I think I speak for all of us when I say that cleaning up sucks! After countless hours of standing in a warm kitchen prepping and baking goodies, the last thing I want to do is scrub a sink full of dirty dishes and mixing bowls. Even some of the most simple recipes we all know and love can create an amazing amount of mess.
Thankfully, most of our baking tools can be bundled into the dishwasher (although you still need to put your utensils away after, which still feels like a bit too much work if you ask me.)
But what about your stand mixer bowls? Can you put a Kitchenaid bowl in the dishwasher? Are they dishwasher-safe?
There’s quite a lot of confusion out there about this, so allow me to clear a few things up.
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Are All KitchenAid Bowls Dishwasher Safe?
You have just added your 4-quart mixing bowl in the dishwasher and suddenly this worrisome thought hits you. Did I make a big mistake by putting them in the dishwasher, and will this destroy my expensive mixing bowl?
Rest assured that most KitchenAid attachments, bowls included, are dishwasher safe. That is just one of the few reasons bakers love this pricey appliance. With the exception of some wire whisks, all the attachments are dishwasher-friendly.
If you ask cookware experts, they will tell you not to worry too much about putting stainless steel, ceramic, and glass cookware in the dishwasher. However, aluminum and plastic utensils have no place in a dishwasher.
Much like the stand mixer variations offered by KitchenAid, you have numerous replacement mixing bowls made with different materials. What your mixing bowl is made from is a key factor you need to consider before putting your precious bowl in the dishwasher.
So, in this article, we will talk you through the KitchenAid mixing bowls that you can safely clean in the dishwasher.
KitchenAid Mixing Bowls 101
KitchenAid stand mixers have different types of attachments, including different mixing bowls, in which you beat your cake and doughs or cream frosting for your cupcakes.
The company offers three types of mixing bowls in different sizes depending on the stand mixer you choose to buy – bowl lift or tilt-head.
These mixing bowls are interchangeable to a certain extent. Use the 5-quart bowl with a 4.5-quart stand mixer to whip up cakes and cookies and vice versa. Likewise, you can swap the glass bowl with stainless steel or a ceramic one with the same capacity. But this comes with a caveat. You obviously cannot attach a 6-quart or a 8-quart glass or stainless mixing bowl to stand mixers with lesser capacity.
Switching a mixing bowl made for tilt head stand mixers with one designed for bowl lift models will also not work.
Okay, so now you know the basics about KitchenAid mixing bowls, let’s have a look at which KitchenAid bowls are dishwasher safe!
Which KitchenAid Mixer Bowls Are Dishwasher Safe?
Not all of the older mixing bowls and attachments from KitchenAid were dishwasher friendly. Historically many of KitchenAid’s attachments were only suitable for handwashing. In 2018, the company decided to produce mixing bowls made specifically with dishwasher-safe materials. Hallelujah! 🙏
This means, if you have purchased a stand mixer recently, you probably have a dishwasher-safe mixing bowl. You can put your mixing bowls and (most) attachments into the dishwasher for cleaning and drying without any nasty repercussions. However, there are a couple of aluminum-based attachments (particularly the wire whisks) that you still have to wash by hand, or you will risk oxidizing your attachments.
There are also copper mixer bowls available and plastic ones that do not fit on KitchenAid mixers. We’ll take a closer look at each type of bowl individually.
Want a quick table comparison?
Type of Bowl | Dishwasher Safe |
Ceramic | Yes |
Stainless Steel | Yes |
Glass | Yes |
Copper | No |
Plastic | Yes |
Ceramic Mixing Bowls
Dishwasher safe: Yes
KitchenAid offers a range of ceramic mixing bowls for tilt-head stand mixers. These bowls are lighter and come with a pour spout and a comfortable handle. You can lift the bowl and carry it across the kitchen and also pour out cake batters easily into baking pans.
The ceramic bowls, whether it is the black textured bowl, the painted bowls or the plain white bowl come with titanium reinforcement that prevents cracking and chipping. They are sturdy enough to withstand temperatures up to 475°F (230°C).
This means that your ceramic bowls will not only last longer but are also safe to use in the microwave and oven. You can place them in the freezer if needed. More importantly, these ceramic mixing bowls from KitchenAid can handle the heat and water pressure in the dishwasher.
Stainless Steel Mixing Bowls
Dishwasher safe: Yes
These stainless mixing bowls won’t win any beauty awards, but that is not what you are looking for, is it? You need something that is functional, durable, rust-free and dishwasher safe.
The KitchenAid stainless mixing bowls for tilt-head stands and bowl lift stands check all the boxes. Spartan in appearance but with a robust build and long-lasting construction.
