Some people prefer the old-school tilt head KitchenAid stand mixer. Others love the bowl-lift KitchenAid stand mixer with its advantages of easy accessibility to bowl and whisk. Which one is for you? Read on for a simple comparison then order today!
The Tilt Head Mixer (Model KSM150PSY): This classic, reliable KitchenAid model has been around since 1986. It’s suited well to medium mixing jobs, but not large batches of dough or anything particularly heavy duty. The tilt head mixer is a great choice if you and can’t lift heavy kitchen tools.
The Bowl Lift Mixer (Model KSM150PS) is the KitchenAid mixers we recommend for most people. It’s bigger and more powerful than the tilt head mixer and easy to use, so it can tackle any mixing jobs–from mixing cookie dough to kneading bread dough. The bowl lift mixer is suitable for heavier batches of cake batter and the like. It’s also pretty quiet compared to other models in this range with a 65 decibel rating.
So, Which Mixer Should You Buy?
We’re going to do a quick comparison of the two. Basically, the bowl lift model comes with everything you need–including attachments and a stand if you don’t have one. There are some minor differences, but if your budget is limited, the bowl-lift model is the one to go for. For reference here is a table comparing the two models and their technical specs.
Is tilt head better than bowl-lift?
For most people, the answer is “no”. The main advantage of the bowl-lift is that it comes with a lot of attachments and the stand. The tilt head KitchenAid mixer can be used as a hand mixer or mini-food processor; but you have to buy those extra items if you buy the bowl lift model.
Furthermore, using a tilt-head mixer can be quite difficult for tall people–it’s harder to see over the top than a bowl lift model. Also, it can be hard on your wrists to keep holding the mixer up in that position just to add ingredients–and it’s tedious when you want to continuously add ingredients while mixing.
If I buy the bowl-lift, do I need to buy the attachments?
No. The bowl lift mixer comes with everything you need to make good cakes and cookies, including a wire whisk and dough hook. If you want even more options, you can buy extra attachments for making pasta and grinding meat in a separate food grinder.
If you love baking cakes and cookies, then the bowl lift mixer is for you! Simply buy the stand and attachments. It’s also great for making bread dough, as it has a nice slow speed for kneading that saves your wrists from a pounding. But if you only want to mix batter and don’t plan on making bread or grinding meat etc., then the tilt head mixer is also a good choice.
What is the point of a bowl-lift stand mixer?
The bowl is much easier to use and lift than the tilt head. You can load it up and place it on the stand without straining your arm or having to reach across your body. 2. The detachable bowl makes it much easier to whip ingredients together–because you can remove the bowl, shield the operator from splattering, then add ingredients back in. 3. Dishwashing is easier with a bowl lift design because you remove the entire assembly from the rack instead of having to take multiple parts off and reattach them every time.
What are the differences between the models?
The main differences are in the attachments. The bowl lift model comes with a wire whisk and dough hook, while the tilt head model only comes with a paddle attachment. The bowl-lift stand mixer also comes with a variable speed control, an LCD screen and has an auto-pulse function as well as electronic touch pad buttons–all of which are missing on the tilt head version.
If you’re already getting a stand mixer, you might as well get the bowl-lift model. You can add attachments later on if you need to.
Is the bowl lift model good for cakes and cookies?
The bowl lift mixer is best for cakes, cookies and anything else that needs soft peaks. This includes whipped cream or meringue for pies for example. The reason is because it has a swing-up wire whisk that’s perfect for whipping egg whites into stiff peaks or whipping cream into light fluffy peaks.
The bowl lift mixer comes with a wire whisk and dough hook, which are both essential for many recipes. In fact, the only attachments that you can plan on needing to buy extra would be the pasta roller/cutter/fettuccine cutter/sausage stuffer kit and the food grinder. These are both optional accessories–but they’re great if you want to make fresh pasta or grind meat or make bread crumbs etc.
You can also invest in extra bowls for different mixing jobs–for example if you need to mix in bulk quantities. Extra bowls are available at a reasonable price on Amazon.com as well as KitchenAid’s own website so everything is pretty convenient.
Is the bowl lift model good for kneading dough?
