KitchenAid stand mixers are adjusted at the factory so that any attachment just clears the bottom of the mixing bowl. But over time, the position of the attachments can shift, so they either scrape against the bowl or stop a little too far away. The former can cause excessive wear and tear, while the latter can mean the attachments don’t make optimal contact with the ingredients. Luckily, it’s easy to check the alignment of a KitchenAid stand mixer with a dime (its 1⁄16-inch thickness is the proper distance between an attachment and the stainless-steel mixing bowl) and, if necessary, adjust it with a screwdriver.
Equipment
Keep Your KitchenAid Mixer Running Smoothly with This Simple Fix
Over time, the attachments and bowl of your KitchenAid may become misaligned, impeding the mixing process or causing excess wear and tear. Luckily, the fix is easy.
By Andrew JanjigianPublished Oct. 16, 2020.
To Check Clearance
Attach paddle to mixer and drop dime into bowl. Turn mixer to lowest speed. If dime doesn’t move at all, there’s too much clearance between paddle and bowl. If dime moves continuously, there isn’t enough clearance. If dime moves slowly around bowl, about ¼ to ½ inch with each pass of paddle, clearance is just right.
To Adjust Mixer
Unplug mixer. On bowl-lift mixer, remove paddle and bowl and locate adjustment screw in neck of mixer. On tilt-head mixer, remove paddle and tilt head back to locate adjustment screw in hinge where top and bottom of mixer meet. With screwdriver, turn screw quarter turn clockwise to increase clearance; turn quarter turn counterclockwise to decrease it. Recheck clearance with dime and repeat adjusting, 1 quarter turn at a time.
The Best KitchenAid Stand Mixers
We've tested some of the best stand mixers on the market, and KitchenAid has consistently come out on top. Here are some of our favorites.
Our Favorite Small Stand Mixer
KITCHENAID ARTISAN MINI 3.5 QUART TILT-HEAD STAND MIXER
The speed controls and tilt-head lever are straightforward and simple to operate, and the bowl and attachments are easy to put on and take off.
Our Favorite Inexpensive Stand Mixer
KITCHENAID KSM75WH CLASSIC PLUS SERIES 4.5-QUART TILT-HEAD STAND MIXER
Our previous favorite aced every test, whipping, creaming, and kneading quickly and thoroughly to give us fluffy whipped cream and meringue; light, tender cakes; and chewy, rustic breads.
Our Favorite High-End Stand Mixer
KITCHENAID PRO LINE SERIES 7 QUART BOWL-LIFT STAND MIXER
This powerful, smartly designed machine made quick work of large and small volumes of food. The bent tines of its whisk fit the bowl’s shape perfectly, its Y-shaped paddle creamed quickly without allowing butter to bunch up in the crevices, and the model handled batches of stiff dough without flinching.
Recipes to Use with Your Stand Mixer
Yeasted Doughnuts with Raspberry Frosting
The plush, tender chew and satiny glaze of freshly fried doughnuts is irresistible. The satisfaction of making them yourself is unbeatable.Get the Recipe
Rich and Tender Shortcakes with Strawberries and Whipped Cream
For a light, rich, cakelike biscuit, add an egg and use just enough rich milk to bind the dough.Get the Recipe
Fluffy Yellow Layer Cake
Box mixes are famous for engineering cake with ultralight texture. We set out to make an even fluffier cake—without chemicals and additives.Get the Recipe
