KitchenAid Tilt-Head Flex Edge Beater Review

We purchased the KitchenAid Tilt-Head Flex Edge Beater so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

The KitchenAid Tilt-Head Flex Edge Beater doesn’t add a new function to your KitchenAid mixer, but it improves upon what KitchenAid mixers do best: mix. KitchenAid mixers make your baking prep faster while opening a new world of options with various attachments, bowls, and shields. Not all attachments are as effective or useful as others, however. The best KitchenAid attachments perform their functions well, are easy to use, and are quick to clean. This beater is simple in design but addresses a common issue of standard KitchenAid beaters—reaching all parts of the bowl for both dry and wet mixes. Keep reading to get our take on this attachment and find out what it can do in your kitchen.

Design: Soft rubber does its job

KitchenAid mixers come in different sizes and models. First and foremost, this beater is only intended for tilt-head KitchenAid mixers. These models can come with several sized bowls, but this attachment is specifically designed for 4.5- and 5-quart bowls. You can use it with larger or smaller bowls, but you might run into problems with the beater not reaching the edges or, in the case of small bowls, scraping too hard in some areas. 

We did try this beater on both a Pro model (non-tilting head) and a classic tilting-head model. It definitely did not fit the Pro, so make sure it will fit your model before buying. It’s compatible with the K45SS, KSM75, KSM95, KSM150PS, KSM152PS, and KSM155GB models.

A rubberized paddle on one side of the beater sets this model apart from a standard KitchenAid beater. The soft rubber scrapes against the side of the bowl, pulling the ingredients back into the mix. KitchenAid mixers don’t move in a circle; rather, they circulate through the bowl in a spiraling pattern. We wondered if having the rubber on one side would really be effective throughout the entire bowl. With a wet mix, we had a visual of the pattern and could see that there were no areas left untouched. 

Performance: Not for every mix

We wanted to see how this beater performed in both dry and wet mixes. Because delicious treats make testing more fun, we used it to make a batch of chocolate ice cream. This particular recipe required mixing the dry ingredients before adding the liquid. 

The dry ingredients filled about one-third of the bowl, and on the stir setting, we were able to keep all ingredients fully contained. Anything above a speed of 2, however, and the rubber paddle acted like a shovel that tossed the mix out of the bowl. Now, had we had a pouring shield, we might have been able to keep everything inside the bowl. But without one, we think we’ll stick with a standard beater or whisk beater when it comes to dry ingredients. 

Once the liquid was added, it was a different story. Our recipe called a large volume of liquid, so we started on the stir setting to avoid any of the mix slopping onto the counter—and it’s a good thing we did. The beater definitely reached every corner of the bowl, except for the bottom, which we didn’t find out until we were pouring it into the ice cream maker. 

You can see the beater at work. It leaves a small scraping pattern with each pass and touches all sides. If you’ve ever stopped a KitchenAid mixer to scrape the bowl or tried to avoid the beater while poking at a mix with a spatula, you will appreciate that benefit. It did push the mix over the top of the beater at times, however, which meant some of the mix fell above where the beater could reach it. 

That’s when we bumped up the speed. We never went above a 4, but at both 2 and especially at 4, the mix got close to spilling over. Again, if we had a pouring shield, we probably wouldn’t have had to worry and could have set it to a higher speed. As it was, we kept it slow so we didn’t lose any of our mix. 

Overall, it did a good job of mixing, except at the very bottom. Once we started pouring the mix into the ice cream maker, we could see some of the raw ingredients. We grabbed a spatula and gave them a quick mix before adding them in. While that’s not ideal, it’s a problem we’ve had with a standard beater and wet mixes as well. The KitchenAid beaters are not designed to scrape against the bottom of the bowl. Unless the ingredients stick to the beater, which they might with some mixes, there may be some left behind. 

We did find that some ingredients are more likely to stick to this beater than to a standard model. The rubber provides just enough of an adhesive surface to take on some non-sticky batters. That’s a good thing because the ingredients get moved into the mix easier than they would otherwise. 

Durability: Chipping and cracking

While we didn’t have the beater long enough to come across this issue, durability seems to be a problem for some customers. In our research, we saw that some users report durability issues with the finish and the rubber paddle. Both usually occurred after the one-year limited warranty expired. A chipped finish is a no-go since the finish could fall into your food. Other reviewers reported that the rubber cracked and split where it attaches to the beater. That completely negates its effectiveness. 

These issues didn’t appear with every beater and also keep in mind that it’s not a terribly expensive investment, so replacing it every year or two may not be an issue if you use it often. However, we recommend that you don’t expect this attachment to stay with you for the life of the mixer. 

Ease of Cleaning: By hand or automatic

Cleaning was a cinch. It’s dishwasher safe, but the only nook or cranny that mix got caught in was where the beater attached to the mixer. A few seconds with a scrub brush solved that problem. You can hand-wash it without too much trouble unless you’ve got a particularly troublesome, dried-on mix—in which case, rinse it and toss it in the top rack of the dishwasher.

Price: Just right

This beater isn’t going to put a lot of stress on your wallet. If you’re a devoted baker and want something that will save you from poking around in your bowl with a spatula, it’s worth the price—and it can be found on sale for less than $30. Even if you’re not baking every day, you might like to add this one to your collection for tough-to-manage mixes. 

Competition: A slew of non-KitchenAid options

Do a quick search on Amazon and you’ll find plenty of edge beaters, but none of them KitchenAid brand. Options like the KITCHPOWER Flex Edge Beater (view on Amazon) and GVODE Flex Edge Beater (view on Amazon) can save you a couple of bucks, but they’re not made by the manufacturer of your machine, so you always run the risk of damaging your mixer. Given that most off-brand options will only save you $10 or so, we’d say stick with KitchenAid’s option.