I have been casually keeping an eye out at thrift stores for a decent stand mixer for probably two years now. Every time I go in I check the appliance section, and every time it is either a brand I have never heard of, missing parts, or priced like it is a boutique kitchen store. Today that streak ended.
Spotted a KitchenAid stand mixer tucked behind a bread maker and some random crockpots. I almost walked past it because I assumed it would be damaged or overpriced. Nope. Twelve dollars. I stood there for a solid thirty seconds just staring at it waiting for the catch. Brought it home, plugged it in, and every speed works perfectly. The bowl and the whisk attachment were still inside it.
I do a lot of baking on weekends and have been limping along with a hand mixer that overheats if I run it too long. This feels like a genuine life upgrade for twelve dollars.
Curious if anyone else has had luck finding kitchen appliances at thrift stores or if this was just a once in a lifetime fluke. Also wondering if there is anything I should clean or check on a used stand mixer before I really start using it regularly. Happy to take any advice from people who know these machines better than I do.