Bowl-lift: Mixer head assembly that raises the bowl slightly, increasing height above the bowl to improve flow of ingredients and reduce splashing Tilt-head mixer: Mixer head assembly that tilts or jogs the bowl to a shallow angle and also raises it above the bowl for better mixing.
Is it time to replace your old mixer? Maybe you don’t even have a mixer yet. And you’re trying to decide between a tilt-head and bowl-lift mixer. Before you decide, read on for the differences between these two mixing methods and what they mean for what may be the most important appliance in your kitchen.
What’s The Difference?
The type of mixing method is one of the biggest factors when considering what mixer to buy. Owners of either type of mixer swear that their machine is the only way to go, but which type is right for you? Here are the pros and cons of each design:
Bowl-Lift. Bowl-lift mixers are a traditional machine, similar to what grandmothers and other culinary masters used throughout history. The mixture is typically mixed in a bowl that’s raised slightly above the base of the mixer as it spins. Having the bowl raised prevents ingredients from splashing into the machine and onto your hands, arms and anything else nearby.
Jackson Browne performing with his wife Phyllis on their Bowl-Lift Mixer
The mixing bowl itself is sometimes mounted to a “dough hook” so that it rotates out of sync with the spinning, stationary head assembly. This can help improve mixing by allowing you to scrape down the sides of the bowl without bending over or keeping a hand on top of it.
Bowl-lifts can be found with and without a dough hook, but it’s usually available as an accessory. When not included, the dough hook is generally for making bread dough. However, there are many other things you can do with a dough hook: kneading, mixing and whipping egg whites, incorporating dry ingredients into wet ingredients and more.
The Bowl-Lift is the choice for:
Mixers designed to be space efficient Smaller kitchens that don’t have enough room for a large mixer Traditionalists who want to keep their mixers like grandma’s The occasional bread maker Tilt-Head. Tilt-head mixers have been around a while, but they’re still the most popular style on the market today. While bowl-lifts have their advantages, tilt-heads are more convenient and practical for most kitchen tasks.
A ball-and-socket joint allows you to tilt the mixing bowl and lift it slightly, improving mixing by allowing ingredients to flow more freely.
A tilt head mixer can be used for: Mashing potatoes; blending cookie dough; whipping egg whites; blending heavy or wet mixtures and more. Tilt-heads are also great for small spaces because they’re much smaller than bowl-lifts. You’ll want to look for a model with a turbo button so you can get the job done quickly.
A tilt-head mixer can also be used to knead bread dough, but a dough hook is generally still recommended. It can be tricky to get the dough to the right consistency without a hook, but it’s possible. Mixer Safety Tips. Mixers are powerful kitchen tools that you should use carefully and with respect at all times. Here are some best practices for using your mixer safely:
Read the owner’s manual and all other instructions before using your mixer. Make sure you know where to plug in, what speeds and attachments to use and when you need a hand-held mixer or something more powerful.
The bowl of a tilt-head is mounted on a swiveling arm to fit your needs and is then elevated above the base of the machine as it spins clockwise. This allows you to easily add ingredients to the sides of the bowl or above for extra mixing action without bending over. It’s also much easier to use with other tools such as a whisk or hand mixer than a bowl lift since there isn’t any extra movement required like with a dough hook attachment.
The difference is a tilt-head mixer has an actual tilt mechanism on one side of the mixer, which makes it able to be used with both thick and thin mixtures. A tilt-head mixers also does not require as much of an incline for easy mixing.
Bowl-Lift Mixer Sizes
5 1/2 Quart Artisan Series – KSM150 3 1/2 Quart Artisan Series – KSM135 2 1/2 Quart Artisan Series – KSM120
Tilt-head Mixer Sizes (Including Accessories)
6 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer – KP26M1 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Stand Mixer – KP26M0 4.5 Quart Tilt-Head Digital Stand Mixer – KP26E4 10 Speed Classic 6 Qt. Stand Mixer – KP26M4 6 Qt. Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Stand Mixer -K45SSMC 9 Qt. Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Stand Mixer -K45SSMB 9 Qt. Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Stand Mixer -K45M3 9 Qt. Professional 600 Series Bowl Lift Stand Mixer – K45M2 9 Qt. Artisan 5 Plus Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer – KSM95 11 Qt. Professional 675 Series Tilt-Head Stand Mixer – KSM90WH 10 Speed Classic 6 Qt. Tilt-Head Digital Plus Stand Mixer – KP26M4X 4.5 Quart Ultra Power Hand Held Electric Dough Hook (Includes Universal Paddle Attachment for Bowl-Lift Models) – KP26E2 4.5 Quart Ultra Power Hand Held Electric Dough Hook (Includes Universal Paddle Attachment for Bowl-Lift Models) – KP26AN 4.5 Quart Ultra Power Hand Held Electric Dough Hook (Includes Universal Paddle Attachment for Bowl-Lift Models) – KP26+.
The small difference in size between the tilt and bowl lift machines is due to the fact that bowl-lift mixers have tilt at the bottom of their bowls. This is so the bowls can be used with both thick and thin items. A bowl-lift mixer also is taller on its axis to allow for easy mixing of ingredients.
Tilt-head mixers require a larger angle for their bowls to be used with thinner items. The angle is great for stirring thicker batters, but not so great for using them with liquids or creating less dense doughs. Having a bowl that truly only rests on a shallow incline works very well for recipes that call for beating up thick batter to create lighter puddings, mousses and cheesecakes among other recipes. On the other hand, tilt bowl mixers are ideal for making lighter fluffier mousses, souffles, and other recipes that require an even consistency.
