FAQs

We're so excited you're looking at one of our iconic stand mixers - we've been making and baking for over 100 years!

We understand the different names and product codes may be confusing, so we have listed the differences between our tilt-head stand mixers below to get you on your way!

Our bowl-lift stand mixers are designed to handle heavy mixtures easily for when you want to make larger batches of yummy goodness!

Original planetary mixing action describes the way in which the flat beater moves around the bowl. During operation, the beater moves around the stationary bowl, at the same time turning in the opposite direction on its own axis. Original planetary mixing action ensures thorough ingredient incorporation. The beater, dough hook or wire whisk rotates around the bowl, giving incredible bowl coverage for fast and complete mixing. Your KitchenAid Mixer will mix faster and more thoroughly than most other electric mixers. Please note it's recommended that the mixing time in most recipes be adjusted to avoid overbeating.

In short, it gives you the best and most thorough mixing action! What else is better than that!

Our iconic stand mixers have been manufactured in Greenville, Ohio USA since the end of the Second World War.

The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is more than just a mixer. The trademark hub allows for the attachment of over a dozen accessories which will turn your mixer into a pasta machine, citrus juicer, meat grinder, ice cream machine, vegetable slicer, sausage maker and so much more. View the full range of KitchenAid Stand Mixer attachments here. Enjoy your next culinary adventure!

Standard inclusions vary between our range of stand mixers. Please see the table below for more details around each model and their inclusions.

The Flat Beater is the ‘wooden spoon’ of the KitchenAid Stand Mixer. It is used for any gentle folding, slow and fast mixing, cutting/rubbing in, creaming or beating, such as creaming butter and sugar, creaming egg yolks and sugar, combining flour mixtures, combining all-in-one cake and batters or gentle folding, ‘rubbing in’ shortening for pastry, beating of soft fruits and vegetables (rough dip or sauces) and combining dough/pasta mixtures before kneading. This is available with all stand mixer models.

The Flex Edge Beater is a flat beater and spatula combined. It is used for creaming and beating; its action mixes/creams and wipes the sides of the bowl (i.e. creaming butter and sugar, combining cake and batter mixtures). Available with KSM177.

The Wire Whisk is used for aeration and is suitable for whipping mixtures where aeration is required (i.e. egg whites for delicious and fluffy meringues and mousse mixtures, creaming of egg yolk and sugar mixtures, whipping cream). It is also suitable for ‘sifting’ flour and icing sugar. Available with all stand mixer models.

The Dough Hook is for mixing and kneading yeast doughs. Great for heavy mixtures such as bread, pizza and pasta dough. Designed for speed 1 and 2 only. Available with all stand mixer models.

If you're in need of one of these great accessories, you can buy these separately here.

The pouring shield minimises splash and flour puff as well as making adding liquids easy through the use of the chute. Please note the pouring shield is not suitable for the glass bowl.

Click here to find our more about our pouring shield or to shop now!

If you have misplaced your hub cover (badge) on your KitchenAid Stand Mixer, or the attachment screw (thumb screw) that holds it in place, please call our Customer Service team on 1800 990 990 to order a replacement.

This might be due to the height of your beater to your bowl!

If the beater is too high, it cannot reach and incorporate the ingredients.

If the beater is too low, it can hit the bottom of the bowl and the white coating can chip off the bottom of your beater.

The clearance between your beater and bowl is adjusted at our factory, but can change over time with use and in transit, but can easily be raised or lowered!

To adjust your beater height, tilt the mixer head down, slide an envelope or folded piece of paper between the beater and the bowl. The beater should not be touching the bottom of the bowl. The correct clearance is the thickness of the two pieces of paper. Lift the head up, you should see a rectangle hole with a flat head screw. Turn the screw counter clockwise or left to raise the beater. Turn the screw clockwise or right to lower the beater. Each time only turn the screw about a ¼ turn at a time and test again with the paper. Throughout the life of the mixer, the height may need to be adjusted as it may alter with normal use of the mixer.

Tilt the mixer head down, slide an envelope or folded piece of paper between the beater and the bowl. The beater should not be touching the bottom of the bowl. The correct clearance is the thickness of the two pieces of paper. Lift the head up, you should see a rectangle hole with a flat head screw. Turn the screw counter clockwise or left to raise the beater. Turn the screw clockwise or right to lower the beater. Each time only turn the screw about a ¼ turn at a time and test again with the paper. Throughout the life of the mixer, the height may need to be adjusted as it may alter with normal use of the mixer.

