The robust KitchenAid stand mixer is every baker’s dream machine. Let’s face it, these clever little machines make baking and meal prepping almost too easy. Armed with the standard KitchenAid attachments, and perhaps a few carefully selected extra attachments and accessories, you will be able to handle even the biggest of bake-a-thons with minimal stress and arm-aching work.
If you have recently purchased a stand mixer and are new to the KitchenAid club (welcome!) you might be slightly hesitant to start jamming your attachments and mixing bowls into your machine. Understandably so, after all, these machines aren’t exactly cheap.
One common pet peeve is getting your KitchenAid mixer bowl stuck to the base. I promise you are not the only one who gets their KitchenAid bowl stuck! There are ways to prevent this from happening though.
Here, I will share with you everything you need to know about removing the bowl once your mixer has finished its chores and learn everything you need to know about how to remove bowl from KitchenAid mixer, including special ones like the Precision Heat Bowl, and what to do if your mixing bowl gets stuck.
Let’s get started!
NOTE: While most KitchenAid mixers come with a standard stainless steel mixing bowl (usually between 3.5 quarts and 8 quarts depending on the mixer you bought), there are plenty of great replacement mixing bowls available too. If you bake often or want to whip up more than one dish at a time, I would strongly suggest treating yourself to a backup bowl. There are plenty to choose from; plain ceramic, painted ceramic, frosted glass, tempered glass, and of course, additional stainless-steel bowls. Before you buy a replacement bowl, make sure to check if it is compatible with your mixer model as some, especially the bigger bowls, will only fit certain models.
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How To Remove The Bowl From KitchenAid Mixer
Whether you’re whipping up a batch of cookies or kneading dough for homemade bread, your KitchenAid mixer is always up to the task. However, once the mixing is done, there comes a time when you need to remove the bowl to either clean it or transfer its contents. The process of removing the bowl might seem straightforward, but sometimes it gets stuck at no fault of our own. When the bowl is stuck on the KitchenAid mixer, it is essential to note that the method varies based on the type of KitchenAid mixer you own.
There are two primary designs of KitchenAid mixers: the Bowl Lift and the Tilt Head. Each has its unique mechanism and design, which means the approach to bowl removal isn’t one-size-fits-all. For those unfamiliar with the differences, it can be a tad confusing or even daunting.
For Tilt-Head Mixers
Regardless if you have just finished making your bread dough in your standard stainless steel bowl, or melting chocolate in your precision heat bowl, the process for removing the bowl from your tilt-head machine will be the same.
Step 1: Slide the lever on the mixer to the unlock position and tilt back the mixer head.
Step 2: Hold the bowl with both hands. Turn the bowl anticlockwise until you feel it detach itself from the base plate. Remove it gently in an upward motion.
For Bowl-Lift Mixers
KitchenAid bowl-lift mixers have arms on either side of the mixer. These arms have protruding pins where you place either side of the bowl. This is how to remove bowl from KitchenAid mixer.
Step 1: Rotate the bowl-lift handles on the sides of the mixer to the down position using the lever.
Step 2: Hold the bowl handles firmly. Now gently apply pressure and lift the bowl straight up and off the locating pins.
You’ve successfully removed your ceramic, glass or stainless steel mixing bowl! The process of removing a KitchenAid bowl goes off without a hitch nine times out of ten. But, sooner or later, a fairly common issue might occur. Your bowl refuses to budge.
Don’t panic. This has happened to me more than a few times before.
I have found this tends to happen more with the tilt-head models for some reason, probably because there is a locking mechanism. As I mentioned earlier, the mixing bowl attaches itself to the base of a stand mixer in a tilt-head model. Unlike the bowl lift mixer, the handles on the sides of the mixer support and hold the bowl in place.
Is Your KitchenAid Bowl Stuck?
A mixing bowl (or any other attachment for that matter) getting stuck is a more common occurrence than you think. Many first-time users and even seasoned KitchenAid pros have panicked over this before they discovered the tricks to release a bowl that has become stuck.
One of the biggest culprits for mixing attachments getting stuck is food residue. Food particles get trapped inside the cavity of your special attachments or your bowl-lift handles.
You can prevent this from happening again by removing attachments as soon as mixing is over and keeping the stand mixer clean by wiping it down with a damp cloth (remember to do this after you’ve switched off the power!). This will help prevent batter and dough from solidifying in the crevices of your mixer.
A splash guard may also be a wise investment to prevent this problem.
Another common reason why KitchenAid bowls become stuck is that the heat generated from mixing can cause the bowl to expand, especially the metal-based ones. This makes it difficult for the bowl to wiggle out.
