How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (2024)

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  • How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer
How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (24)

Adjusting your stand mixer correctly is key to achieving ideal results for all your recipes. Whether you are creating a silky mousse, making a savory homemade quiche or experimenting with different variations of a classic mashed potato dish, ensuring the right bowl-to-beater clearance will make all the difference in the quality of your finished product.

Before beginning any recipe, learn how to properly adjust your stand mixer bowl-to-beater ratioto achieve the ideal mixture, texture and consistency for your favorite recipes.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (25) How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (26)

WHY SHOULD I ADJUST MY STAND MIXER?

Properly adjusting the stand mixer beater-to-bowl ratio is essential, as it helps ensure all ingredients are properly mixed, kneaded and whipped to create the right texture, consistency and taste. During shipping or over time, the calibration of your stand mixer can be affected. However, readjusting is easy and takes only a few moments.

HOW DO I KNOW IF MY KITCHENAID® STAND MIXER NEEDS TO BE ADJUSTED?

You may need to adjust your stand mixer if it isn’t reaching all of the ingredients in the bottom of the bowl or if your flat beater is scraping the bottom. When properly adjusted, the accessories should move freely around the bowl without scraping the bottom or hitting the sides. However, accessories should also not be too far away from the bottom of the bowl, either.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (27) How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (28)

KITCHENAID® STAND MIXER ADJUSTMENT GUIDE

Adjusting the clearance between the beater and bowl of your stand mixer correctly is essential for achieving the best results and keeping your accessories in good condition. Not only can this help ensure that all ingredients are fully combined, but it also helps to ensure that the finished product will have the desired texture and consistency.

Keep in mind that the adjustment process may vary slightly depending on whether you have a tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixer.

Learn how to properly adjust your KitchenAid® stand mixer with this guide.

TOOLS
  • Flathead screwdriver
SUPPLIES
  • A dime

  • KitchenAid® tilt-head or bowl-lift stand mixer

THE DIME TEST

To check the beater-to-bowl clearance, place a dime in the stand mixer bowl with the Flat Beater attached. Then, turn on the appliance and observe the dime. If the dime doesn’t move, the beater is too high. If the dime doesn’t move around the bowl smoothly, the beater is too low.

Follow the steps below to adjust the stand mixer to the ideal beater-to-bowl ratio. When properly adjusted, the dime should move about a quarter inch inside the mixer bowl with each pass of the beater.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (29) How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (30)

TILT-HEAD STAND MIXERS

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (31)
STEP 1: TILT THE MOTOR HEAD BACK

Grasp the head of the stand mixer and tilt it back gently.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (32)
STEP 2: TURN THE SCREW

Turn the screw very slightly counterclockwise (left) to raise the accessory, or clockwise (right) to lower it.


NOTE:
If you over-adjust the screw, the bowl lock lever may not lock into place.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (33)
STEP 3: TEST THE CLEARANCE

Perform the dime test again and adjust as needed, repeating the above steps as necessary.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (34) How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (35)

BOWL-LIFT STAND MIXERS

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (36)
STEP 1: LOWER THE BOWL

Lower the bowl to the down position.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (37)
STEP 2: TURN THE SCREW

Turn the screw very slightly counterclockwise (left) to raise the beater, or clockwise (right) to lower it.

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STEP 3: ADJUST THE ACCESSORY

Adjust the accessory so that it just clears the surface of the bowl. Check the clearance from the accessory to the bowl by testing each speed.

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (39)
STEP 4: TEST THE CLEARANCE

Perform the dime test again and adjust as needed, repeating the above steps as necessary.

SHOP KITCHENAID® STAND MIXERS

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SHOULD KITCHENAID® STAND MIXER ACCESSORIES TOUCH THE BOTTOM OF THE BOWL?

When properly adjusted, accessories should not strike the bottom or sides of the bowl. If the Flat Beater or the Wire Whip are so close that they strike the bottom of the bowl, the coating may wear off the beater or the wires on the whip may wear.

EXPLORE KITCHENAID® STAND MIXERS FOR YOUR HOME

With a range of helpful features and versatile speeds, KitchenAid® stand mixers make an ideal addition to any kitchen. Explore different models and expand your culinary creativity with KitchenAid® tilt-head and bowl-lift stand mixers.

