How to Use Stand Mixer? Easy Tips and Techniques

Got a new stand mixer and don’t know how to use it? Look no further, as I have got your back. Today, we’ll demonstrate different techniques on how to use a stand mixer elegantly.

Just In: Best Stand Mixers In Australia

These tiny kitchen appliances become quite handy when you have to whip cream, knead dough, or make different bread types, etc.

Adding to that, it comes with a plethora of extra attachments just like a food processor.

Hence, you’ll get to enjoy using it for various purposes.

That said, I’ll start with showing how to use the two most common stand mixer types, i.e., “Bowl-Lift” and “Tilt Head”.

Besides, I’ll also share some easy tips on using different attachments to get the best out of the appliance.

Note: I’ll use the KitchenAid stand mixers as a standard. That’s because KitchenAid’s the only reliable brand out there. Moreover, it uses a standard working interface, which applies to other brands as well.

Two Common Types You Should Know About:

First things first, there are two most commonly used stand mixer types available in the Australian market:

1. Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (Uses bowl lifting interface)

2. Tilt-Head Stand Mixer (Uses head tilting interface)

I’ll move ahead with describing the proper usage of a bowl-lift first.

Have a look:

How to Use a Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer?

If you’ve got a stand mixer, that uses the bowl lifting working interface, then follow these steps on how to use it:

1. Place It on a Hard Surface:

Countertops are the best surfaces for placing them. Anyways, if you have insufficient space on the kitchen countertop, then place the stand mixer on any other flat and hard surface.

Make sure that the surface isn’t uneven or it will cause a mess for sure.

2. Placing the Bowl into Machine:

In terms of a bowl-lift, you have to place the bowl into the machine.

Simply line up the attachments of bowl with the sides of machine and fix it accordingly.

The bowl will make a “Tick” sound after it gets placed into the stand mixer.

3. Securing the Attachments:

Securing the attachment on stand mixer is quite easy.

Take the attachment you want to use and push it upwards.

After that, turn the attachment anti-clockwise until it gets properly attached to the head.

4. Adjust the Position of the Bowl:

You can adjust the position of the bowl upwards as the stand mixer comes with an adjusting lever.

Pull it up to make sure that the attachment works deep enough while beating or whipping food ingredients.

5. Turn on the Bowl Lift Stand Mixer:

Plug your stand mixer and turn it on. Moreover, start from low speed level and increase it accordingly.

Side Note: I’ll demonstrate the usage of attachments and speed levels separately.

Ta-da! You now know how to use a bowl lift stand mixer.

However, if you have a tilt-head, then follow these instructions to use it properly:

How to Use a Tilt-Head Stand Mixer?

A clear difference between a tilt-head and a bowl-lift stand mixer is the placement of bowl.

In a tilt-head type, the bowl is fixed at its position and you cannot lift it upwards. This is, however, not the case with a bowl-lift.

1. Lock the Bowl:

Fix the bowl on the base of the machine and turn it clockwise.

You can use a metal or a glass bowl depending upon your preferences.

2. Securing the Attachment:

Tilt the head of stand mixer upwards and secure the attachment accordingly.

The procedure is same. Just push the accessory upwards and turn it anti-clockwise until it makes a Tick sound.

After securing the attachment, adjust the head in a way that the accessory is completely submerged into the bowl.

3. Lock the Machine:

Now, if you have a tilt-head stand mixer from KitchenAid, then this step is quite important.

There’s a special lever installed on the right side of the head that is used for locking it.

Move the lever from Unlock Position to lock to enjoy safe working interface.

4. Turn On the Stand Mixer:

Plug it into the nearby wall socket and turn it on.

As usual, start from low speed to keep the ingredients away from flying out. You can, then increase the speed as per your preferences.

Side Note: Never use a tilt-head stand mixer before locking its head. Double-check the locking mechanism to avoid extra mess.

To Conclude:

Bowl-Lift and Tilt-Head are the two common stand mixer types you’ll find in Australia. Both stand mixers differ from each other when it comes to placement of the bowl.

On the other hand, tilt-head appliances offer a little bit lower wattage compared to the other type.

Finally, there’s no difference in the attachments or speed levels of both types.

That was all about using the stand mixer.

Now, we’ll move forward to explaining the speed levels. Along with that, I’ll also shed light on how to use stand mixer attachments for different purposes.

Have a look:

Understanding the Speed Controls:

Almost every KitchenAid stand mixer has speed controls ranging from 0 to 10. A lever is installed on the right, which helps to control the speed accordingly.

Here is how you should utilize the speed controls:

Always start slow. This will make sure that the ingredients don’t fly out from the bowl.

Many stand mixers have a Stir option between 0 and 2. Use it for stirring different food ingredients at first.

