12 pounds of hot, steaming potatoes.

The Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine

Bosch Universal Plus Kitchen Machine

Only $469.99

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In fact, this motor is so forceful, that it can only truly be matched by European machines which use twice the voltage. There is not another American kitchen food processing machine as powerful as the Bosch.

Unlike most stand mixers, the Bosch allows easy, unlimited access to the top of the mixing bowl. In fact, compared to the Kitchenaid which requires the flour to be poured in from the side, the Bosch's easy access makes cooking easier and a lot less messy.

To make it even more durable, the Bosch has recently strengthened the transmission unit to help it last for even more years.

In a world where machines tend to be made cheaper instead of stronger, the Bosch is a stand-out machine

The Bosch Universal Plus comes standard with bread hooks and wire whips.

Additional attachments which can be purchased include:

Blender
Shredder/Slicer
Food Processor Attachment
Citrus Juicer
Food and Meat Grinder Attachment
Fruit and Berry Press
Nut and Hard Cheese Grater
Pasta Maker

KitchenAid Professional 600 Series Mixer

KitchenAid KP26M1XNP Professional 600 Series 6-Quart Stan...

Only $699.87

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Alternative #2 - The KitchenAid 600 Series Professional

The KitchenAid Professional is one of the most-sold and most well-known mixers on the market. They look good on the counter and have a wide range of attachments for incredible functionality.

Sure, they come in a little shy on power: 575-watts compared to the Bosch's 800-watt machine. But its no lightweight. The KitchenAid is a powerhouse that has an incredible track record. Further designed to protect the KitchenAid, it has electronic sensors that protect the motor and shut it down if it sense overload.

Although at 8 and 1/2 loaves of bread, and 8 pounds of mashed potatoes, it will take quite a bit to overload this machine.

Unlike some of the earlier KitchenAid models, this one has all steel gears and a steel housing. No plastic here!

The KitchenAid Professional comes standard with a one-piece pouring shield, a wire whip, a dough beater and a flat beater.

It also has an incredible array of accessories including: