When your mixer is the quietest appliance in the kitchen, you have to brace yourself. Long-time owner Amy Ramirez-Leal explains why.
Feeling a little uncertain about buying that sleek new KitchenAid stand mixer?
Perhaps you’ve heard rumors about the noise.
Your last stand mixer made some awful sounds, and it finally gave out on you—in the middle of a big baking project—now, you’re not sure.
And yet… You can’t stop browsing online shops with enticing deals on KitchenAid products.
You’re not alone. Many home cooks feel apprehensive about buying a small appliance when they’re not familiar with how it works. Let the rumor mill churn.
In the meantime, come into the kitchen and explore KitchenAid stand mixers’ not-so noisy world.
What Can a KitchenAid Mixer Do?
If you’re like me, your mother or grandmother inspired you with their skills in the kitchen.
My grandmother created cakes and cookies that would have rivaled anything from the local bakery. She did it all with a 1950s-era KitchenAid stand mixer.
Maybe you’ve managed to whip up all kinds of things with a hand mixer. And scoffed at using anything other than your hands to make bread and pizza dough.
That was me until 2017, when I bought my first KitchenAid.
I make bread several times a week. My hands were tired. I bought the mixer to dump in the ingredients and let the machine do the rest.
Isn’t that cheating?
Cheating or not, out-of-the-box, the KitchenAid did not disappoint. You can, with minimal effort, create just about any edible thing your heart desires.
This kitchen powerhouse even shreds pork for a smashing BBQ pork sandwich. It does the same for chicken and beef.
And now, back to the noise.
Why Stand Mixers Make Noise
Have you ever owned a silent kitchen appliance? If yes, please message me telepathically. After all, who doesn’t enjoy a little quieter kitchen?
Unfortunately, stand mixers make noise—and KitchenAid is no exception.
Here’s why:
Stand mixers use either AC or DC motors. AC motors make the most noise, while brushless DC motors run more quietly during operation.
Unless you buy one of KitchenAid’s commercial-grade mixers, yours will come with an AC motor.
Mine hummed along until last year, right in the middle of the holiday baking madness. Except for that one time when I tried to more than double a recipe for bread dough.
You’ll read more about that later. For now, we’ll talk about a few of the familiar sounds KitchenAid stand mixers make.
Everyday Noises Made by KitchenAid Stand Mixers
When you buy your first KitchenAid—or KA as Julia Child called hers—you’ll feel like when you were a kid on your birthday. Take a minute, though, to get comfortable with this new friend’s language before you mix your cake.
Sounds on Take-Off
If it’s your first large-capacity stand mixer, you may be surprised when you move the speed lever. Even at the lowest setting (stir), it does make noise.
Most KitchenAid stand mixers have ten speeds. Each time you move the lever to increase speed, the noise level also rises.
KitchenAid says it sounds like an airplane. I suppose it could be compared to an RC airplane, but it’s certainly not an unpleasant sound.
Sounds During Heavy Mixing
Whether you plan to knead pizza dough or mix enough cookie dough for your kid’s school bake sale, your KitchenAid can handle it—with a few clicks.
Yes, clicking is a common noise made by stand mixers. I’ve heard it on both KA stand mixers I own.
The rumor mill has all kinds of ideas about the clicking sounds, but they’re everyday noises when doing some heavy mixing.
Both sounds should give you comfort. They’re the sounds of a well-oiled machine preparing delicious dishes for you and your family and friends.
Next, we’ll explore a few unusual sounds made by KA stand mixers.
Why Is Your Stand Mixer Squeaking?
While it hasn’t happened to me, I’ve talked to several home cooks who’ve mentioned squeaky mixers. One of these three issues could be the culprit:
- Beater to bowl clearance
- Loose screws
- Lubrication
The easiest issue to remedy is incorrect beater-to-bowl clearance. KitchenAid provides instructions for making the adjustment on their bowl lift model, which takes less than five minutes.
Loose screws and lubrication may take a bit more effort since you’ll need to get inside the mixer—where the planetary gear housing resides—and check and tighten any loose flat-head screws. This is also where you’ll add grease if needed.
KitchenAid ships every stand mixer in ready-to-go condition. With regular use, things will wear out, screws will loosen, and the well-oiled machine may need some grease now and again.
Sometimes, squealing indicates a stripped gear or some other problem. In that case, you’ll call KitchenAid’s fantastic customer service department for help with troubleshooting.
What it Means When a Mixer Goes Clunk
I use the KitchenAid Professional 600. It can mix dough for eight loaves of bread.
I needed enough dough for ten loaves of Rosca de Reyes, our traditional holiday bread. No problem, right?
I heard a loud clunk in the middle of kneading, and the dough hook stopped turning. The motor didn’t stop, but my breadmaking came to a halt.
I removed the half-kneaded dough, switched to the mixer paddle, and tried to cream butter to make sure it wasn’t a faulty dough hook.
The paddle moved, but it made clanking and knocking sounds on each turn.
The problem? A stripped gear—specifically, the worm gear.
The worm gear is made of plastic and takes the brunt if/when the metal gears jam. The worm gear breaks, but the motor continues running.
That’s a blessing because a broken stand mixer motor could cost you a pretty penny.
I Love the Noises Made by My KitchenAid
Even with the airplane-like noise during operation, and the clicking sounds during bread dough creation, KitchenAid makes a relatively quiet stand mixer.
There’s no reason to fear normal operating noises. And if you hear a clunk or a high-pitched squeak, customer service is a phone call away.
With a KitchenAid stand mixer, you’ll enjoy many years of peaceful baking.