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How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid (2024)

FAQs

How to Adjust Your KitchenAid® Stand Mixer | KitchenAid? ›

The beater hitting the side of a bowl lift mixer means that the bowl has not been adequately snapped into place, even though it may appear level. Ingredients on the bottom of the bowl not being incorporated means the beater is too high. Tilt-head not locking into place means the beater is too high.

Why is my KitchenAid mixer hitting the side of the bowl? ›

The beater hitting the side of a bowl lift mixer means that the bowl has not been adequately snapped into place, even though it may appear level. Ingredients on the bottom of the bowl not being incorporated means the beater is too high. Tilt-head not locking into place means the beater is too high.

How do I reset my KitchenAid stand mixer? ›

If the Stand Mixer stops due to overload, slide the speed control lever to “0” (OFF) and unplug the Stand Mixer. After a few minutes, the Stand Mixer will automatically reset. Plug the Stand Mixer back in and slide the speed control lever to the desired speed and continue mixing.

Should KitchenAid whisk touch the bottom of a bowl? ›

If your flat beater is hitting the bottom of the bowl, it may be 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.

Can you change the bowl size in a KitchenAid stand mixer? ›

Tilt-head stand mixer bowls twist onto the base of the mixer and are not interchangeable with bowl-lift models. Full-sized tilt-head stand mixers have over 20 interchangeable bowls from 3–5 quarts. 5 quart bowls come in stainless steel, glass, copper or a wide range of ceramic options.

What are the settings on a KitchenAid mixer? ›

Speed Control Guide
SpeedAction
2Slow Mixing
4Mixing, Beating
6Beating, Creaming
8Fast Beating, Whipping
3 more rows
Jun 1, 2022

What is the purpose of the bowl guard on KitchenAid mixer? ›

A pouring shield prevents flour and wet ingredients from splashing out while mixing. The chute can be used to add ingredients like eggs and flour while mixing. Many models come with a pouring shield, and if yours did not, they are available for most stainless bowl models.

Why is my mixer not reaching the bottom of the bowl? ›

Your attachment is too high

If you have the opposite problem and the attachment doesn't seem to reach the ingredients on the bottom of the bowl, you'll need to lower your attachment height. Follow the directions above, but instead of turning the screw counterclockwise, turn it clockwise for a half-turn.

How long do KitchenAid mixers last? ›

On average, KitchenAid stand mixers carry a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. That said, their longevity largely depends on how frequently they're used and how well they're maintained. “A KitchenAid mixer should last you many years, as long as you're not abusing it,” says David.

How to calibrate a KitchenAid? ›

Method 1
  1. Toggle through the settings and select either temperature calibration or oven calibration (depending on the model).
  2. Follow the displayed instructions to increase or decrease oven temperature.
  3. Press START to save the adjustment, or press Cancel to exit without change.
Apr 4, 2024

What is the screw on the side of a KitchenAid mixer for? ›

Turn the screw very slightly counterclockwise (left) to raise the beater, or clockwise (right) to lower it.

Do KitchenAid stand mixers need to be oiled? ›

It is not necessary to add oil to the mixer as regular maintenance.

Does a KitchenAid mixer need to be serviced? ›

Your Kitchenaid stand mixer is a great tool, but it's got mechanical parts that will wear out from time to time. I've heard some opinions that the build quality isn't as good on the newer models, but even the older ones will need some maintenance from time to time.

How do you know when dough is kneaded enough in a stand mixer? ›

Properly kneaded dough should be smooth, slightly tacky (but not sticky), and elastic. When you press it with your finger, it should spring back. Depending on the dough, this can take anywhere from 2 to 15 minutes of kneading.

Why does my KitchenAid mixer jump when kneading dough? ›

Is dough being kneaded? It is normal for the head to bounce a little when kneading bread or heavy beaters. Ensure you are not kneading bread at too high a speed as it will make the head bounce worse and can cause permanent damage to the locking mechanism.

Why is my stand mixer not mixing the sides? ›

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 is adjusted at the factory, but can change over time, and can easily be raised or lowered.

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