I am wondering if any of you are in possession of a KitchenAid mixer in Candy Apple Red. Not Empire Red, but Candy Apple Red. My parents are considering buying one, but they can’t see it in person anywhere, and my mother’s feelings about the color red remind me of when Jess Loolu said her florist said she’d never met anyone with such a narrow definition of purple. (“Hm,” said my mom disapprovingly, looking at a picture of the mixer, “It looks like it might be more CHERRY.”)
Adding to the problem is this sort of thing:
(screen shot from Amazon.com)
Notice that three of those are supposedly Empire Red and one is supposedly Candy Apple Red, but I see four different shades of red.
So I have come up with an idea, and it is an idea that will be a huge pain in the butt for someone. I think someone who has a Candy Apple Red KitchenAid mixer should go to a store that has paint chips, get all the red ones from several different major brands of paint, bring them home, hold them up to the mixer, and tell us WHICH paint colors from WHICH brands are closest to representing the color. In fact, maybe EVERYONE with a colored KitchenAid mixer should do this, and we can build a whole DIRECTORY of KitchenAid mixers compared to ALL the different brands and shades of paint! …Well, for now maybe just the Candy Apple Red.
Update: My mom found the comments very helpful, enough to make her willing to risk ordering one. So SWISTLE will do the paint-chip task, for the benefit of future shoppers!
And this is why I love you, Swistle. Data collection! I don’t have a Kitchen Aid mixer, otherwise I would definitely participate.
I do not have a Candy Apple Red mixer, but I used to sell Kitchen Aid mixers at my old job. I can tell you that I coveted the Candy Apple Red sooooooo much when it came out. It is such a cheerier and peppier red than Empire Red. It made me want to get rid of my Caviar colored one and get it ASAP.
CAR is a special color that was to celebrate Kitchen Aid’s Anniversary. This shot from Kitchen Aid’s site is pretty accurate as to how it looks. http://www.kitchenaid.com/shop/countertop-appliances-1/countertop-appliances-2/stand-mixers-3/-%5BKSM6521XCA%5D-407240/KSM6521XCA/
Empire Red is a slightly darker and a flatter red color, IMHO. I could not go to the store and match paint chips for you, however. If I had to choose between the two, CAR all the way.
That link didn’t work, darn it! If you go to KA’s website and search Candy Apple Red in the search box, you will be able to see it.
Ooh, I have the Caviar color too! Never seen another one in person, funny. Our is 14 years old & just starting to show it’s age, although we took it in for a tune-up last year & it seems to be better now.
I have a red KitchenAid but I’ve had it for ten years and have NO IDEA which red it is.
Most likely Empire Red. If you turn it over and look on the sticker at the bottom, your style number should have two letters at the end, that tells KA what color it is. So if you have KSM150OB, it is Onyx Black, for example.
I have a white kitchenaid mixer and it is…white.
P.S. I feel like there is some kind of paint chip app thing. Like when you find someone with this mixer, they can download the app and scan the mixer and it will tell them what paint it matches. I could be making this up but I am pretty sure such an app exists.
In the history of KitchenAid mixers, have there only been these two reds — the candy apple red and the empire red? I’m hoping that’s the case — it’s complicated enough with two!
Chris, re looking at colors on-line, the problem is that even if we look at the same exact site, what you see on your screen isn’t necessarily what I see on my screen. Since you said you sold them, here’s my question (which may be laughably impossible to answer!): Would you say Candy Apple Red is the kind of red that might also be described as “Christmas Red” or “Fire Engine Red”? In other words, what I’m looking for (Quiet, Swistle!) is what I’d call RED red — true red — as opposed to hues that would make it orange-y or pinkish or purplish. I want plain red. Plain, shiny, beautiful Red.
I’ve seen the Empire Red in person, and I’d call that a purplish red. But I’m remembering seeing red KitchenAid mixers in the past — like a few years ago — that I remember as being heart-thumpingly true Red-red. But then I ask myself, “If my memory is correct, why would they ever name that color Candy Apple Red?” Candy apples are kind of pink — not Christmas Fire-engine Red, right?
I’m driving Swistle a little nuts. She has suggested I give up the entire idea of having a red and white kitchen.
Love, Swistle’s mom
Amazon still has free returns, no? Why not just order it and if it’s not what you pictured then you can send it back.
Jill, I’m totally with you about sending it back if it’s the wrong color. My husband is uneasy about that, because he doesn’t think it’s a good enough reason to use free return shipping. (He says he’d have to check “not as described” and he wonders if that’s totally honest.) I personally think it would be honest, but I admit it’s a pretty heavy object, so … well, I’d rather not have to return it.
I would say it is more of a fire engine or Christmas red. It is RED red, not pinkish or orangey at all! The 90th anniversary of Kitchen Aid mixers was in 2009, so this was probably the red mixer you saw. It was originally released with a glass mixing bowl. It is really beautiful. I would still consider getting rid of mine for one and my kitchen is green. :) I hope this helps.
Swistle ‘ s mom you want the Candy Apple. I went with the other one because Candy Apple was too bright for me.
My KA mixer is red but it was a gift and I’ve had it for 10 years I have no idea what shade it is
I do! I wish I could help mOre with the paint chips, but going to the store with lots of young children is challenging right now. I would say that the first pic is the most accurate (compared to mine). Xo
Also – it’s definitely pure red. I’d also call it “christmas red,” “fire engine red,” or “stop sign red.”
Meredith, looking at the sticker at the bottom of your mixer, what are the last two letters at the end? Chris says those should show what the color is — that is, “ER” if it’s Empire Red and … er … maybe CA for Candy Apple?
Thank you! I’m hoping you’ll find yours is Candy Apple, since you say it looks Christmas Fire Engine Stop-Sign Pure Red!
