Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer

[Nantzie]

I've had a Kitchen Aid Stand Mixer for a few years. I only hauled it out a few times, and always for gluten-filled baking marathons. I'd hate to give it up now that I have all these new gluten-free breads to make. It's practically new.

I know that the bowl and attachments are easy enough to clean. I'm thinking more about the flour that might have gotten up into a few of the crevices right above the mixing bowl. Like where the engine rotates the attachements from.

Anyone have problems with this?

[jerseyangel]

YES! I've been wondering the same thing. I've had mine for well over 10 years and always used it for large batches of cookies and other things. I have not used it once since I went gluten-free. I have a hand mixer that I feel I've gotten clean enough and even before, I mostly used that one for potatoes. I have been just using that or mixing by hand. My Kitchen Aid is just sitting on the counter looking pretty .

[lovegrov]

I'd clean it thoroughly and use it. You could even run it some without mixing anything to loosen up anything in there.

richard

[Guest nini]

A thorough cleaning should be sufficient... I wouldn't get rid of it. Try using pipe cleaners to clean up in the crevices if you are worried there is a ton of gluten up in there.

I didn't own a stand mixer prior to my dx, so I don't have personal experience with it. I did have a hand mixer, I ended up giving it away to a friend and I bought myself a stand mixer, only because I was going to be doing MORE baking. But I would think that a good cleaning would be enough. Another thought... the Cafe next to my work that makes Gluten free cakes, and Gluten filled cakes, says that when they use the mixer for Gluten Free, they cover the housing with a plastic guard but they don't use a separate machine.

[jenvan]

I have cleaned my thoroughly and have no problems. The mechanical parts you are speaking of are harder to clean...you could try using a toothbrush to scrub those parts.

[jerseyangel]

Thanks Jen, Richard and Nini--I'll take your advice and clean it as thoroughly as I can, and use a small brush up under the top. After that, I'll run it empty a little bit. It actually looks brand new--it's clean as far as I can see but I always picture the flour from the old days (like last year!) trapped up in there.

[hez]

I still use my mixer! I washed the bowl and attachments. I also wiped down the outside. I have not had any problems (would know, very sensitive

Enjoy the mixer!

Hez

[Idahogirl]

I cannot IMAGINE living without my stand mixer! I just discovered the other day that it has dough beaters (I had been draping a towel over to keep dough from ending up on the walls!). I've always been a little paranoid about my hand mixer and stand mixer, but I haven't had any problems that I can think of.

Lisa

[Nantzie]

YAY! I never thought of the pipe cleaner or running it empty. That should do the trick. With all the recipes I'm finding, I'm relieved that nobody has had problems with this. I can't imagine trying all those bread recipes and doing it by hand. My stand mixer is going to get a lot of miles on it this year... (Maybe I'll ask Santa for a bread machine next Christmas though.)

Thanks guys!