Hey bakers - is a stand mixer not supposed to scrape off the side of bowls?

[lozina]

I have one of those typical Kitchen Aid stand mixers that just about everyone has and I notice that my attachments like the dough hook and even the whisk do not sufficiently reach the side of the mixing bowl, in the dough hooks example leaving probably more than 1/2" clearance from side of bowl if not even more.

The problem then is when I am mixing something it quickly throws everything to the side of the bowl in a few split seconds and then just spins around doing basically nothing while my batter/dough is pasted to the side of the bowl. Then have to pull out spatula to scrape the dough down into the center of the bowl, fire it up again only to get the same result. It's frustrating.

Is this a flaw in this design or is it a flaw in my understanding of how this thing works?

Do they make mixers who's attachments actually come within say 1/8
or less of the side of their mixing bowls?

And these attachments came with the retail box along with mixing bowl so it's not like I bought these things separate and am using wrong parts

 

[CPA]

are you spinning it to fast? You don't want it touching the sides because eventually you want the dough to form into a ball.

 

[0roo0roo]

dough should stick to itself and get kneaded by the attachment.
maybe its not the right accessory

 

[NoCreativity]

Use a spatula.

 

[AnonymouseUser]

I did a quick google for a user guide, and this is what it says:

• For mixing yeast doughs, begin by using
the flat mixing paddle. When starting a
recipe, dough is thinner and more like
a batter and mixes more efficiently and
smoothly with a paddle. After a very thick,
smooth batter forms, switch to the dough
hook to complete the recipe.

RTFM!

 

[dfuze]

If it were to hit the sides I think you'd also have to at some point deal with metal flakes in your food so it's probably by design that it doesn't touch.

 

[Dirigible]

On at least some models I believe there is an adjustment screw where you can make it get close to the bowl but not touch.

Edit: to be clear it is not supposed to touch the sides an scrape them. Just supposed to get close.

 

[Patt]

Start it off slower until things mix a bit, and then use a spatula to push off anything that is stuck to the edges. My KitchenAid works great, and if you switch between attachments, you might find more success.

 

[NetWareHead]

The problem then is when I am mixing something it quickly throws everything to the side of the bowl in a few split seconds and then just spins around doing basically nothing while my batter/dough is pasted to the side of the bowl. Then have to pull out spatula to scrape the dough down into the center of the bowl, fire it up again only to get the same result. It's frustrating.

You are going way too fast if all the ingredients get splashed to the side in a few seconds. When mixing dough, the slowest speed is used. I guess you could switch attachments, but why dirty something else? Stay on the slowest speed and the dough hooks will eventually form a dough ball.

 

[SunnyD]

No, it's not. For dough, as the dough mixes and thickens, it will automatically pull away from the sides. You should use a spatula every 30 seconds or so when you start a few times to get all of the ingredients mixed in. Once the dough reaches the appropriate consistency it won't stick.

 

[nanette1985]

Go to Amazon and search for KitchenAid Beater Blade.

 

[Howard]

Scraping down is normal, but 1/2" of stuff all around is way too much. Even before considering getting a BeaterBlade I would try to have that fixed.

 

[boomerang]

As was said, there is an adjustment to raise and lower the arms that hold the bowl. I had to raise mine up quite a ways to get the flat beater as close to the bottom as possible without scraping. The adjustment is on the back.

Raising the bowl will also move the bowl closer to whatever attachment you're using along the sides.

But that's not your problem and the answer has already been covered.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

As has already been said, you are not using the mixer correctly.

 

[xSauronx]

As has already been said, you are not using the mixer correctly.

this. jeebus, a few afternoons on foodnetwork or a handful of youtube videos should be enough to get the basic idea down of what you need to do when making bread.

/just made bread 15 minutes ago.

 

[Nintendesert]

Just get a wife and all these problems go away.