All the bowls are dishwasher safe. All of the attachments are too, except for the wire whisk. The wire whisk must be hand washed to avoid damage to the wires, and so that the alloy base does not blacken, pit or go powdery.

Our beautiful ceramic bowls are the perfect addition to any mixer to make it truly yours! Our ceramic bowls weigh roughly 4.5kgs

Our mixers are available in a variety of different finishes to suit your style

From September 2016, the international Classic Stand Mixer no longer has the agitator cup where the beaters, dough hook and whisk attach to the Stand Mixer. The part was originally installed during the initial international Stand Mixer launch, however. KitchenAid have since learned that it is not needed and the change makes the product easier to use and clean.

Speed 1 - Stir for starting all mixing procedures, slow stirring, combining and mashing. Use to add flour and dry ingredients to batter, and to add liquids to dry ingredients. Do not use Speed 1 to mix or knead yeast doughs.

Speed 2 - Slow mixing, kneading for slow mixing, mashing, faster stirring. Use to mix and knead yeast doughs, heavy batters, and candies: start mashing potatoes or other vegetables: cut shortening into flour: mix thin or splashy batters.

Speed 4 - Mixing, beating for mixing semi-heavy batter, such as cookies. Use to combine sugar and shortening, and to add sugar to egg whites for meringues. Medium speed for cake mixes. Use with: Food Grinder, Rotor Slicer/Shredder, Pasta Roller, and Fruit/Vegetable Strainer.

Speed 6 - Beating, creaming for medium-fast beating (creaming) or whipping. Use to finish mixing cakes, doughnuts and other batters. High speed for cake mixes. Use with Citrus Juicer attachment.

Speed 8 - Fast beating, Whipping for whipping cream, egg whites and boiled frostings.

Speed 10 - Fast whipping for whipping small amounts of cream or egg whites and for final whipping of mashed potatoes. Use with Juicer Pasta Maker and Grain Mill attachments. NOTE: Will not maintain fast speeds under heavy loads.

Oh no, lets see why this is happening!

Is the chip on the side of the beater? Hitting the flat beater on the side of the bowl to release ingredients can weaken the coating on the side of the beater, causing it to chip. It is essential to use a spatula to remove ingredients from the flat beater.

Is the chip on the bottom of the beater? If the bottom of your beater is chipping, it may be too low and is hitting the bottom of the bowl—you may need to adjust your mixer. Your mixer is adjusted for optimum mixing at the factory, but through time and use, it can change, and it should be readjusted.

Is the chip on the top of the beater? It is important to take care when attaching and removing the flat beater on the beater shaft. Using excessive force can cause chipping in that area. Make sure to locate and align the "keyhole" on the bottom of the beater with the notch on the beater shaft when attaching prior to twisting in place.

No one wants a misshaped beater! Unfortunately if the Flex Edge beater is placed close to other items in the dishwasher, the silicone edge can become warped or misshapen. The flexible edge can be restored by running it through the dishwasher again and making sure that it does not touch other items. The heat of the dishwasher will soften it and allow it to return to its original shape.

If your flat beater is hitting the bottom of the bowl, it's possible that your beater is too low and needs to be raised. Your mixer is adjusted for optimum mixing at the factory, but through time and use, it can change, and it should be readjusted.

If the beater is too low and pushes into the bowl, it can cause the bowl to become scratched, and the head of the mixer may bounce up and down.

If your flat beater is white, it's possible that the white coating may chip or become worn on the bottom from hitting the bowl and should be replaced.

Its simple to adjust the beater to bowl clearance, just tilt the mixer head down, slide an envelope or folded piece of paper between the beater and the bowl. The beater should not be touching the bottom of the bowl. The correct clearance is the thickness of the two pieces of paper. Lift the head up, you should see a rectangle hole with a flat head screw. Turn the screw counter clockwise or left to raise the beater. Turn the screw clockwise or right to lower the beater. Each time only turn the screw about a ¼ turn at a time and test again with the paper. Throughout the life of the mixer, the height may need to be adjusted as it may alter with normal use of the mixer.

There could be a few reasons for this, lets check them out!

Is the bowl worn?
Check the base of the bowl to see if the "bumps" all seem intact or if any of them are pushed in. If the bumps are not intact, the bowl will need to be replaced.

Is the base plate worn?
Check the base plate to see if the "bumps" that lock into the bowl base are intact or if they look worn. If the bumps are not intact, the base plate will need to be replaced.

Are you using the correct speed?
Are you using speed two only for making bread? If you knead bread at a higher speed, the force and weight of the dough can cause the bowl to unlock.

