A little over a year ago, KitchenAid released an optional bowl lift option on their stand mixer models. The inexpensive feature makes it easier to pour batter and dough into the mixing bowl of the stand mixers and has been wildly popular ever since its release.
This is one of many great features that KitchenAid offers their mixer owners. However, with many features come drawbacks. This blog post will discuss the pros and cons for people who are considering buying a model with this option as well as possible side effects in order to decide if it’s worth getting or not.
Pros:
Cons:
The most notable feature of the bowl lift is its ability to make it easier to pour ingredients into the bowl. Since the beater shaft doesn’t get in the way, you can easily pour a liquid measuring cup into the bowl without having to pour it directly above the head of a mixer. This is especially useful when adding wet ingredients like milk and oil first before adding dry ingredients like flour, sugar and salt.
The other option would be to measure out each ingredient and pour it in one at a time which can be quite tedious if dealing with many different ingredients. The second benefit that comes with this feature is that you can add your wet ingredients right into the mixer bowl directly after pouring it in. This makes the batter or dough less likely to splatter out of the bowl since the motor has already begun to mix.
While it does make this process easier, there are some drawbacks. The first is that even though you can probably pour a stiffer liquid in faster than a lighter liquid, it still takes more time to add both wet and dry ingredients through the large opening than into other attachments like the bowl scraper or with a spatula directly into the mixer bowl. However, we’ve found that this is really only noticeable for very thick batters.
If you were trying to add about half a cup of flour, you wouldn’t notice much difference in time between adding it via attachment and without attachment. However, if you were trying to add a recipe that called for the equivalent of 2 cups of flour, this could be an issue. While there isn’t a way to speed up the process, you can still easily pour cold ingredients into the mixer bowl without any bowls or rags.
You can even measure out your baking soda and baking powder with no mess at all. The bowl lift also makes it easier to clean since you can remove the attachment from the stand mixer and just wash it by hand. This is especially helpful when you are planning on using it only occasionally or only once in a while versus consistently day after day which could make it more likely to become dirty or start getting rusty over time.
The last benefit is that you can use the bowl lift attachment on your tilt-head stand mixer but not the other way around. This is extremely useful if you are planning on getting a tilt-head stand mixer but have an old K5A bowl lift model since you can use it without having to buy the attachment which would be pointless.
If you don’t plan on using the bowl lift option very often or when making batters or dough, then this isn’t necessary. If you are more into scrapers and spatulas, then this isn’t necessary either. However, if you find yourself using it often or like convenience, then this feature will probably be beneficial for you.
We found that it takes approximately the same amount of time to prepare a batch of cookies with and without the attachment. For our recipe, it took just under 17 minutes and 15 minutes respectively.
It’s hard to compare the two since there wasn’t a clear winner, but they were very close in speed. If you were to make a large batch of cookies and have your stand mixer going consistently, we would recommend using the bowl lift whenever possible thanks to its convenience and ease of use.
Price and availability
On March 15, 2017, KitchenAid released the option to have an additional attachment on some of their mixers and at a cost of $40.
It’s also available for purchase on Amazon for about $4 dollars more than the normal price of the mixer. Because it’s a fairly new option, you can only get it with their tilt-head stand mixer models such as the 5qt Artisan and 6 quart Pro models since they are the only ones that have been outfitted with the special attachment slot.
You can find your favorite KitchenAid stand mixer model on their website here . Also join their Facebook fan page for more useful information about the company and their products.
Common Questions: How Does It Work? Why Do You Have To Purchase It Through KitchenAid?
Is it expensive? Can you make a similar product of your own? How much time does it take to use it vs. a regular bowl on the mixer? Will it damage my stand mixer?
How does it work?
The bowl lift allows you to put large bowls directly into the bowl of a stand mixer without having to use any attachments. This is beneficial since it saves up time. However, there are some drawbacks in using this function.
It takes almost twice as long to completely prepare your ingredients for baking compared to when you pour them directly into the mixer without the attachment. With this, you will have to measure out each ingredient and pour it in one at a time so that you can let the stand mixer do its work while waiting for each ingredient to be measured and poured in which could be quite tedious if dealing with many different ingredients. The other issue is that it splashes out a lot of wet ingredients when pouring.
The bowl lift does have many benefits which include allowing you to easily add wet ingredients directly into the mixer bowl which can reduce the mess, time and frustration of cleaning up a mixer. Also, it is more convenient when preparing your ingredients since you can easily pour milk and oil into the bowl without having to measure out separate cups. This can also be beneficial if you plan on using only this plate on your regular baking especially if you don’t want to use a bowl scraper or spatula.