You don’t have to worry about them chipping off, warping or melting with prolonged use. In addition, some of these bowls have firm handles and are easy to pick up and clean.
The best part is that they are compatible with a dishwasher. The only suggestion I have is that you occasionally wash these bowls by hand. There is always a small possibility that excessive humidity and abrasive detergents in your dishwasher could corrode these bowls in the long run.
Glass Mixing Bowl
Dishwasher safe: Yes
These mixing bowls are made with high-grade glass making them heat-resistant, odor-free and dishwasher safe. The transparent material allows you to see the mixing process in action, just in case you are interested. You can also keep the batter-filled mixing bowls in the fridge.
The 5-quart glass mixing bowls designed for tilt-head mixers are perfect for new bakers as they have visible measurement markings.
Unfortunately, the mixing bowls for the bowl lift models lack the markings. Both types of glass bowls come with a strong handle and a spout for easy lifting and pouring.
Copper Mixing Bowl
Dishwasher safe: No
Copper KitchenAid mixing bowls are not very common. In fact, they are only available with the 2022 Design Series Mixer, Blossom. Its hammered copper bowl immediately grabs your attention, complemented elegantly by the mixer’s thyme green hue.
Going back to the bowl, although it’s pretty to look at, you’ll need to clean it by hand. Although the interior is stainless steel, the outer layer is hammered copper. Copper doesn’t do too well in a dishwasher, so if you have this mixer and bowl, you’ll need to hand wash with warm water and soap.
Plastic Bowls
Dishwasher safe: Yes
Since we are talking about KitchenAid mixer bowls, why not also mention their mixing bowls too. These extra bowls are handy to have around the house for small mixing jobs or as storage. Luckily, all plastic KitchenAid mixing bowls are dishwasher safe.
Here is a video from KitchenAid reassuring that all types of KitchenAid mixing bowls are dishwasher safe.
Which KitchenAid Stand Mixer Attachments Are Dishwasher Friendly?
Okay so now we know that KitchenAid mixer bowls are dishwasher safe, but what about the attachments? Historically, there were many KitchenAid attachments with the burnished, professional finish that bakers preferred. These aluminum-based attachments included beaters, dough hooks, and whisks that did not have a protective coating.
Cleaning them in the dishwasher caused oxidization and damaged them, forcing people to buy a replacement.
However, this has now changed. Most of the KitchenAid baking attachments manufactured after 2018 have a polyester powder coating over the aluminum base. This protects the attachments and makes them safe for rough handling in a dishwasher.
KitchenAid has also since released a range of standard stainless steel attachments. These are definitely dishwasher-friendly.
Wire whisks are generally made with stainless but some have an aluminum hub that connects them to the stand mixer. It is better to clean these types of wire whisks by hand.
If you are using a wire whisk that is all stainless steel, drop them into the dishwasher and forget about them. If you are not sure about the material used, wash them by hand.
Cleaning Up Is A Breeze!
KitchenAid stand mixer mixing bowls are highly convenient to use and cleaning up afterward is no longer a chore. Now that all new KitchenAid mixing bowls are all dishwasher friendly, you barely have to lift a finger after you’ve finished baking. Just make sure you occasionally give them a hand wash too.
Most of the standard baking attachments like dough hooks and beaters are also dishwasher safe. Some wire whisks may require gentle handling and washing by hand though.
FAQ
Can You Wash KitchenAid Bowls In The Dishwasher?
All KitchenAid bowls are dishwasher safe, including the individual plastic mixing bowls. The only bowl that is not dishwasher safe is the copper bowl that comes with the 2022 Design Series Mixer, Blossom.
Is The KitchenAid Bread Bowl Dishwasher Safe?
The new KitchenAid bread bowl and its lid are dishwasher safe.
How Do I Know If My KitchenAid Bowl Is Dishwasher Safe?
Whether your bowl is dishwasher safe or not will clearly be stated in the mixer manual. As a general rule of thumb, unless you have the Blossom Mixer with copper mixing bowl, every bowl is dishwasher safe.
Is KitchenAid Ice Cream Bowl Dishwasher Safe?
The KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker bowl is NOT dishwasher safe. Hand wash with warm water and soap.
Is The KitchenAid Pouring Shield Dishwasher Safe?
Yes, the KitchenAid pouring shield is dishwasher safe.
What Parts Of The KitchenAid Mixer Are Dishwasher Safe?
Unless specified, all bowls and attachments are dishwasher safe. Do keep in mind that if you have any aluminum or copper accessories, you will need to hand wash them.