KitchenAid stand mixers are an extremely beneficial piece of equipment within the kitchen, they are well made and can last a very long time though you need to make sure that you take care of it properly. This involves making sure the grease to keep the stand mixer moving smoothly.
You should replace your KitchenAid Stand Mixer grease at least once a year. This is the best way to ensure that it will last a long time and the gears will not get stuck and broken. Take a look at the grease as well. When it is no longer clear and white, it needs to be replaced.
Let’s take a closer look at some of the things you need to do to replace the grease in your mixer to ensure that it is going to last a long time. We’ll talk more about when and why to change the grease as well as explain in detail how to do it.
When Should I Change the Grease In A KitchenAid Stand Mixer?
Your stand mixer will last you for a long time with the right care, but without proper maintenance it won’t last nearly as long.
The gears that drive the mixer use grease to help them move with the least amount of friction possible, but that grease can spoil and get dirty which decreases the lifespan of the mixer.
For the most part, you will need to re-grease the stand mixer at least once a year because it helps to:
- All the parts to work well
- Can make the machine last longer
- Prevents anything from breaking
The right type of grease can help the gears to work the way that you want without any gears getting stuck. If you do not use the stand mixer that often, you may be able to last a little longer, but it is still a good idea to do this once a year or so.
How Will I Know When to Change the Grease?
The best way to know that it is time to change the grease in your KitchenAid Stand Mixer is to take a look at it. While it is a good idea to replace it each year, if you look at the oil and it looks old, then it is time to get it replaced.
The best type of grease to use inside of this kind of stand mixer is food-grade grease to ensure it will be safe with any food you use in the mixer.
Food-grade grease that is in good shape and brand new will be:
- White
- Easy to see through
- Clear
If you look at the grease and it is darker in color, has a lot of stuff stuck in it, and is hard to see through, then this is a sign that the grease inside the mixer is older, and you need to get it replaced.
How To Change The Grease In A KitchenAid Stand Mixer?
There are a few steps that you will need to follow to ensure your stand mixer is ready to go and that you can replace the grease that will be used inside of it.
Taking the Mixer Apart
Before you can get very far, there are a few steps that involve removing things off the mixer to get it ready to come apart. This will help you to reach the grease and get it replaced once you get there.
To take the mixer apart:
- Ensure the mixer is unplugged
- Take the rear cover from the mixer
- Take off the metal strip you should notice goes around the head of the mixer
- Take off the planetary ring. Look at the instructions to see what part this is if confused
- Take out the 5 screws behind your cover along with four additional screws at the bottom of the mixer head
This will be the start of taking apart the mixer and getting it ready for the rest of the work. We will then be able to pull out the power cord from the strain guard and separate out the top and the bottom of the mixer from one another by taking off the top.
When you get to this point, you will need to remove the gasket and then check it out. Look at the mixer again and take out three more screws. You should see that these are on the bottom of the mixer when you look at the part that is left behind when you separate it out.
From here you should be able to see the old grease and can remove it with the help of a putty knife. Depending on how long it has been since you replaced the grease, you may find that removing this part is a little bit difficult. Keep a few towels around to help keep the mess to a minimum. Set all of this to the side.
Replacing the Grease
When you get to this point, you are almost ready to put the new grease into the stand mixer.
Some of the steps to use to help get this going include:
- Check all of the gear teeth to see if they still work well or not
- Add your gasket and any of the gears you removed back to the stand mixer
- Apply the new grease to the upper and the lower gears, filling it up as much as recommended
Take your time to check the grease and make sure that it covers everything. When enough grease is mixed in, you can put together the top and the bottom of the mixer head again. This will get you ready to put everything back together again.
Putting It Back Together
To finish this up, you need to put all of the parts of the stand mixer back together. This will help you to use the stand mixer again, with the fresh grease to help it work well. The steps that you can use to help with this include:
- Put the screws back in the same places, going one at a time.
- Put the planetary cover back on.
- Reattach your metal strip
- Strain relief for the cord back on
- Add the rear cover
When that is done, the KitchenAid stand mixer will be put back together and you can use it like normal once again.
What Grease Should I Use?
If you are shopping for some new grease for this mixer, you may be surprised to find there are several options available. The ideal type of grease to use for your mixer is food-grade grease. On occasion you can use other types of grease, but they are thicker and do not work as well.
Food-grade greases will be a little different than some of the other types that you use. They start out white in the beginning, while others will be black or brown. This makes it easier to tell when it is not working well.
There are three types of food-grade lubricants you can use including:
- H1 lubricants: These are the type that are used where contact may happen with food.
- H2 lubricants: These are the ones used inside food-processing plants where contact with the food is not possible.
- H3 lubricants: These will have edible oils that are used on any equipment that will touch food.
Food-grade grease is the type that is compatible with food. It can be used on your stand mixer because it is safe for the grease to touch the food, or come near it, without causing any harm at all. They need to comply with all regulations in the food industry too.
Changing the Grease in Your Stand Mixer
It is important to change out the grease in your KitchenAid stand mixer on a regular basis. This helps it to work properly and can keep the food that you eat safe and sanitary. Using a food-grade grease will make all the difference and can help you to keep your stand mixer around for a long time.
Hi all! I’m Cora Benson, and I’ve been blogging about food, recipes and things that happen in my kitchen since 2019.