That’s all about the standard speed controls that you must know about.

Let me remind you again that never start quickly or else you’ll have to face the consequences.

For Scrapping the Mixture:

Sometimes, the mixture gets stored on the sides of the bowl and you have to scrap it for efficient mixing.

For that purpose, stop the stand mixer first. Tilt the head or lower down the bowl depending upon the type you are using.

Scrap the mixture back into the center and adjust the machine again to get better results.

How to Use Stand Mixer Attachments:

One of the benefits of using a stand mixer is that it’s loaded with extra attachments.

Using each one its true essence will ensure a perfect result.

1. Flat Beater:

Flat beater is kind of a weird triangle, which is mainly used for beating, whipping, and mashing food ingredients.

It helps you make cookie doughs, frostings, and instant batters at the same time.

The attachment available with a stand mixer is made up of metal.

However, you could also purchase it separately. If you do so, get one with a plastic edge as it helps to scrape the food off the bowl edges while beating.

2. Wire Whip:

You’ll agree with me when I say that a stand mixer is nothing without a wire whip. It’s the only attachment that comes to mind when we talk about mixers.

It’s widely used by housewives and homeowners to thin batters or mix egg whites.

More notably, it also helps make cake batter. So, those of you who ask that how to use stand mixer for cake should use this accessory for whipping cake batter.

Besides cake batter, wire whip could also be used for making whipped cream, frostings, and meringues, etc.

3. Dough Hook:

Shaped exactly like a hook or spiral, a dough hook is solution to all kneading problems.

Those of you who have a question about how to use a stand mixer to knead dough should utilize this accessory for kneading dough.

Meanwhile, keep the speed at 2 if you want improved kneading results.

Furthermore, you could expect the dough hook to knead;

• Bread dough
• Pizza dough
• Cinnamon rolls and
• Yeasted bread dough.

4. Slicer and Shredder:

The Roto Slicer and Shredder attachment is mind-blowing. It’s available in the market and could be purchased easily.

It helps to chop, slice, and shred fruits and vegetables without any hassle.

While utilizing this accessory, keep the speed at 4 to get better results.

Note: The special fruit and veggie strainer attachment is also available. It gets adjusted on the head of the stand mixer and helps puree different food ingredients easily.

5. Other Extra Attachments:

A stand mixer is more than just whipping cream or kneading dough. By purchasing extra attachments you could use this versatile appliance for different purposes.

In this context, here are some of the attachments you could purchase to make your life easy:

• Ice Cream Bowl Attachment — Helps you prepare instant ice cream.
• Citrus juice Extractor — helps extract fresh juice from citrus fruits.
• Pasta Roller — Rolls over pasta dough to make it thin.
• Pasta Extruder — Cuts pasta with desired length.

Up till now, we’ve covered the use of stand mixer, plus its speed controls, and how different attachments work with it.

Now is the time that I share some tips about taking care of your stand mixer.

Follow me up:

How to Take Care of Stand Mixer?

1. Store it in an Easy to Access Place:

Countertop is the best place to store. You should not keep it anywhere else as the machine is quite heavy.

2. Cleaning the Stand Mixer:

Take a damp cloth and wipe it down thoroughly. Make sure that the dust and food buildup gets cleaned from every place.

Don’t be lazy enough while cleaning the machine or it will not perform up to the expectations.

3. Washing Bowl and Attachments:

Use dish soap and sponge to wash the bowl and attachments after every use.

Some stand mixers also offer dishwasher-safe bowl and attachments. So, you can also wash them in a dishwasher.

Last but not the least, don’t attach wet accessories to the machine. Let them dry completely before further use.

4. Adjusting the Height of the Stand Mixer:

The screw that attaches the head to the base could be tightened or loosened using a flat-face screwdriver.

This way you can adjust the height to avoid bowl scratches. Besides, you can also loosen the head if the bowl is too low.

Implement this technique only after unplugging the appliance.

5. Tighten the Hinge if the Head Wiggles Too Much:

The hinge that connects head to the machine gets loosened over time.

So tighten it with the help of a flat-face screwdriver to avoid unnecessary wiggling.

The Final Word:

I’ve thoroughly explained how to use stand mixer (Head-lift/Tilt-Head). Using the KitchenAid brand, I’ve enjoyed discussing each and everything about the appliance.

Adding to that, the use of extra attachments is not limited to the things I’ve mentioned only. You could use each attachment for a wide range of mixing and kneading tasks.

Last but not the least, I’ve tried my best to help you guys take care of your stand mixer by demonstrating how to clean it and adjust its height, etc.

Don’t forget to give your feedback or any extra recommendation about using this kitchen appliance in the comment box.