The differences and similarities between my 20 year old Bosch mixer and my brand new one prove this classic brand just keeps getting better!
As our little family was growing into a BIG family, I began to long for a big family mixer. But I didn’t want just any mixer. I wanted a BOSCH – the workhouse of large families everywhere!
20 years ago, when I was pregnant with our 4th child, my mom bought me one as a gift, and my kitchen-world was revolutionized!
It was right around this same time I began my large family homeschooling blog – Raising Arrows®, so you see…my Bosch mixer marked the beginning of my large family era and the beginning of my blog!
Many of my old posts show that BOSCH at work. Making bread, making butter, making cookies, making caramel apple dip…the possibilities are endless and I have put my Bosch mixer through the paces over the 20 years I have owned it!
Now, I find myself with several adult children beginning families of their own, and guess what THEY want?!
That’s right…a BOSCH MIXER!
Of all the kitchen appliances they have grown up with, it’s a BOSCH they all want!
So, when I got a new Bosch Universal Plus mixer from NutriMill, I decided to pass my old one onto one of my children (it’s a secret which one because it might cause a rift in the family if I tell!)
BUT…before I packed the old one away (which was working perfectly, by the way), I decided to do a side by side comparison of the 20 year old model and my brand new model for the blog – you know, just in case you too have children who are plotting and scheming about how to get their hands on their favorite childhood appliance!
What’s Included with the Bosch Universal Plus Mixer
Before we compare old and new mixers, you need to know what is included with the newer machine so you can make a decision on what you need to purchase separately if desired. (Toward the end of this comparison, you will see a section on attachments and how they interchange between the old and new machines.)
I got my mixer from NutriMill, and it included the following items:
- 6.5 qt Bowl (plastic or stainless steel, depending on the machine you choose – you can also buy these separately)
- Plastic Splash Ring & Lid
- Universal Plus Dough Hook
- Dough Hook Extender (for smaller batches of dough)
- Plastic Whip Driver and Wire Whips
- Mixer base with blender housing (blender not included)
Now to compare my two machines and help you feel confident in purchasing your own!
Bosch Mixer Colors – White vs. Black
First of all, the obvious difference…my old Bosch was white and my new Bosch is black. Bosch mixers still come in white, but I chose the black for no other reason than because most of the appliances in my kitchen are black and I wanted a stainless steel bowl. You can purchase a stainless steel bowl separately, but it comes standard equipment with the black base.
At first glance, I wondered if I’d made a mistake ordering a black one that I was afraid would show every speck of flour and drop of water, but I quickly realized, it cleans up nicely and doesn’t end up as spotted as I expected.
You should also know, my white one only looks slightly dingy, even after all these years. So, both colors are a win in my opinion.
Bosch Universal Mixer Shape – Old vs. New
My new Bosch definitely has a smaller footprint and profile compared to the 20 year old Bosch. The base for the blender (something I don’t use with either machine) is much bigger on the old mixer. (You can buy the blender separately for around $80.)
The on/off dial is also on the blender section of the old mixer, so that makes it wider as well. Whereas the new machine has the blender toward the back and right of the machine on a much slimmer stand with the on/off dial on the front of the new oval design.
Speaking of that on/off dial…
Bosch Universal Mixer Speed and Capacity – Old vs. New
When you are researching Bosch mixer speeds, you may find yourself a bit confused by the fact that the old mixer says it is an 800 watt and the new one says it is only 500 watts. At first glance, that seems like a colossal downgrade, but it’s actually because the powers-that-be changed their power rating scale. So, long story short – the new mixer and the old mixer have the exact same motor.
SHOP BOSCH MIXERS HERE!
(That link gives you $20 off at checkout!)
That said, you will notice the new Bosch mixer has 4 speeds and a “Momentary” (Pulse) versus the 3 speeds + M of the old one. That gives you more control from low to high on your machine. I can attest to the fact that the difference between 2 and 3 on the old Bosch dial was a pretty big jump!
Now for the capacity of the mixing bowl…
The new Bosch Universal Pus has a 6.5 quart capacity compared to the old 6 quart capacity. That means you can make up to 15 pounds of dough in the new one! That is A LOT of dough!
Both machines easily handle the 4 loaves of bread I usually make at one time, but I will say I can tell there is more room for my dough in the 6.5 quart bowl.
Bosch Universal Mixer Stability & Storage – Old vs. New
This may seem like a strange thing to include in a review, but if you have ever had to hang onto a mixer because it is about to “walk” off a counter, you will want to know about the suction cup feet on the new Bosch Universal Plus. Lifesaver!
There are 4 lovely, but not too suctiony (that’s a word, right?) feet on this mixer that hold it in place while it is running, but don’t make it impossible to remove from the countertop when you want to put the thing away.
Also, the cord no longer wraps up in the back. Instead, it can be pushed into the base as shown above. I’ll be frank, I NEVER wrapped up the cord on the old machine, and I’m not super likely to push it into the base either unless it is going into long-term storage (which does NOT happen around here).
But…the new Bosch Universal Plus can be stored on it’s side, making it incredibly compact if you were to need to store it. As I mentioned before, the old Bosch is much bulkier and takes up a lot more space in the cupboard. As a large family mom, who covets space in cupboards, I appreciate the new design a lot!
One last thing that falls into the category of stability is the fact that the Bosch Universal Plus mixing bowl now locks down into place. And the center shaft is super easy to remove for cleaning.
Bosch Mixer Attachments – Old vs. New
The attachments were one of the things I was most interested in. Would my old Bosch attachments fit my new Bosch Universal Plus? What, if any, modifications has been made to the attachments. And what new attachments have come out since I got my original Bosch 20 years ago!?!
First thing to note is that the new standard issue whip driver is plastic NOT metal. However, the old metal one does fit and work with the new machine, AND you can buy the new metal whip driver if you prefer that. Plus, the attachments that fit on the whip driver are interchangeable, as is the dough hook.
I also highly recommend the cookie paddles if you like to make cookies. These do not come as standard equipment, but I wouldn’t be without them! I have gone through 2 sets of cookie paddles (one of my originals broke off where it attaches to the whip driver), and we use them more than we ever use the wire whips. You can also purchase the cookie paddles and metal driver as a set.
I have also tested my old slicer shredder Bosch attachment to see if it would still work with the new Bosch Universal Plus, and it did!
This is the only “big” Bosch attachment I own, and I love it! I bought it when we were buying cheese in bulk from a local grocery store to make my own shredded cheese.
That said, I would highly recommend looking into the Large Slicer Shredder attachment from Bosch because it fits on your 6.5 qt bowl, giving you a huge capacity for shredding and slicing cheese, nuts, potatoes, onions, lettuce, cabbage, zucchini, cauliflower, graham crackers, chocolate, and more!
Bosch also now has meat grinder, ice cream maker, and a citrus juicer attachments! (My kids just made lemonade last night and I definitely think they’d be excited about the juicer attachment!)
So, there you have it! A side-by-side comparison of the old versus new and why Bosch Mixers will remain the workhouse of large families everywhere!
And in case you missed it, NutriMill will take off $20 on your Bosch Mixer purchase using THIS LINK or the code: RAISINGARROWS. You’ll see the discount when you put it in your cart!
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