KitchenAid Bowl-Lift Mixers and the Parts That Upgrade Them

Best for
Big-batch bakers and bread makers

The KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, model KSM70SKXX, is the largest mixer here. KitchenAid says its 7-quart bowl can mix 13 dozen cookies per batch, knead over 8.5 pounds of bread dough or mash over 7.5 pounds of potatoes. The bowl-lift design raises the bowl up to the beater with a lever instead of tilting the head back, and the 3-point locking bowl adds stability for dense dough.

It offers 11 distinct speeds, from speed 10 down to a 1/2 speed designed for folding delicate ingredients like blueberries and egg whites without overbeating. The accessory kit is generous: a 7-quart stainless steel bowl, a double flex edge beater with two flexible edges that scrape the bowl, a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook, an 11-wire whip and a pouring shield. It carries a one-year limited warranty, and KitchenAid points to more than ten optional attachments that use the power hub.

This is the mixer for households that bake in volume, knead heavy doughs often, or cook for large gatherings. If your counter space is limited or your batches are modest, the 5.5 quart model is the better fit.

• 7-quart stainless steel bowl with 3-point lock
• 11 speeds including 1/2 speed for folding
• Double flex edge beater plus flat beater, dough hook and 11-wire whip
• Pouring shield included

Best for
Owners of 6-quart bowl-lift models

The 6 Quart Stainless Steel Mixer Bowl is made by Wiselet, not KitchenAid. It is a third-party replacement listed for KitchenAid Professional and Artisan bowl-lift mixers, including the KP26, KL26, KT26, KB26, KV25, KSM6583 and KSM6585, and as a replacement for the KN2B6PEH bowl. The listing says it does not fit tilt-head mixers.

It is built from 18/8 food-grade stainless steel, is BPA and lead free, and is listed as dishwasher safe; it can also go in the oven or freezer with ingredients, but not the microwave. Wiselet says the 6-quart capacity covers dough for 11 dozen cookies, 5 loaves of bread or 9 pounds of mashed potatoes. A silicone scraper is included.

This suits owners of those 6-quart models who want a second bowl so they can whip cream in one and mix dough in the other without washing in between. The listing does not name the 7 quart KSM70 or 5.5 quart KSM55 covered here, so do not assume it fits them.

Best for
Home bakers wanting bowl-lift stability

The KitchenAid 5.5-Qt Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer, model KSM55, brings the same core design as the 7 quart in a smaller package. KitchenAid rates it at twice the power in the bowl of its KSM150 tilt-head mixer, measured as peak horsepower above speed 2, and it uses the same 3-point locking bowl.

It has 11 speeds, including the 1/2 speed for folding. The 5.5-quart bowl is rated for 11 dozen cookies per batch, over 7 pounds of bread dough or 6 pounds of mashed potatoes. The kit includes a stainless steel bowl, a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook and a 6-wire whip. Compared with the 7 quart, it skips the double flex edge beater and pouring shield and uses a 6-wire rather than 11-wire whip. It is listed in porcelain white; if color matters, our guide to the white stand mixer options helps.

This model suits home bakers who want bowl-lift stability for heavier doughs but do not need a 7-quart batch size. For bread every weekend and large holiday batches, the 7 quart earns its extra space.

Best for
Moving a heavy mixer on the counter

The GuanQiao Food-Grade Wood Slider For KitchenAid is a third-party pine wood tray, not a KitchenAid product. You set the mixer on it and push or pull the whole unit across the counter rather than lifting it. It is listed for KitchenAid 5-8 Qt bowl-lift mixers, but specifically not for the Pro 450 or Pro 500 series.

The tray measures 16 inches deep, 11 inches wide and 0.7 inches high. GuanQiao says the natural pine surface resists cracking and protects the counter from scratches. It ships with protective packing.

This is useful for anyone who stores a bowl-lift mixer under upper cabinets and slides it forward to use. Bowl-lift mixers are heavy, and dragging one across stone or laminate can scratch it. Remember that the 0.7-inch height adds to the mixer’s total height, so check cabinet clearance before buying.

Best for
Replacing a worn coated paddle

The Stainless Steel Flat Beater for KitchenAid bowl-lift mixers is another Wiselet part, not made by KitchenAid. It is listed for Heavy Duty, Professional 5 Plus and Professional 600 bowl-lift series mixers, including the K5, KG25, KV25, KP26 and KT26, in 5 and 6 quart sizes.

Its selling point is material: it is solid food-grade stainless steel, so there is no coating to chip, flake or turn gray in the dishwasher, which is a common complaint with coated aluminum paddles. The listing says it is rust-resistant and fully dishwasher safe, and weighs 11.3 ounces.

This suits owners of those older 5 and 6 quart bowl-lift models whose coated paddle is worn. The listing does not name the KSM70 or KSM55, so it is not a confirmed match for either mixer here.

Best for
Spare bowl for older 5-quart bowl-lift models

The KitchenAid K5ASBP Stainless Steel Bowl is the genuine KitchenAid part in this group. It is a 5-quart stainless steel bowl with a flat handle, listed to fit the KSM500, KSM450, KPM5, KPM50, K5SS and KSM5 bowl-lift mixers. KitchenAid says it holds enough dough for 9 dozen cookies and is dishwasher safe.

A spare bowl lets you move from one recipe to the next without stopping to wash. For owners of those models, this is the safest bowl choice because it comes from KitchenAid itself. It is not listed for the KSM70 or KSM55 covered above. If you are shopping for a full mixer in this size instead, see our 5-quart stand mixer guide.