Although some cooks prefer a tilt-head mixer, there really is no right or wrong way to make your favorite recipes. A person can use a bowl-lift mixer with any kind of batter and achieve the desired results. The opposite is also true; a person can use a tilt head mixer for mixing thick batters like cookie dough or cake batter and create wonderful results.
No matter which mixer you choose or already have from KitchenAid, you’ll find great starters which will add variety to your kitchen through the Kenmore and KitchenAid mixers . The post is the latest piece of content from KitchenAid showing their dedication to new technology and innovation. The article includes a video of a professional chef using the bowl lift mixer for making cookie dough. Viewers can get a better feel for why Chef Lauren Zirbel uses the bowl lift mixer by watching her demo with her own home kitchen.
A tilt-head mixer makes consistent batter without overflowing or leaving lumps out. It really does the job for me. I think the tilt-head mixer’s design has been around for a long time and needs to come back into rotation.
I have an old KitchenAid mixer I got from my grandmother in 1977 that was a tilt-head model. It worked like a charm, though it was extremely loud. I remember as a child, my aunt would make us hang out in her house when she would bake using that mixer because it made so much noise. And for a child to be able to stand next to that thing and not get freaked out is pretty impressive!
The newer KitchenAid tilt-headed mixer models are not nearly as loud and are actually very efficient considering how powerful they are. I can’t imagine a mixer being much louder than a well-built blender. And that’s about as loud as I can tolerate. I like to be able to have conversations while I’m cooking.
So what’s the difference between the two KitchenAid mixer models? In a nutshell, one has a tilt head and one doesn’t. The bowl-lift model always has the same tilt angle (18 degrees), which is not very helpful when you’re making anything that isn’t thick batter. The tilt-head model can be tilted to almost any degree, and I’ve never found it to be a hindrance when making anything thicker than pancake batter.
Another difference is the bowl-lift model uses an older style non-integrated arm that picks up the bowl by leverage. This arm is quite unique in that it cannot be reversed or disconnected. Although, it’s not really necessary with a tilt-head mixer because you’re using an integrated arm that is reversible and can be detached.
The newer KitchenAid tilt-headed models are reverseable for cleaning purposes. The bowl lift always uses this integrated arm, which simplifies its design compared to the older style of arms on other mixers.
The integrated arm is much simpler to operate than the old style of arms. If you’re making a lot of dough, you can use the shell of the KSM90 for durability, and it’s the only tilt-head model that allows for this option.
The other models with an integrated arm limit you to using the bowl, which I find quite annoying. That’s why I choose my tilt-head mixer over most other models even though it costs more than other comparable ones and older models.
What is the difference between the KitchenAid models?
The KitchenAid tilt-head mixer is similar to the bowl-lift model, but it has a tilt head that enables it to have an 18 degree tilt angle. This is not very helpful when making anything thicker than pancake batter, but great for stirring dough.
The bowl-lift mixer is extremely popular for its versatility and ability to be used with almost any of your mixing needs. The downside for some people is the slight noise it makes when in use. I haven’t found this to be a problem at all as I can easily see why people choose one or the other based on their current repertoire of recipes.
How long do KitchenAid mixers last?
The quality of the bowl lift is not affected by daily use. With proper maintenance, it can last as long as any other mixer. The tilt head on the other hand, should be replaced after 10 years if you’re using it regularly. Most people replace their kitchen mixer once a year, especially with all the great technology that KitchenAid has come up with.
Do all KitchenAid mixers have an integrated arm?
Yes they do! All models of KitchenAid mixers have an integrated arms designed to make cleaning easier. This type of design is much simpler to clean and keeps messes off the work surface area like other designs that require you to tilt or fold down the bowl.
What is the warranty period on these mixers?
The KitchenAid mixer models come with a 1-year limited warranty (on both products), and most of the parts are guaranteed for life. This is by far your best assurance that you will get the quality you pay for and will support KitchenAid if needed.
Do they fit all the KitchenAid models?
No, if it fits a KitchenAid mixer, there is a great chance it will not fit the other mixers. There are some exceptions to the rule, but if you’re set on using your attachment, be sure to check and make sure it fits your mixer before spending money on it.
Which KitchenAid attachment to cream butter and sugar?
You want to either use the flat beater or the paddle to cream butter and sugar together. Both work exceptionally well, but the flat beater is far more popular because it can cream really stiff butter mixtures like sugar cookie dough. The paddle is great for soft cookies, cakes and breads. Although once you get your technique down, the flat beater does a fine job of mixing anything that’s not extremely stiff. I personally use the flat beater for any mixes that I make and never have a problem with it. You may want to experiment with both attachments just to see which one works better for you.
Can I use the food processor blade in my mixer?
Yes, as long as it fits into the bowl. You may need a little adapter depending on the size of your mixer. I have a 5-quart KitchenAid Stand Mixer and all of my attachments fit inside with no issues. The only time this is not possible is when you’re making something extremely thick like brownies or cookie dough because there isn’t enough room for all the ingredients to be processed at once.
CONCLUSION:
There’s no reason to spend the extra money on a KitchenAid mixer model if the tilt-head model is just as good. Although, I would recommend you go for the older models of mixers with a bowl lift for their sturdiness and longevity. The difference between the two is more about personal preference. If you’re making large amounts of cookie dough, pancake batter or bread dough then a bowl lift may be necessary because any drop in speed (like stopping to check something) will cause your dough to stop rising.
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