How To Remove A Stuck KitchenAid Bowl
After dealing with my fair share of stuck bowls, I have found a few tricks that can help in removing the bowl from the base of the mixer.
For starters, if you haven’t been skipping your gym workout, you might be able to use brute force to pull out the mixing bowl from the base plate. That said, brute force might do the trick for a tight jar or a jammed cabinet door, but I don’t think it’s a good idea with delicate (and expensive) machines like your precious KitchenAid.
By doing this, you risk damaging the base and rendering your mixer useless, becoming nothing more than an expensive kitchen ornament. If you’re using a ceramic or glass bowl, you could also end up destroying the bowl in the process.
There are a few better options that work just as well and won’t risk damaging your mixer.
Method 1: Use a Damp Cloth
Step 1: Wet a cloth with warm water and wring it out so it’s damp, not dripping.
Step 2: Wrap the damp cloth around the base where the bowl connects to the mixer.
Step 3: Let it sit for a few minutes. The warmth and moisture can help loosen any dried ingredients that might be causing the bowl to stick.
Step 4: Gently try to twist and lift the bowl off.
This will help the steel mixing bowl to cool down and contract. The bowl will loosen up and you can easily twist it out the base.
Method 2: Spray Some Oil
To make sure your bowl doesn’t get stuck, you can also spray some oil to the base before you attach your bowl each time you use your mixer. This will make releasing the bowl after it’s done mixing a lot easier.
Step 1: Using a kitchen-safe spray oil, lightly spray around the base where the bowl meets the mixer.
Step 2: Allow the oil to sit for around 5 minutes.
Step 3: Gently twist and lift the bowl. The oil can act as a lubricant, helping to free the bowl.
Remember to clean the base plate well before and after use to prevent oil residue from building up.
Method 3: Cold Water and Ice
Step 1: Fill the bowl with cold water and add some ice cubes.
Step 2: Let it sit for about 5-10 minutes. The cold can cause the metal to contract slightly, which might help in loosening the bowl.
Step 3: Twist the bowl off.
Method 4: Straddle Your Mixer
Okay, this one might sound a little bit weird but it does work!
Step 1: Unplug your mixer and place it on the ground.
Step 2: Kneel down over your mixer and put both your hands on either side of the bowl.
Step 3: With some downward force, twist the bowl anticlockwise and this should release the bowl.
Using one or a combination of the above methods should hopefully resolve the issue of a stuck KitchenAid mixer bowl. Once you’ve successfully released the bowl, make sure you wash it or pop it in the dishwasher and give the base of the mixera good clean too.
What You Shouldn’t Do To A Bowl Stuck On KitchenAid Mixer
In the heat of the “stuck bowl” moment, you might feel like turning into a kitchen superhero, ready to unleash your powers on that stubborn mixer. Before you go all “Kitchen Avenger” on it, remember that your mixer isn’t a villain from another galaxy; it’s your trusty sidekick. Wrestling it with brute force or summoning the power of the mighty hammer might just end in a culinary catastrophe. And trust us, explaining to your friends why you have a dented mixer and a deflated ego isn’t the kind of story you want to tell at dinner parties.
And what’s worse than a bruised ego? A void warranty. So…
Don’t Force It: If the bowl isn’t budging after trying the above methods, don’t apply excessive force. This can damage both the bowl and the mixer.
Avoid Hammers and Hard Tools: Never use hammers or any hard tools to try and dislodge the bowl. This can lead to dents, scratches, or more severe damage to your mixer and bowl.
If you want to see some of these techniques in action, here’s a video showing you how to do this (although I definitely don’t recommend her hammer trick!)
How To Remove KitchenAid Mixing Attachments
Aside from a bowl stuck on a KitchenAid mixer, it is very common for the attachments to get stuck too. If you are brand new to KitchenAid stand mixers, it might be worth refreshing yourself with how to attach and remove standard attachments from your mixer, as well as from the multipurpose hub.
We have discussed how to remove KitchenAid attachments in detail before, so if you want to brush up on attaching and removing baking accessories, then be sure to check that article out. Regardless of whether you have a bowl-lift or tilt-head mixer, you find all the information you need to attach and remove attachments properly without damaging your KitchenAid stand mixer. By correctly attaching these accessories, it will prevent any unwanted complications like the beater coming off or the bowl vibrating while the mixer is in use.
No More Stuck KitchenAid Mixing Bowls!
Now you know how to get bowl out of the KitchenAid mixer! As you’ve seen, KitchenAid Mixing bowls and other attachments are easy to attach and remove once you have the proper technique If the tilt-head bowl ever gets stuck to the stand mixer, a damp towel press or oil treatment is all it takes to solve that pesky problem.