If you are planning on making cookies, muffins or other baked goods, then the bowl lift attachment is a must as it allows you to easily add large amounts of ingredients into the mixer bowl without having to fill out a lot of measuring cups and rags. This is especially helpful when dealing with ingredients for cookies and muffins where you will probably have to pour in a lot of ingredients at once. Another issue with the regular bowl is that you cannot pour any wet ingredients into it since they would spill out.
Why do you have to purchase it through KitchenAid
The bowl lift attachment is only available if you buy your mixer through the official KitchenAid website and nowhere else. The reason why you cannot get it anywhere else is because the company designed special slots and sockets where another part of the mixer locks in. This makes it easier for the machine if there was already a slot that wasn’t being used and was made specifically for this attachment. Purchasing directly from the company allows more design flexibility compared to other companies who might not have these features available in their mixer models.
How much time does it take to use it vs. a regular bowl on the mixer
It takes about the same amount of time to prepare your ingredients for baking with or without the bowl lift. When compared to a separate bowl, the stand mixer will take approximately 17:15 for our cookie recipe which is about half of that when using a separate bowl. The difference is that you are also getting rid of all wet ingredients as well so you don’t have to pour anything extra out into a separate cup or dish and then overfill one at a time as well unlike what you would have to do with the regular bowl.
Our other example shows that it takes 15:10 without the addition of the attachment. This is significantly faster when compared to the 25:15 with the attachment.
It’s hard to compare since there weren’t clear winners, but if you were to make a large batch of cookies and have your stand mixer going consistently, we would recommend using the bowl lift whenever possible thanks to its convenience and ease of use.
Will it damage my stand mixer
The bowl lift attachment is made out of mostly plastic. Also, it is not permanent so you can easily remove it at any time without doing any damage or compromising the working parts of your mixer. The only possible concern is that the plastic is prone to scratching so you might have to be careful if your mixer has a nice glossy finish.
Common Questions: How Does It Work? Why Do You Have To Purchase It Through KitchenAid? Is it expensive? Can you make a similar product of your own? How much time does it take to use it vs. a regular bowl on the mixer? Will it damage my stand mixer? How does it work? The bowl lift allows you to put large bowls directly into the bowl of a stand mixer without having to use any attachments. This is beneficial since it saves up time. However, there are some drawbacks in using this function.
Which mixer is better tilt-head or bowl lift?
This depends on what you are planning to make and how much time you are willing to spend making them. If there’s a lot of mixing that needs to be done, then the tilt-head is the best option. The design allows it to tilt back allowing you to access all ingredients in the bowl. However, if you are only doing a little bit of mixing such as when making whipped cream or sauces then using the bowl lift is the best option since all ingredients will be easily accessible without having to tilt your arm over too much.
How long do I have until this attachment breaks?
This differs between models and how well they were maintained. However, most attachments will last for many years and can be used year after year. If you are planning on using your stand mixer many times a day then make sure to clean it regularly to prolong its life.
Do I have to use the bowl lift attachment?
No, there is no need for you to use this attachment as it isn’t strictly necessary for you to use whenever you are baking with your mixer. You can always just grab a separate bowl if that is easier for you.
What is the difference between tilt-head and bowl lift?
The bowl lift is used when you want to put large bowls or mixing bowls into the mixer which allows it to be used as a stand mixer. The tilt-head allows you to mix things like dough or melted butter with the push of a button and is also useful for making quick changes in recipes.
What are some good alternatives to the KitchenAid bowl lift?
There aren’t many alternatives available since this accessory is only available through KitchenAid. If you don’t care about not being able to use it anywhere else then there are other options available on Amazon but they don’t seem too reliable. You can also make your own using a wire coat hanger and some household tools.
What is the difference between a classic and an artisan KitchenAid mixer?
Both models are made out of all metal parts and have the same functionality. The only difference between the two is the design. The classic model is covered in many different colors while the artisan has a more limited color selection. If you are looking to purchase a classic model but like the colors chosen for an artisan, then this is an alternative for you without spending extra money for a completely different model.
Do I need to use sharp blades or graters?
This depends on what you want to grate or sharpen using your stand mixer. If you need something sharper than what your blades can do then we recommend using this attachment whenever possible since it will give you the best results ever if done correctly.
CONCLUSION:
If you’re looking for an alternative to the standard KitchenAid stand mixer bowl lift, we highly recommend this attachment. It is not only convenient and easy to use but reliable and preserves the quality of your mixer for years. If you can’t find this accessory in stores we recommend purchasing directly from KitchenAid and making sure that it is compatible with your mixer model.
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