The KitchenAid Stand Mixer is a shining star appliance in many kitchens, including mine. I remember how much easier making a cheesecake became once I got a KitchenAid. It did the heavy mixing and saved wear and tear on the hand mixer and my arms. Doughs and batters are kneaded and mixed efficiently and quickly. Homemade butter and marshmallows are both easy work for the KitchenAid. Let’s not even start talking about the attachments available for even more uses. With all the things the KitchenAid Stand Mixer does, keeping it in tip-top shape is important.
One easy way for keeping it mixing properly is by performing the dime test. Do you know about this? I didn’t until a month or so ago. It is such a great, quick tip that I can’t help but share it with you.
Got a couple minutes? Great! Get your mixer, a dime, and a flathead screwdriver. Let’s get started.
What is the KitchenAid Stand Mixer Dime Test?
The Dime Test is an easy test that makes sure the arm of your KitchenAid Stand Mixer is at the proper height. The proper height of the arm allows the mixer’s paddle, whisk or dough hook to move around the bowl completely. The paddle should not hit the inside bottom of the bowl but still needs to be low enough that all the ingredients used in a recipe get well incorporated. This test gets shows you what adjustment is needed.
Why do you use a Dime?
The paddle should be 1/16” from the bottom of the bowl. A Dime is 1/16” thick making it perfect.
Dime Test Instructions
Get the following items for the dime test.
- Paddle attachment
- Flathead Screwdriver
- And the obvious item….a Dime
Steps:
- Safety first. Start with your mixer unplugged.
- Attach the paddle attachment to the mixer and drop the dime into the bowl.
- Plug in the mixer and turn it on to “Stir”.
- Watch what the dime does. If the dime doesn’t move at all, the arm of the mixer is too high. If it moves around the bowl constantly with the paddle, the arm is too low. You are looking for the dime to move around the bowl slowly. It should move about ¼” to ½” around the bowl with each pass of the beater.
- Unplug your mixer, unlock the arm, lift the arm, and remove the paddle.
- Find the screw in the hinge of the raised mixer. If you have a KitchenAid Bowl Lift Mixer Model, the screw is behind the bowl support. (see photo below)
- Use the flathead screwdriver and turn the screw a quarter turn to the left or right as needed. A right turn lowers the beater. A left turn raises the beater.
- After each quarter turn, repeat the dime test until the proper height is reached.
- Repeat the dime test occasionally, to keep your KitchenAid mixing at its best.
How Did My Mixer Did with the Dime Test?
I’ve had my mixer for years so completing the dime test myself was a must. I got the mixer out, put on the paddle and dime in the bowl. Then I turned on the mixer only to find the dime barley moved. It took a little over a quarter turn to get it back to where it should be. Now, the dime moves around the bowl about ¼’ or so every time the paddle goes over it. Looks like I’m all set.
Ok, Your Turn
See how easy that was? Now that your mixer is calibrated, take your KitchenAid Stand Mixer and stir, mix, knead or whip up some more great recipes!
