Here’s How to Get That Gray Residue Off of Your New KitchenAid Bowl

As an adult, there’s nothing I’d rather unwrap on Christmas morning than a brand new KitchenAid stand mixer. These beauties are sleek, powerful and versatile—and they make whipping up delicious recipes so simple. (It’s no wonder the Taste of Home Test Kitchen named KitchenAid the best stand mixer on the market!)

And if you’ve been lucky enough to receive a KitchenAid as a gift or you’ve finally decided to #TreatYourself to a new model, there’s one thing you need to do before mixing up a batch of grandma’s favorite cookies: Treat the bowl with olive oil.

Why Do I Need to Treat It?

Well, before it’s packaged, your KitchenAid’s stainless steel bowl is spiffed up so it’s nice and shiny when you pull it out of the box. Occasionally, this process can leave a gray residue on your bowl. Now it’s important to note that this residue is not harmful, but it can discolor your food. (And it’s no fun tossing a full batch of ingredients into the trash because no one wants to eat gray sugar cookies.)

How to Remove the Residue

Luckily, there’s an easy fix. KitchenAid recommends putting a few drops of olive oil in a clean bowl, spreading it around and letting it sit for several minutes. Then, wipe the oil away and wash the bowl with hot, soapy water. Repeat, if needed.

If you don’t have any olive oil on hand, you can also try a mixture of lemon juice and salt or a baking soda paste. Just make sure you don’t reach for a scouring pad—too much abrasion could scratch the bowl. (Eek!)

More KitchenAid Hacks

Read up on these other easy fixes to ensure you get the most out of your stand mixer:

• Is your beater adjusted to the right height? Find out with this easy test! (Hint: all you need is a dime.)
• Is your mixer leaking oil? Don’t panic—just follow our instructions.
• Are you using the mixer only for baking? If so, check out these out-of-the-box ideas.