Does the beater need to be adjusted?
As part of routine maintenance, it is essential to check that the beater is neither too high nor too low.

If it is too low, it can press into the bowl, and cause undue pressure on the bowl, which can cause the bowl to unlock.

If it is too high, the lock on a tilt head mixer may not fully lock, and the head may wobble.

While stainless steel is rust-resistant, it isn't 100% rust proof. Several things can cause rust on even the highest quality stainless steel.

Unlike carbon steel, stainless steel is an iron alloy that contains a relatively high percentage of chromium. It's the inclusion of chromium that gives stainless steel its rust resistance. The chromium in stainless steel reacts with oxygen (in the air or water) to form a very thin, transparent, passive film (chromium oxide) over the surface of the steel, which limits further oxidation (rust).

This passive film is formed (and repaired) very rapidly, so you don't need to worry about scraping or scrubbing it off. But some things can penetrate this film and cause rust if left in contact with stainless steel.

How do you prevent rust?
Frequent washing is an essential step, but there are a few other tips and tricks to keep in mind.

Some city water sources contain high levels of chlorine, which can penetrate the protective film on stainless steel and cause rusting. Well water can also include a bacteria that is capable of producing rust in stainless steel.

Avoid Scratches
Small scratches are mostly cosmetic, but deeper scratches can be difficult to keep clean. Avoid scratches by not using metal utensils in your bowls (or using them very gently) and staying away from highly abrasive pads.

Use the Correct Soap
Use only mild detergents and steer clear of harsh chemicals or antibacterial cleaning products. Some harsh chemicals and antibacterial soaps can cause rusting in stainless steel. Halogen salts (chlorine, fluorine, bromine, iodine), some antibacterial agents (ones that contain a chemical called Triclosan), and bleach (sodium hypochlorite) or bleach-containing cleaning products may cause rust in stainless steel. Check your soap and make sure it doesn't contain any of these materials.

Avoid Metal on Metal Contact
Avoid metal cleaning pads (like steel wool) and avoid metal utensils. Steel wool is made from carbon steel and rusts readily. Using it on a stainless steel material can deposit what is referred to as "free iron", which isn't protected by chromium, and can quickly lead to rusting. Sustained contact between stainless steel and some other types of metal can set-up a process called Galvanic Corrosion. A wet environment is far more likely to lead to rusting than a drier climate.

How to Remove Rust and Stains?
1. Mix some baking soda with vinegar (apple cider or white vinegar) until you reach the consistency of a paste.
2. Spread the paste over the surface of the stainless steel
3. Allow it to sit for about 10 minutes (up to a few hours if you have very stubborn rust).
4. Scrub the paste over the stainless steel surface with a scratch-free scrubbing pad using a circular motion.
5. Rinse the bowl thoroughly with warm water, then perform a regular soap and water wash followed by a hand drying.
This more in-depth cleaning process can be used as needed (when stains or rust appear) or on a weekly/monthly basis as a preventative action.

Bring on the fresh sourdough!

Firstly check is the yeast fresh? ​
Yeast has an expiration date, and after that date will not be as effective. Yeast should be stored in a cool, dry place. Yeast may have been dissolved in too hot of water or the liquid ingredients in the recipe may be too hot, causing the yeast to die. Also, check to make sure the temperature of the ingredients; if they are too cold, it could cause some of the yeast to die.

Was the dough kneaded properly? ​
Dough may not have been kneaded adequately. Kneading "exercises" the gluten in the bread and gives it the elasticity to hold in the air bubbles produced by the yeast. It is these air bubbles that cause the dough to expand and rise.

Was the dough given enough time to rise? ​
Insufficient time may have been allowed for the dough to rise correctly.

Where was the dough placed to rise?
Dough may have been placed in too hot of place for rising. The optimal temperature for the rising dough is from 21º to 32º F. At higher temperatures; the yeast will begin to die.

What type of flour was used? ​
If specialty grains are being used in dough, the dough will not rise as much because these grains have a lower percentage of gluten to hold in the air bubbles that cause the bread to expand. If a sourdough starter is being used, it may not be active. ​Sourdough starter must be fed at proper intervals and kept at the correct temperature to keep the yeast cultures alive and active.

Are you using the correct quantity of egg whites?
It is recommended to have two or more egg whites in the bowl when whipping. If your eggs are small, or you only have two eggs, it helps to start with the flat beater to whip the eggs on speed ten until frothy. When frothy, there is sufficient volume to then switch to the wire whip to finish.

