The KitchenAid Mixer comes with one of two types of bowls: glass or metal. But what’s the difference? How many do you need, and where can you buy them? For those answers and more, read on.
If you’re starting out as a beginner baker, there are plenty of reasons why you might want to go for a KitchenAid stand mixer by Whirlpool Corporation. First off, it’s not that expensive — and depending on which model you get, it could be more affordable than purchasing a hand mixer (although most models are also available in an “H” height that increases the clearance under your kitchen cabinets).
Meanwhile, your starter baking experience with a hand mixer will likely be less than ideal. And once you’re ready to graduate to “pro” status — whether that means giving a homemade pie crust or whipping up a berry-filled cheesecake — you’ll begin to appreciate the advantages of a stand mixer.
There are advantages to both kinds of bowls, and they serve similar purposes. They’ll both get your dough mixing (and kneading if you’re making bread), and they’ll both be used for whipping up batters and doughs. The only real difference is the size, shape and material used in each type of bowl.
There are also a lot of variations in the type of bowls that come with a KitchenAid stand mixer. The bowl comes in two different sizes — 8-cup, 10-cup and 12-cup — and it can come with either a glass or metal bowl. In both cases you’ll get a sturdy base made from stainless steel, and you can choose between regular stainless steel or an aluminum bowl.
The only reason to use an aluminum bowl is if you have very hard water. If your tap water leaves white deposits on your stainless steel finish, an aluminum bowl will counteract this problem by plating the interior surface of the glass with a layer of aluminum oxide coating that’s helpful for gaining strength against the acidity in hard water.
The Basics of Glass
Glass bowls come in two variants: the bowl only, or a 9-cup glass bowl with a pouring shield. The latter is ideal for pouring batter into a pan (it’s also very helpful if you like to prep your ingredients on the opposite side of your sink). But if you’re just mixing dough, you can use an 8-cup bowl without the shield.
Since glass is clear, it doesn’t interfere with your view of what’s happening inside the bowl. And that makes it ideal for using with an add-on such as a dough hook or pasta attachment.
The only fact that might make you want to choose a glass bowl over a metal bowl is that it’ll be heavier. This means that even though both bowls will do the same basic job, you’ll handle them differently. You’ll have to shift the weight of your arm and hand back and forth as needed to make sure you’re working at the right speed. In contrast, with a metal bowl you can use the same speed of operation for both mixing and kneading dough. And since there are no moving parts in a glass bowl, there’s less chance for it to break.
As for the bowl itself, glass is easy to clean and doesn’t retain odors like metal does. But glass does scratch easily, so if you’re going to be using your bowl a lot, then you should make sure it’s protected from bumps (or hide it in a cupboard).
The Basics of Metal
Metal bowls are actually plural: they come in two variants: a stainless steel bowl only or a stainless steel bowl with an aluminum core. It’s the aluminum core that makes this type of bowl ideal for people who live in areas with hard water. But the stainless steel bowl will work just as well.
This type of bowl is usually heavier than a glass bowl, and it’ll feel more solid as you’re using it. Since metal is also more durable than glass, this may make you feel more comfortable with metal bowls. However, metal bowls can be harder to clean and they can’t be used with a spoon or spatula like glass bowls can. So if you plan on baking often, then stainless steel is probably your best bet — but it’s not the best choice for casters who need to move quickly from one part of their kitchen to the next (a problem that may become very important in home bakeries).
Meanwhile, the aluminum core on the metal bowl will help you check for imperfections in your dough. These imperfections can include small bits of raw flour and other chemicals from your ingredients. Even small amounts of these things can ruin the texture of your dough.
If that’s a problem for you, then you should use an aluminum core system. You’ll end up with a bowl that’s heavy and durable, but with an interior surface that helps to make sure the dough is free of any impurities. It’s not something that you have to have, but if you’re very concerned about the quality of your baked goods, then it could be an important addition to your kitchen rotation.
The Basics of Stainless Steel
You can use a stainless steel bowl with either an aluminum core or no core at all. The difference is that the stainless steel bowl without an aluminum core has a thicker base so that it won’t flex as easily. This makes it much easier to handle — and it works especially well for those heavy duty casters who need to move quickly from one part of their kitchen to the other.
In general you should use a stainless steel bowl with a core unless you have hard water in your area, since this would result in white spotting on your stainless steel surface. In that case, you’ll want an aluminum core system to help protect your beautiful metal bowl from breaking under the acidity of the water.