Yes, it should end in CA for Candy Apple Red.
Not able to help on this one unfortunately. I checked the serial number on my red KitchenAid using the trick Chris mentioned above (it was a wedding gift from 6 years ago – my brain doesn’t do details that old) and it looks like I have Empire Red too.
I’m a big fan of ordering online and returning it if its not exactly what you like – but I live in the middle of nowhere, so I’m pretty resigned to paying shipping for things.
I will check as soon as I get home. :-) if it is CA (I’m pretty sure it is because I requested it specifically), I’ll take a picture and email it to you.
Did it come with a glass mixing bowl? if yes, no need to look underneath, it definitely is!
I’m assuming you have a 5qt. Artisan model.
Oh, thank you, Meredith! If you email the photo to Swistle, she can show it to me. If possible, please include something pure white in the photo. That way we can use a color-correction feature that will make all colors correct compared to pure white.
All this is assuming yours IS Candy Apple!
I’m getting excited! I feel like my Christmas Fire Engine Stop Sign Pure Red KitchenAid mixer is in sight! Chris, you should get one too!
As long as my “boring” Caviar one is working, I can’t justify a new one. Also, I don’t get that fabulous employee discount anymore. :) The CA is a beautiful bright red shiny mixer. Go for it!
This is the best comments section everrrr.
I think so too! I love internet helping and internet helpers.
Okay mine is actually EMPIRE RED!!! sheesh. Sorry team, for the inaccurate info. I just emailed lots of pics to swistle. :-)
mine is no help. It says R1 on the bottom. It is a deeper red, like a fire truck, or stop sign. Artisan version, bought a year ago! Sorry!
mine is empire red, I think, based on the “er” at the end of the model number. I think it looks like the second and fourth pictures, which look the same to me. I’m not bothering to take a photo since the color won’t come right I’m sure, but I think it’s a dark red, a little less bright than fire engine red, which IMO is the first mixer in your series.
Love this. My dad bought be a mixer a few years back and I told him I wanted red. He almost had a stroke and said he could not but red. So I told him I didn’t want it. He bought it against his better judgement he said. I got Empire Red. In my opinion the Candy apple was so bright and fire engine red. I love my empire. It’s warm and cozy but I love warm and cozy. I love you Swis but I’m not going to match paint samples.
I can’t help too much as my KA mixer is actually Swistle colored!
However, I was thinking that if you searched on Ebay or Craigslist for used mixers you might be able to find actual pictures from KA mixer owners and you might be able to get a better idea of the color than in the online pictures. You know, how they really look in a kitchen, or at least with some kind of reference object in the picture.
The looking up the model number on the bottom of the mixer helps if you ever need to replace your whisk, dough hook, beater attachments or bowls. KA makes so many different models and bowls sizes that those particular attachments are sized differently.
Last bit of fun KA advice, if your beater is scraping the sides or the bottom of the bowl and the coating is coming off it, you need to adjust the height of the beater. To do that, tilt up the mixer head, if that is the one you have, and look under the tilted head on the mixer base. You should see a flat head screw. Put a dime in the bottom of the mixer, attach the flat beater and then slowly turn the screw to adjust. There should be a clearance of a width of a dime between the beater and the bowl. On lift bowl models, the screw is on the inside of the lift mechanism when the bowl is in the down position. You should be able to find this information online or in your book that came with the machine.
I clearly know way too much about KA mixers. :)
Hi there,
I do not have this color mixer but I found this response to someone asking this exact question on Facebook – it might be worth a shot?
“Hi Anna, do you currently own the KitchenAid stand mixer in Candy Apple Red? If you do not currently own this mixer and would like a swatch of this color so that you may match paint swatches at your local home improvement retailer, we would be happy to provide one to you. If you would like one mailed to you, please send us your name, address and phone number either through a private facebook message or email us at KitchenAid.Digital@KitchenAid.com. Sincerely, Amber.”
Good luck!
Ugh so I lied the whole time. Mine is actually Cinnamon. Oopsies.
I like Cinnamon too!
Hi Swistle’s Mom!
Mine is boring old black so I am no help. I do, however, love my KA almost as much as my children.
I am also no help as mine is white. I am finding Chris’ advice in the comments valuable though, and will pull out my KA and a screwdriver when I get home.
I have a red one but I’m pretty sure it is Empire Red. I think Candy Apple would have been too bright for my taste. I will check in the morning and if it is CAR I will go get paint chips.
Color Capture, is the app. By Benjamin Moore. You just take a photo, and match it to the closest sample card.
This comment section has greatly improved my lunch break!
Also, it reminds me of a 30 minute (30 MINUTE!) conversation I had with my husband before we were married about what color KELLY GREEN was. People on a bus next to us were highly amused.
HIM: Is kelly green the color of Russian tanks?
ME: I have no idea what a Russian tank looks like. It’s bright, like a shamrock.
HIM: Oh, like that minty color of a Shamrock shake?
ME: No, It is the green they often use in Catholic school uniforms.
HIM: We didn’t have school uniforms in my town.
Bottom line – Kelly green is the color of Marshall’s football uniforms.
I’ll never get that half hour back! :)
Someone has probably already tweeted this at you or something, but I thought of this post immediately! Would getting the mixer for free soften the blow if the color isn’t quite right? (Not that any of us are going to actually win, but it’s fun to think about!)
http://thepioneerwoman.com/cooking/2014/12/pretty-red-mixer-giveaway/
My friend asked me to get an “Oxblood” bridesmaid dress for her wedding. Cut to me in the department store sending her photos of dresses: too maroon, too pink, too brick, too dark, too brown, too light, too red….. I was about ready to slaughter an Ox and dye a dress with its blood.
What color is her kitchen? It might influence what the color of the mixer looks like.