Additional Suggestions:

• New, room temperature egg whites will whip up faster than old, cold eggs.
• Make sure the bowl you whip the egg whites in is free from any greasy residue.
• Make sure that no egg yolk is in with the egg whites. Egg yolks are very high in fat and will hinder the whipping process.

Throughout the lifespan of a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, you may occasionally notice the following:

• A few drops of oil in the bottom of the bowl
• Oil dripping off the beater shaft
• Oil leaking out of the lock lever or Speed Control slots on a mixer that has been turned on its side during shipping or storage

The reason for this is that the mixer is packed with enough solid grease to last the lifetime of the mixer. When the mixer is used, the grease is distributed around the gears to lubricate them. Over time some oil can separate out of the solid grease and will naturally settle to the lowest point in the motor-head which is just over the beater shaft if the mixer is upright or the Speed Control or lock lever slots if the mixer is on its side. This is more likely to happen in warm weather and if the mixer is not used very often. Using a mixer regularly may prevent this from occurring.

For tips on how to prevent oil from leaking from a KitchenAid Stand Mixer, do the following:

• Turn the mixer on without any ingredients in the bowl periodically to help prevent this.
• If you have not used your mixer for awhile, you can turn it to speed 10 and let the unit run for 2 minutes, prior to use. At the end of 2 minutes, turn off the mixer and wipe any excess oil from around the planetary action.
• Some oil could splatter and get on clothing during this process, so if you have a pouring shield, it may be helpful to have it attached to the bowl to try to reduce the likelihood of this happening.
• Overusing a mixer, and not allowing it to cool completely between uses, can also cause this to occur.

If none of these methods work, the only way to stop this completely is to take the mixer to a service centre. A servicer will take out all old grease, repack with new grease and replace the gasket.

Notes:

• The grease is food grade and is approved for incidental contact with food prepared in the mixer, although it may discolor light-colored frostings or mashed potatoes.
• Once the mixer has started to leak oil, the only way to stop this completely is to take the mixer to an service centre, where the servicer will take out all old grease, repack with new grease and replace the gasket.
• This is entirely up to the consumer – oil leakage will not harm the mixer.
• It is not necessary to add oil to the mixer as regular maintenance
• Unless the mixer has lost a fairly large amount of oil this is most likely not a concern.
• If the mixer sounds "normal", and is not grinding, it can continue to be used.

Is there food stuck in the opening?

Food particles can build up inside the beater cavity that fastens onto the beater shaft causing it to be challenging to remove or challenging to put on the beater shaft. If washing the beater in the dishwasher, make sure to insert it point down so that food particles cannot go into the opening.

Beaters should not be stored on your mixer when not in use because ingredients can get into the beater cavity during washing and harden, causing the beater to be challenging to remove.

Tips for removing stuck beater

There are a couple of tricks that can help remove a stuck beater. 

1. Use a warm compress

• Compress a wet, warm towel around the beater shaft for 10 minutes.
• Re-warm it after the 10 minutes, put it on again, and let it sit for 1 -2 more minutes. This will rewarm the aluminium, causing it to expand. After this time, try to wiggle and remove the beater. 

2. Mineral Oil

If the beater does not come off with the hot compress, try applying a small amount of mineral oil to the beater shaft above the beater and in the slot where the beater attaches to the beater shaft pin.

• Allow the oil to sit on the beater shaft for several minutes, and remove the beater.

If you don't have any mineral oil, you may use a vegetable oil cooking spray instead. If you use vegetable oil, make sure to clean the beater shaft very thoroughly after the beater is removed because it can become very sticky over time.

Once removed

Once the beater is off, soak the beater in hot soapy water and clean out the beater cavity thoroughly.  Use a wooden skewer to remove any build-up of food particles or oxidation residue.

You may also want to apply a little mineral oil to the beater cavity before putting it back on the beater shaft.

The KSM60 and KSM70 bowl-lift mixers carry a 375 watt power rating.

Please visit our comparison page for more information on product specs.

KitchenAid measures power in the bowl, to deliver capacity and performance where you need it most. By focusing on practical user cases (ex bread dough, cookies). KitchenAid allows each consumer to make an informed decision on which mixer is right for them.

KitchenAid measures power consumed by mixers as wattage. This is done in compliance with standards published by Underwriters Laboratory (UL) and according to representative loads from those standards. The wattage measurement is not intended to inform customers on loading of their home electrical circuits and is not intended to describe power output or performance of the product under heavy loads.

½ speed is an entirely new speed unique to the bowl-lift stand mixer collection (models KSM60 & KSM70). ½ speed is twice as low as speed 1 and brings the total number or speeds to 11.