The Best Choice for You
If you’re buying a KitchenAid stand mixer for the first time, then you should remember that it’s just as easy to use glass bowls as it is to use metal bowls. However, consider how you’ll be using the mixer before deciding on one or the other. If you’re going to be making your own dough and making a lot of fresh pies and baked goods, then a glass bowl will probably seem more attractive to you: they’ll let you see what’s happening inside the bowl while they’re moving around.
On the other hand, if you’re just doing a little baking at home, then you’ll be fine with a metal bowl. This is especially true if you’ve got kids who put everything in the fridge (including fruit flies, which are attracted by all kinds of sweet smells). Metal bowls can also let you see what’s happening inside your mixer and they let you control your speed of operation more easily.
So choose based on your needs and not on what kind of bowl you’d prefer to look at all the time. You don’t have to choose a glass bowl if you would rather have a metal one or vice versa. And once you get to know your KitchenAid mixer better, you’ll have no trouble deciding between the two — it’s just something you’ll have to think about when first assembling your mixer.
Whether you go with a stainless steel bowl or an aluminum core system will be based on how much baking you plan to do and what kind of problems naturally occur with your kitchen environment. Fortunately, all of these choices will work well for anyone who has a KitchenAid stand mixer. Just decide what kind of bowl makes the most sense for your specific needs before buying anything.
Can you use a glass bowl with KitchenAid mixer?
I have seen people do this and it does work very well. The only thing to watch out for is that you don’t ever really turn on the mixer using a glass bowl. You could break the glass easily. Once you attach the dough hook, you can turn it on and it will work just fine. Again, watch that you don’t ever move the bowl while its running or you will end up with a mess in your kitchen! Happy Baking!
Can I use an aluminum core system with a glass bowl?
Yes. The only time someone would not want to use an aluminum core system is if they have hard water or their area has a lot of minerals in the water. It would result in white spotting on the outside of your bowl and it will make it ugly. If you are using an aluminum core system with a glass bowl, then make sure that you use soap and water or an acid cleaner to make sure it is clean. You can also use baking soda to clean any stains out of the aluminum core system.
Can I use a metal bowl with a dough hook?
You can use either a metal bowl or an aluminum core system with a dough hook. The only reason someone wouldn’t want to do this is because they worry that the dough will stick to the sides of their bowl when they are making bread or pizza dough.
Do I need a glass bowl with a KitchenAid attachment?
I have never needed to use a glass bowl with a KitchenAid attachment. I would recommend having one on hand, however, just in case you have to make something that you don’t want to ruin by using your metal bowls or if you are keeping something in the freezer. I know that there are lots of recipes that I could follow using my glass bowls and still looking for pans, but just in case.
What size bowl does the professional KitchenAid mixer use?
The professional KitchenAid mixer uses a 5 quart bowl. You can use either a metal bowl or an aluminum core system with it. If you are using a glass bowl, then you will have to remove the parts that allow the mixing attachments to work. I have found that when using the professional KitchenAid mixer, it is easier to use a metal bowl without an aluminum core system in most situations. The dough hook won’t get stuck while making bread or other dough and it is easier to clean up afterwards.
What size bowl does KitchenAid mixer use?
KitchenAid mixers come with three different bowl sizes: the smallest is 4 qt, the medium one is 5 qt and the biggest one is 6 qt. The 4 quart bowl is used for small jobs like mixing up cakes and cookies or whipping up small batches of something like whipped cream. The 5 quart bowl can be used for mixing up meatloaf or helping to make small batches of things like mashed potatoes or whipped cream.
Can any bowl be used with the KitchenAid mixer?
If you have a KitchenAid mixer with a 5 quart bowl, then you can use any of the bowls that KitchenAid sells to be used with it. There are glass bowls and metal bowls that you can purchase separately but the one that comes in the box will work just fine.
What size bowl does the KitchenAid stand mixer use?
The standard size bowl, which comes with all of the standard stand mixers, is a 5 quart mixing bowl. The 5 quart mixing bowl fits right inside of your KitchenAid stand mixer and allows you to mix up literally anything in it, from meatloaf to whipped cream.
CONCLUSION:
A lot of people want to know whether or not it’s safe to use a glass bowl with their KitchenAid stand mixer. It is perfectly fine to use a glass bowl if you want to. The only thing you need to be careful of is that if the mixer is on and the handle is going up and down, you wouldn’t want it to hit the glass bowl against anything. It would definitely be safer for you (and for your mixer) if you used a metal bowl instead, but that’s just because there’s nothing in it for the mixing attachment (like an aluminum core system or something like that) and it just isn’t as good at keeping things together when they are going up and down like that.
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