The bowl-lift mixer has a nice slow speed so it’s good for kneading dough. If you want to knead bread dough, then you do need to buy extra accessories. You can get the additional attachments on Amazon.com or on KitchenAid’s own website. You can use the pasta roller/cutter/fettuccine cutter/sausage stuffer kit and the food grinder as well if you want to make fresh pasta or grind meat or make bread crumbs etc.
You can also use the extra bowls that come with the mixer. The pasta roller/cutter/fettuccine cutter/sausage stuffer kit is great if you’re making fresh pasta, while the food grinder makes great flour or burger and even spice blends etc.
Is the tilt head model better than a bowl lift?
The tilt head model is much easier to use and doesn’t require as much effort as the bowl-lift for any quick-mixing tasks such as whipping eggs for making meringue, or whisking cream into stiff peaks.
However, the bowl lift stand mixer comes with a lot of extra attachments, so it’s actually better for home users that are wanting to do more with their mixer. If you want to make bread dough, for example (a big pain in the neck), then buying the additional attachments from Amazon.com or from KitchenAid’s own website are both easier than trying to find them on your own. They also come with a much better warranty and generally a better deal.
Which mixers meet my budget?
The bowl lift white tilt head model is at the top of our list because it comes with everything you need and is pretty much worth purchasing if your budget is tight. The bowl lift model also gives you greater flexibility in terms of attachments as well for things like pasta or sausage. That’s why we recommend it for people that want to make a few things now and then, but don’t want to create a massive operation in their kitchen.
We also recommend the model with the 5-quart stainless steel bowl because you can take it out of the mixer and bring it over to the sink to wash. This isn’t possible with the glass bowl models.
How do I know if I need extra attachments?
If you only want to mix batter and cookie dough (and you don’t plan on making bread or grinding meat etc. etc.) then the tilt head model is fine. You get a couple of extra attachments with this brand, which we think is enough for most people to make a few things that they want to bake. However, if you want to buy extra bowls and/or add more attachments later on, then the bowl lift model would be better because it comes with everything you’ll need right out of the box.
The bowl-lift stand mixer gives you greater flexibility in terms of attachments – but if you want to buy extra bowls and/or add more attachments later on, then the bowl lift model would be better because it comes with everything you’ll need right out of the box.
What is the largest tilt head stand mixer?
The largest tilt head stand mixer available is the KitchenAid 5-quart stainless steel bowl model. If you’re looking for a small but inexpensive stand mixer, then here’s the link to the lowest price we could find for the tilt head model on Amazon.com .
In conclusion, if you don’t plan on doing a lot of baking and/or grinding meat etc. etc., then the large tilt head model will do everything you need it to do. The biggest thing that happens is that you won’t be able to take it off the countertop with only one hand, which isn’t practical for some people (for example if you want to make bread dough like your Mom did).
How do you use a Kitchenaid bowl-lift mixer?
It’s easy to make a big mess when you mix things with a tilt head stand mixer. If you’re at all accident-prone, then the glass bowl models are an even bigger risk. We do recommend the stainless steel bowl models for people that have a kitchen and a mixer. They’re safer and easier to clean up after.
Stainless steel bowls are pricey, but they’re worth it if you plan on baking many items regularly!
The Stainless Steel bowl on the right is KitchenAid® 5 qt Ss Bowl Lift Stand Mixer, White–the best selling model at Amazon.
Why is my KitchenAid mixer jumping?
This is an uncommon–but serious–problem. If your KitchenAid mixer is making a bumping noise while in use, then you need to stop it immediately and switch it off. This can overheat your motor and cause permanent damage.
Check to see if the dough is so thick that it’s not able to turn properly, or if there are things stuck in the mixer. If there is stray dough in the bowl, then you need to stop right away and clean it out of there!
If this problem continues then tell your retailer where you bought your mixer and file a warranty claim so that they can help you get a new one (you’ll usually get a new one for free).
Final Thoughts:
You’ll enjoy baking much more if you have a mixer that can handle all the intense tasks. Some home users only want to mix batter and cookie dough, but if you are planning on making bread or grinding meat, then the bowl lift model is for you.
We recommend KitchenAid® 5 qt Ss Bowl Lift Stand Mixer, White for our readers…it’s a lot cheaper than the ones with the stainless steel bowl because it comes with so many attachments too.
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