8 KitchenAid Mixer Mistakes Everyone’s Made

You love your KitchenAid mixer, but are you using it properly?

Our editors and experts handpick every product we feature. We may earn a commission from your purchases.

1 / 8
blue KitchenAid mixer with flour
Facebook / KitchenAid

Starting on too high of a speed

We know you’re SO excited to bake something yummy. (Need inspiration? Try one of these delicious baking recipes we stole from grandma’s recipe box.) But there’s nothing worse than putting ingredients into a bowl and turning your stand mixer on high. Flour, milk, butter—or whatever ingredient you have in the bowl—will go all over the kitchen. Plus, you risk ruining the recipe with inaccurate measurements. Play it safe by always starting on the lowest speed and letting ingredients incorporate a little before cranking it up.

We tested the best stand mixers on the market. Find out which one’s best.

2 / 8
red stand mixer mixing cream
Dmitry_Evs/Shutterstock

Not testing your bowl clearance

If you’ve never tested your bowl clearance, you could be making a major mistake. A too-high clearance results in gobs of unmixed batter, while a too-low clearance can scratch the bottom of your bowl. Luckily, there’s an easy fix. Look for a tiny screw on the head of your KitchenAid, and turn it a little bit at a time until the mixer has proper clearance. You can find the full instructions for adjusting your mixer here.

3 / 8
tropical KitchenAid mixer with meringue
Facebook / KitchenAid

Not chilling the bowl

Whipped cream won’t, well, whip? Try tossing the bowl (and the attachment!) into the freezer for a few minutes. The extra hit of cold will help you reach perfectly stiff peaks fast. (Here’s how to get soft or stiff peaks every single time.)

4 / 8
Close up Elderly hand plugging into electrical outlet;
Shutterstock / Toa55

Plugging your mixer into a power strip

It’s tempting to plug all of your kitchen appliances into a power strip or surge protector. But some gadgets, like your KitchenAid, need to be plugged directly into a wall outlet. Since your stand mixer uses a considerable amount of energy, channeling power through a cord can increase your risk of fire or cause damage to your mixer’s motor.

5 / 8
silver KitchenAid mixer with sheperds pie
Facebook / KitchenAid

Using the mixer only for baking

If you only use your KitchenAid to whip up cakes and brownies, you’re missing out. The appliance is super versatile, and can be used to shred meat, mix dips, mash potatoes and much more.

(Psst! Here are 16 things you never thought to make in your KitchenAid.)

6 / 8
detail of the beater of a red tilt head stand mixer
Shutterstock / Guilherme Omella Mainieri

Using the wrong attachment

Though there are many KitchenAid attachments you can buy (These are our top attachment picks), the most common mixers are the flat beater, wire whip and dough hook. Each attachment is designed for a specific purpose: the flat beater is perfect for mixing together cookie dough and batter; the wire whip makes quick work of frosting, heavy cream and egg whites; and the dough hook expertly kneads bread dough. Using the wrong attachment on a recipe won’t necessarily hurt your machine, but it can shorten the life of or even break an attachment.

7 / 8
black matte KitchenAid mixer
Facebook / KitchenAid

Storing your mixer improperly

Ideally you’d leave your stand mixer out on the counter, but when that’s not possible, store your appliance in a chest-height cabinet. When stashed too low or too high, you’re at a greater risk of dropping the mixer or injuring yourself. You also want to make sure the mixer is stored upright and not on its side.

8 / 8
cooking, food and kitchen appliances concept - chef pouring ingredient from pot into electric mixer bowl;
Shutterstock / Syda Productions

Not using a splash guard

If you’ve ever splashed cake batter on your shirt or ended up with egg whites in your hair, listen up. Even when you start a project on low speed, there’s still a chance for batter and dry ingredients to go flying around your kitchen. Invest in a splash guard to minimize the risk. The small piece covers the bulk of the bowl while leaving room for the mixing element, and a small chute makes it easy to add more ingredients. Check out the 10 best KitchenAid attachments you can buy.

Up Next: 9 KitchenAid Major Appliances We’d Be Happy to Have in Our Homes

Katie Bandurski
As Senior Shopping Editor, Katie connects Taste of Home readers with the best gifts, deals and home products on the market. An avid foodie and a holiday enthusiast, Katie is an expert at cultivating meaningful moments. When she’s out of the office, you’ll find her exploring Wisconsin, trying out new vegetarian recipes and watching Christmas movies.