Too many of us live in small kitchens or with an aversion to clutter, and that’s why the question of which KitchenAid mixer to buy is a tough one. We’ll help you make your decision in this article.
Is saving space important to you? Or do you need all the counter space possible? If it’s the former, get the tilt head mixer — and be aware that some people find their bowl too heavy and the tilt function somewhat awkward. If you can’t stand the thought of not having enough counter space, opt for the bowl-lift model. It’s a bit more space-efficient because you don’t need to store the mixer head on a counter (and you can use it to handily push around food scraps).
What kind of controls do you prefer? Because they come with so many attachments and accessories (see our article “What are your favorite attachments for KitchenAid mixers?”), both mixer types have plenty of cables, knobs and levers sticking out. The tilt head has three buttons: one to turn it on, one to change speeds and one to change attachments. The bowl-lift has a speed dial, plus a button and a lever.
Bowl-lift mixers are also quieter than tilt head mixers, by design. That’s because they don’t have to go through the process of turning the mixer over to get to the bowl. On the other hand, if you’re mixing something with lots of liquids (like bread dough), you’ll want a really powerful motor. The bottom line: Both sorts of tilt head and bowl-lift mixer will do just fine for most kitchen tasks — except for heavy things like dough or cheese making.
Which will be easier to store? You’ll have to give careful thought to your needs. On the one hand, the bowl-lift version takes up less space and weighs less — about 15 pounds for a model. On the other hand, it’s all but impossible to lift up, so you have to do it from underneath with the included lever. Because it’s taller, the tilt head is more difficult to store away — though if you leave it out of storage often, an awkward step stool may be just what you need.
Which mixer is best tilt head or bowl lift?
The tilt head mixer beats the bowl-lift when it comes to storage and ease of use.
The bowl-lift mixer is better if you need a really powerful motor.
Once you’ve picked one or the other, then consider filling in the rest of your collection with accessories like a food grinder or one of our favorite attachments. If you want to make sure that you’ve chosen the right mixer for your kitchen, check out our article “What are your favorite attachments for KitchenAid mixers?” to see what other users have found great for their own kitchens. And don’t feel hemmed in by the model descriptions in this article. If you’re a more advanced chef and you want to buy the 14-cup tilt head with a citrus juicer, go right ahead! Check out our article “What kind of KitchenAid stand mixer is the best for me?” for more information on which models are best for various tasks.
How do you adjust a tilt head mixer?
The tilt head does have a lever you can use to adjust the mixer’s height, but it’s not as easy to use as it is with the bowl-lift.
That’s because the head on the tilt head isn’t designed to pivot. Instead, you raise up from below and then hold down on something that releases it from resting on top of the bowl (you push a button at the very front of the mixer for that part), and then you lift up and put it back down into position. It’s not hard to do, but as we say, if you consider how useful your kitchen space is (with or without added appliances), this might just be too much hassle.
What’s the difference between a tilt head and a bowl-lift mixer?
The bowl-lift has a lever that lets you adjust the height of the bowl and its contents without turning the whole mixer over.
The bowl-lift also has a second lever to lock it into position. That second lever is all that you really need to pull, but if you buy other attachments or move your kitchen around, it’s nice to know that you have this extra piece of security.
What is the purpose of the bowl lift on a KitchenAid mixer?
The bowl-lift mixer is used a lot in restaurants and commercial kitchens where you may want to hand out lots of food. If you simply lift up the mixing bowl, then let gravity pull it down, it doesn’t take much force (or time) to get the capacity of the bowl down and ready for use.
A tilt head mixer can’t do this because of its design. The mixer head (which is usually on the top of the bowl) doesn’t have a lever like the bowl-lift, so lifting it up, then dropping it in position is all but impossible — unless you have some exceptionally strong arms.
Does using a tilt head or a bowl-lift mixer make your work easier? Most people who use these mixers think it does. A lot of foodies will tell you to get one in any case, because they can combine two ingredients like eggs and flour very quickly and efficiently.
What are your favorite attachments for KitchenAid mixers?
Make your own pasta or ice cream with the pasta roller and ravioli maker.
The grinder is a must for anyone who wants to make their own sausage. The citrus juicer lets you get more out of your lemons and oranges, among other fruits. And the egg beater lets you beat eggs or any other liquids with ease. As you know, the mixer comes with a paddle attachment that can do lots of things — but our users tell us that the paddle’s slight deficiencies make it even more useful for certain tasks. The TVP Recipe Blog has a great list of 10 different attachments and what they’re good for. If you’re ready to purchase some accessories, head over to our article “Great Mixer Accessories: What Can You Get For Your KitchenAid Stand Mixer?”
What kind of KitchenAid stand mixer is the best for me?
If you are not a pro chef who will be doing lots of food prep, the 9-quart tilt-head is probably best for you.
If you only occasionally use your mixer or want to give it as a gift, go for the 7-quart tilt-head version. It’s lighter and has fewer attachments. If you entertain often or want to buy one with more attachments, then a 9-quart bowl lift is an excellent choice — but make sure that you have the storage space for it!
For those who like to cook every day and in quantity, then consider getting the 14-cup bowl lift or 14-cup tilt head models. These mixers will give you the most bang for your buck because they have more power and a larger bowl. If you’re ready to move up to the next size, check out our article “What kind of KitchenAid stand mixer is the best for me?”
Final Thoughts:
We hope this KitchenAid mixer review was helpful. If you’re still unsure which model is best for you, check out our article “What kind of KitchenAid stand mixer is the best for me?” which has detailed information on how to figure out what type of mixer you need and how to choose from our recommendations in the table above.
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