How to remove a stuck beater from KitchenAid mixer?

What do you do when the beater of your Best KitchenAid Hand Mixer gets stuck?

There is nothing as disappointing as finding that your Best KitchenAid Hand Mixer Beater is stuck and cannot be removed for cleaning and maintenance.

For the first time, something tells you that the mixer might need replacement in coming days. Hold on, I was faced with the same problem and went to great lengths to have it resolved.
After using my KitchenAid for more than a year, the beater started getting stiff until one day it got stuck completely and would not come out. My effort to have the beater free was not successful, and extra torque broke my most valued equipment. You do not have to break your best hand mixer.

This tutorial will help you get the beater off the mixer easily, avoid damaging the mixer, and extend its lifespan.

What you need to follow this tutorial?

To successfully and safely unlock the stuck beater from the KitchenAid mixer, you will need the following items;

1. Hot Press Using a Towel
   • Hot soapy water in a sizeable basin
   • WD40 Lubricant
   • A pair of gloves
   • A thick medium sized towel
   • Wooden skewer
2. Mineral Oil flexor technique
   • Mineral oil/ vegetable cooking oil spray
   • Hot soapy water.
   • A dry towel
   • Wooden skewer

As you set out unlocking the stuck beater, make sure to understand why the problem occurred in the first place. The beater gets stuck because of hard water scam, oxidation of different parts resulting to corrosion, regular expansion when in use, or hardening of food ingredients inside the pin cavities.
Therefore, I found the first method, hot press using a towel, to be more effective because it addresses all the key causes of the problem.

The second technique is also very effective. However, it takes more time because you will need to let the oil soak completely. If the metallic beater has expanded and holds very tight, the oil might require even more time.

Step by Step Instructions

– Hot press method using a towel

Step 1: Press the area around the beater’s shaft using a hot towel

Soak the towel in warm water for a few seconds and compress around the beater’s shaft for about 10 to 15 minutes. The hot towel causes the aluminum to heat and expand a little to give room for the beater to free from the mixer.

 Source: Wikihow

Step 2: Wiggle the beater and try removing it

Try to wiggle and move the beater from the mixer. If you find the shaft very slippery, consider using the hand gloves and apply some torque in an anti-clockwise motion to remove the beater.

If the beater does not come out with the first trial, try with hotter water, give it more time to soak, and loosen hardened debris in the shaft cavities. Then, apply some torque gently but forcefully and the beater will start moving.

Step 3: Clean the beater well when it comes out

Once the beater comes out, clean it using hot soapy water to clear any hardened food material that could have made it stuck using a wooden skewer. Then, apply WD40 lubricant to prevent further corrosion and ensure that it is stored separately from the mixer.

– Mineral Oil flexor technique

This method can be used on its own or together with the hot press. If the cause of the stuck beater is corrosion, this method is more appropriate to assist you to get it off the mixer.

Step 1: Clean the beater’s shaft

Using a dry towel, clean the area around the base of the beater shaft to make both the shaft and mixer clean and clear. This will expose the attachment line between the beater and the mixer by removing all the debris that could have accumulated and allow easy passage of oil.

Step 2: Oil Application

Apply hot oil/vegetable cooking oil at the base of the shaft so that it can penetrate to the corroded parts and loosen it. Allow the oil to settle for about 20-30 minutes so that all stuck parts can relax and allow you to rotate it with the application of a little force.

  Source: Wikihow

Step 3: Reapply the oil and follow the process again

If the beater is still stuck, apply some force to loosen some corrosion and then add more oil while allowing ample time to penetrate. The oil will continue penetrating and loosening the beater. Keep trying to waggle the beater and it will finally come out with just a little force without breaking.

Step 4: Clean the beater and mixer using hot soapy water

Using hot soapy water and a wooden skewer, remove all the food materials that could have found the way into the beater cavities and treads. The hot soapy water will dissolve all the dirt so that you can apply oil to prevent additional rusting and getting stuck in future.

Note that intensive sticking could accelerate tear and wear of your mixer. Therefore, it is advisable to ensure that it is always removed, lubricated and stored separately.

Conclusion

Have you enjoyed the tutorial? KitchenAid Hand Mixer is a great investment in many homes. In my kitchen, the entire family has developed a special attachment to it and breakups or damage makes every person feel very bad. The two methods have become very helpful because they are easy to apply, they do not require specialized tools, and are cost effective.

However, every KitchenAid Hand Mixer owner should know that the extra force applied to remove the beater accelerates the tear and wear process. Therefore, ensure to take early precautionary measures by keeping your best hand mixer clean, applying appropriate oil regularly, and storing the beater separately when not in use.

Was this tutorial useful? Please leave a comment with your views. Also, share the article with close friends so that they can also get help with a similar problem.