KitchenAid Bowl Lift or Tilt Head Mixer?

[drewga11]

I have wanted a KitchenAid stand mixer for a while. Always wanted just a basic tilt head model, but my girlfriend apparently bought me a bowl lift model for Christmas. I know absolutely nothing about bowl lift mixers. I would mainly use it for cakes and cookies. I dont make bread other than biscuits and will probably continue to do that by hand.

So my question is, is one type better than the other? Should I just be happy she got me one or ask her to take it back and get the tilt head model that I wanted? Anybody got an opinion on which is better, bowl lift or tilt head? Which one would you rather have and why?

 

[potenza]

We have a tilter.

 

[Jeddak]

I have used both tilt and lift. Commercial lift and home tilt.
Lift is easier to use when top cabinets are low. I hung cabinets high enough for the tilting head not to hit the bottom. It made them too high for wife#2 (5'11" vs 5" tall).
Plus lifter allows you to raise bowl slowly, to start mixing flour and egs without making a mess.
Keep the lifter.
PS gears used to be more robust in a lifter also. Not sure about now.

 

[Poppa Mike]

My lovely wife has the bowl lift model. She has used it for years and loves it. They are great machines, as Jeddak stated the bowl lift type doesn’t make a big mess when mixing flour, eggs and milk. Lots of useful attachments for these too. We have an ice cream maker for ours that we use quite often. You can also get a grinder to make hamburger or sausage with too.

 

[UptaCamp]

Lift is the way to go. My wife has had both in KitchenAids and much prefers the lift (source: my wife has a baking side business).

 

[fslc94]

I believe we have the lift model. The GF loves it.

 

[Poppa Mike]

Lift is the way to go. My wife has had both in KitchenAids and much prefers the lift (source: my wife has a baking side business).

Yeah, mine baked wedding, birthday cakes, etc. as a side business for years too. She still loves to bake and does it a lot (I’m fat, living proof! LOL) but no longer does it as a business.

 

[hoochfisher]

ive had both myself. have the lift version now and prefer it. especially for whisking as you can slowly lower it to allow the whisk head to spin clean.

 

[drewga11]

Hmm, seems the general consensus is keep the lift model. I appreciate the input. I was only vaguely aware that bowl lift even existed before today.

 

[Jeddak]

Commercial Hobart mixers (KitchenAid) are all lift models. That should tell you something.