Why doesn't every KitchenAid stand mixer come with this attachment? I bought one, and it made my life so much easier

I love my Kitchenaid stand mixer. I can rely on it for making dough, beating a sponge cake batter, or whipping up a meringue. However, there is one aspect of it that’s got me puzzled.

While it’s undoubtedly one of the best stand mixers on the market, and at Tom’s Guide, we’ve put a fair few through their paces, there’s one attachment that isn’t standard, and it’s a mystery why.

My KitchenAid Artisan tilt-head stand mixer comes with three attachments: a wire whisk, a dough hook, and a flat beater. But the best attachment of all isn’t included as standard.

Although I’d happily use the standard flat beater included with my appliance, I know that KitchenAid’s flex-edge beater is far superior.

So, why do I think it’s a better product? Unlike the standard beater, the flex-edge beater features a silicone edge on one side. This allows it to sweep along the side of the bowl and incorporate the entire mixture without leaving any on the edge. It gives a better, more thorough mix, and it just makes good sense!

It really comes into play when mixing cake batter. Instead of stopping my appliance partway through to remove the mixture from the side of the bowl, which I do with a spatula, I can now rely on the flex-edge beater to do a thorough job.

For this reason, I can’t understand why it isn’t included as a standard replacement for the more basic flat beater attachment, as it really does elevate your baking game. And although I’ve owned my KitchenAid for over a decade, I regret not buying the flex-edge beater sooner.

When choosing the best KitchenAid stand mixer, I recommend reviewing the included attachments. However, if a flex-edge beater isn’t included, don’t let it put you off. Just like I did, you can buy one separately.

KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer with Redesigned Premium Touchpoints: was $699 now $649 at Kitchen Aid

This 7-quart bowl-lift stand mixer is a real powerhouse from KitchenAid. In addition to the large-capacity bowl, it includes a double-flex edge beater, a stainless steel flat beater, a spiral dough hook, a pastry beater and scraper, a wire whip and a pouring shield.

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If you own a KitchenAid stand mixer with a tilt-head design, you can purchase the flex edge beater directly from KitchenAid for $39. Whereas, if you own a 6-quart bowl-lift stand mixer, it’s available from KitchenAid for $59.

If you want to elevate your baking game further, you can purchase a double-flex edge beater for $44 from KitchenAid, but it’s only compatible with certain models, including KSM75, KSM55, KSM60, and KSM70. For more details on which flex edge beater is compatible with your stand mixer, visit KitchenAid's product help page.

Whatever you decide, I can guarantee that using the flex edge beater with your KitchenAid stand mixer will make your baking life quicker and easier.

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