Designed for gently mixing, ½ speed gently adds delicate ingredients, like blueberries and egg whites, into recipes without overbeating.

There is no specified limit in running the hand held mixer as it would depend on the load. However, rest assured our motor is tested for regular domestic use, and as always, reasonable care is always recommended!

Ensure that the blades are locked correctly into the blending arm. Insert the arm into the blade and twist to lock until it clicks.

Absolutley! Always remove beaters from hand mixer before cleaning. Wash the accessories in the dishwasher, or by hand in warm, soapy water. Rinse and wipe dry.

Turbo beater - cookie dough & cake batter

Pro whisk - whipped cream, whipped egg whites, sauces & puddings

Dough hooks - yeast bread doughs

Liquid blender rod - smoothies, chocolate milk, iced tea, milkshakes, soups & sauces

Speed 1. Using the turbo beater, for slow stirring, combining, and starting all mixing procedures. Use this speed to stir in nuts, chocolate chips, shredded cheese, olives, and other chunky ingredients.

Speed 2. Using the turbo beater or dough hooks, mix flour and other dry ingredients with liquids or other moist mixtures. Knead yeast dough (bread, pizza dough) with the dough hooks.

Speed 3. Using the turbo beater, mix runny batters, such as pancake or waffle batter.

Speed 4. Using the turbo beater, combine heavy mixtures, such as cookie or biscuit dough.

Speed 5. Using the turbo beater, mix thick dough, such as muffin or cake batter.

Speed 6. Using the turbo beater, blend butter and sugar. Mix frostings.

Speed 7. Using the turbo beater, finish mixing cake and other batters.

Speed 8. Using the pro whisk or the liquid blender rod, whip cream and mousse mixtures.

Speed 9. Using the pro whisk or the liquid blender rod, beat egg white and meringue mixtures.

Our 9 speed hand mixer includes stainless steel beaters, a pro whisk, dough hooks and a liquid blending rod.

This KitchenAid Hand Mixer will beat faster and more thoroughly than most other electric hand mixers. Therefore, the beating time in most recipes must be adjusted to avoid overbeating.

Beating time is faster due to larger beater sizes. To help determine the ideal beating time, observe the batter or dough and beat only until it has the desired appearance described in your recipe, such as "smooth and creamy."

Two speeds provide optimal results, regardless of the task. Use the speed 1 for everyday chopping needs. Use the higher speed 2 to quickly purée ingredients.

For best processing results, press and release the speed 1 or speed 2 button. Do not exceed continuous 30 second maximum run time. Repeat until ingredients reach the desired consistency. Enjoy!

As amazing as our food choppers are, please do not use your food chopper to process coffee beans or hard spices such as nutmeg. Processing these foods could damage the food chopper.

Yes, our food chopper bowls are BPA free!

Yes, you can place our food chopper bowls into the dishwasher, making cleaning up easier than ever!

For the consistency, cut carrots, celery, mushrooms, onions and other similar vegetables into 2.5 cm pieces before adding to work bowl.

Yes, our food processor bowls are BPA free!

Yes, you can place our food processor bowls into the dishwasher, making cleaning up easier than ever!

KitchenAid’s exclusive externally adjustable slicing disc allows you to adjust slicing thickness from thin to thick, without having to remove the blade assembly. With the slicing disc installed, simply slide the Slicing Thickness Control to the desired setting – no need to remove the cover or even turn off the food processor. Disc is adjustable from approximately 1 mm to 6 mm for slicing most foods.

Simply set the desired slicing thickness by moving the lever to the left for thinner slices or to the right for thicker slices.

It is important that the food processor's work bowl is not filled above the maximum liquid level. Filling the work bowl over the maximum liquid level will cause the liquid to go under the blade and out onto the base of the unit. On some models there is a line on the work bowl to indicate the maximum level of liquid that can be processed by the food processor.

Liquids should only be processed with the multipurpose blade. The egg whip should only be used to whip egg whites and cream.

A little tip - if the recipe has high liquid content it is recommended to use the pulsing method to avoid excess leakage!

With meat and cheese it is recommended you lightly freeze or at least well chill the meat / fish / chicken first, and then off you go!

To prevent damage to the interlock system, always store the food pusher outside of the chute when not in use. Additionally, always store the bowl and lid in an unlocked position so that the activation pins are not engaged. Storing your machine with the food pusher in the chute, and the bowl and lid locked into place means that the interlocking system is constantly engaged and this can wear away over time.