Owning a high-end kitchen appliance like a KitchenAid stand mixer simplifies a multitude of cooking processes. There’s surely something that the KitchenAid mixer can do for you, no matter what type of cooking you prefer.
The appliance is, however, quite pricy and is, therefore, expected to work flawlessly for a long period of time. While this isn’t always the case, many problems may not be as grave as they seem.
I decided to do some research on the topic to understand what the cause of this issue may be.
This is what I found.
Why won’t my KitchenAid stand mixer turn on?
The most common reason why a KitchenAid mixer won’t turn on is overheating, but it could also be a faulty outlet, cord, or internal parts. If overheating, the mixer automatically shuts off at certain temperatures to prevent the motor from taking damage. In order to start the appliance, the user has to wait for it to cool down.
If your mixer doesn’t start even after cooling down, check the plug. If you can’t identify any problems with the plug or the circuit your KitchenAid mixer needs to be serviced as it may have run into a more complex problem than simply overheating.
You may disassemble your stand mixer to find out what’s wrong with it but remember; making any changes to the stand mixer will render your warranty useless.
What Should I Do If My KitchenAid Mixer Won’t Start?
If you’re having issues with your mixer you should start by troubleshooting the appliance. I recommend you do this by getting in contact with KitchenAid’s customer support.
You can also troubleshoot your mixer on the company’s website.
Identifying the problem is numero uno. And as we’ve mentioned earlier, the most common issue is an overheated motor. The motor is thermally protected which means it won’t start back up until it has cooled down.
The second most common problem is an electrical one. Now you’ve waited long enough (15-30 minutes) for the appliance to cool down and it still doesn’t start. This means that we’ve got to keep digging deeper. The next thing we will look at is the plug and the outlet you are using for your stand mixer.
Here’s what you should do in 5 simple steps:
- Make sure that the appliance is plugged into the outlet properly
- If your mixer is plugged into a GFCI-outlet, make sure the outlet isn’t reset.
Are you familiar with GFCI-outlets? I’m sure you are. GFCI-outlets come with two buttons, a red one that says “Reset”, and a black one that says “Test”.
Test and reset the outlet. When you press the test button, the reset button should pop out. If it doesn’t you may have a bad GFCI outlet or no power to the outlet.
- Check the breaker controlling that outlet
- Check to make sure that the cord on the mixer is intact
Now, if none of these things have worked out you may have to open up your KitchenAid mixer to fix it. Remember, if your product is still under warranty you risk voiding the warranty by opening it.
I do not suggest that you do this and I don’t take responsibility for your product.
With that said, I have opened up my KitchenAid mixer and replaced faulty parts successfully.
If the mixer doesn’t start, then it’s most likely one of these parts:
- The speed control-plate: Make sure that the cords are connected to the speed control plate properly. If the wiring is flawed or loose, reconnect it.
- The mixer phase control board: The speed control plate’s instructions apply here too.
- The carbon motor brushes: Replace both brushes if either brush is worn down shorter than 5/16-inch.
- The wiring inside the mixer: Replace or repair any damaged power cord wires.
Why Do KitchenAid Mixers Overheat?
KitchenAid mixers are capable of handling the toughest of tasks but they can take a beating when doing so. Some tasks, such as stirring a pizza dough, can cause the mixer to work on overdrive for a long period of time.
This will, in turn, cause the mixer to generate quite a lot of heat – which could potentially damage the motor. Thankfully, KitchenAid mixers have a high-temperature fuse which prevents the mixer’s motor from taking damage by shutting off the appliance if it reaches “critical” temperatures.
When that happens, the user won’t be able to start the appliance until it has cooled down completely.
That isn’t the only thing that can happen, according to KitchenAid’s website. Apparently, when mixing something steamy (they used mashed potatoes as an example) the steam may condense the circuit board and disrupt the board’s communication, causing the mixer to shut off.
What Can I Do To Prevent My KitchenAid Mixer From Overheating?
When I first got my KitchenAid mixer I was extremely cautious with it. I never ran it for longer than recommended and I always observed as it was doing its magic.
The more I used it, the more I took it for granted and I finally I would just let the mixer do the task while I was (still at home) doing other things.
One day I set the mixer and left it while I proceeded to take care of the laundry. As I was doing the laundry I totally forgot about the mixer. After a while, I started hearing a strange noise from the kitchen – which reminded me that I’d left my mixer running.
The mixer had been struggling with the dough for too long and was starting to overheat. Finally, the mixer just shut down and wouldn’t start again. I felt so stupid at that moment – had I just thrown 300 bucks out the window?
Thankfully, the mixer actually shut off to prevent the motor from taking damage but the experience taught me a lesson. Here’s what I’ve learned about mixers and overheating.
When it comes to mixing heavy ingredients, the mixer shouldn’t run for more than 10 minutes or it may risk overheating. Let the mixer rest before you resume mixing. When mixing lighter ingredients the mixer can run up to 20 minutes.
Do not let your mixer run for longer than recommended. The mixer will struggle to keep going and eventually overheat or, even worse, take damage.
You shouldn’t start your mixer on high-speed. Start your session on the lowest setting to avoid overheating the mixer. As the dough gets easier to work with, the mixer will have an easier time working through the dough and the speed can then be increased gradually.
I never go over 2 in speed when working a heavy dough.
Lastly; you should definitely be close to the mixer as it mixes your ingredients. When you set your appliance and start mixing, make sure to check if the appliance is working through the ingredients properly.
Can I Reset My KitchenAid Mixer?
On some models, there’s an overload reset button that will reveal itself when your mixer has overheated. Turn the mixer off and let it cool down for a couple of minutes before you press the reset button.
Mixers without a reset button should just be turned off until cooled down and can then be powered back up again.