
The KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (KSM70S) represents the pinnacle of home baking technology—a machine that bridges the gap between serious home kitchen and professional bakery.
Retails around $650-800, depending on options
Whipping
5/5
Kneading
5/5
Beating
5/5
Ease of usE
4.5/5
price/valUE
4.5/5
The KitchenAid 7-Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer (KSM70S) is from a trusted brand in the world of kitchen appliances. Tailored for serious bakers and those who regularly mix large batches of ingredients, this stand mixer promises powerful performance, a substantial mixing capacity, and the durability to take on heavy-duty tasks without faltering.
Key Specifications
- Bowl-Lift design
- 11 distinct speeds
- 1.3 HP motor
- 67-point Planetary Touch Points
- 7-quart brushed stainless steel bowl
- Multipurpose attachment hub
- Accessories – Dough Hook, Flat Beater, Flex Edge Beater, Wire Whip, Pouring Shield
Design & Build Quality
Construction That Commands Respect
The KSM70S showcases KitchenAid’s commitment to premium construction, featuring professional-style performance and a 3-point locking bowl that provides exceptional stability. The all-metal housing feels impossibly solid, and every component exudes the kind of build quality that justifies the investment. Unlike cheaper mixers that vibrate across countertops, this unit plants itself like a monument and doesn’t budge, even under the heaviest loads.
Bowl-Lift Design: Engineering Excellence
The bowl-lift mechanism operates with precision engineering, making ingredient addition effortless. The three-point locking system ensures the massive 7-quart bowl stays perfectly positioned, even when loaded with dense doughs. However, some users note that the bowl could benefit from two handles—when filled to capacity with heavy ingredients, the single handle can make maneuvering challenging for some bakers.
Color Options and Countertop Presence
Available in stunning finishes including Cast Iron Black, White, Contour Silver, Mineral Water Blue, and the classic Candy Apple Red, the KSM70S makes a bold statement in any kitchen. The premium 2-coat paint finish is both gorgeous and durable. Despite its substantial capacity, the mixer surprisingly still fits in the same counter space as smaller models—a testament to thoughtful design that maximizes bowl volume without unnecessarily expanding the footprint..
Performance & Power
Motor That Means Serious Business
At the heart of the KSM70S bowl-lift stand mixer lies a high-efficiency motor that delivers 2x the power in the bowl compared to KitchenAid’s tilt-head mixers. This isn’t marketing hyperbole—the motor is designed to run longer with less heat buildup, making it ideal for extended mixing, kneading, and whipping tasks. The 7-quart mixer is KitchenAid’s most powerful and quietest mixer available, handling the toughest jobs with remarkable composure.
Speed Control and Performance Range
The mixer features 11 distinct speeds, including the ingenious 1/2 speed designed specifically for folding delicate ingredients like blueberries and egg whites into recipes without overbeating. The soft-start function helps avoid ingredient splash and flour puff by starting at a lower speed—a feature that proves invaluable when working with fine powders or light ingredients.
Consumer Reports testing revealed impressive performance across categories:
- Whipping: Very Good performance in cream whipping tests
- Mixing: Very Good results with chocolate cookie dough
- Kneading: Excellent performance with bread dough
- Noise: Very Good noise control, remarkably quiet operation
Real-World Performance Notes
While excelling with large batches, the mixer handles smaller quantities admirably well. Unlike some large-capacity mixers that struggle with minimal amounts, the KSM70S beater design reaches effectively throughout the bowl. The flat beater does an exceptional job reaching every corner—many users report being surprised to find completely mixed ingredients with no dry spots in the bottom or sides during their routine scraping checks.
Capacity That Changes Everything
With its massive 7-quart capacity, this mixer handles truly impressive volumes: easily mix 13 dozen cookies per batch, knead over 8.5 pounds of bread dough, or mash over 7.5 pounds of potatoes. The capacity is truly amazing—you can handle 8 1/2 pounds of mashed potatoes, 8 1/2 loaves of bread, and up to 14 dozen cookies in a single session..
Premium Attachment Collection
The KSM70S bowl-lift stand mixer comes generously equipped with professional-grade attachments, including a 7-quart stainless steel bowl, a double-flex edge beater, a coated flat beater, a coated dough hook, an 11-wire whip, and a pouring shield. The standout feature is the revolutionary double-flex edge beater, featuring a twisted design with two flexible edges that scrape the bowl as it mixes, delivering thorough ingredient incorporation and significantly reducing manual scraping.
Depending on the specific model variant, some include additional premium attachments, such as stainless steel beaters and specialized pastry tools, representing exceptional value for the comprehensive package.
Attachment Ecosystem and Expandability
The attachment hub accommodates all current KitchenAid attachments plus future larger capacity commercial-style attachments. With over 10 stand mixer attachments available, this mixer transforms into a complete culinary workstation—from pasta makers to meat grinders to ice cream makers. The power hub design is future-proofed for upcoming professional-grade attachments.
Usability & Maintenance
Learning Curve and User Experience
The control layout maintains KitchenAid’s signature simplicity—a single lever controlling speed from “stir” through “10” with intuitive increments. New users typically master the basics within their first use; however, those upgrading from tilt-head models require a brief adjustment period to become comfortable with the bowl-lift mechanism. The initial bowl attachment may require a few tries to master the technique, but once it becomes second nature, it becomes effortless.
The Cleanup Reality
The KSM70S strikes a better balance in terms of dishwasher compatibility than its predecessors. The stainless steel bowl is dishwasher-safe, and several attachments can be cleaned in the dishwasher; however, hand-washing is still recommended for optimal longevity. The coated beaters and dough hook require gentle hand washing to preserve their protective coating, but the process is straightforward given their generous size.
The mixer’s smooth surfaces make base cleanup effortless—flour and batter don’t cling to the metal housing. The pouring shield can be removed easily for thorough cleaning, and its improved design makes it more practical than previous generations.
Maintenance Requirements
Long-term maintenance remains minimal with proper use. The high-efficiency motor design enables it to run cooler and last longer, reducing wear. As with all KitchenAid mixers, regular use keeps internal components properly lubricated—these machines are designed to work, and periodic inactivity can actually be more problematic than heavy use.
The bowl-lift mixer comes backed by KitchenAid’s two-year hassle-free replacement warranty, demonstrating the company’s confidence in the build quality and reflecting the professional-grade construction.
Pros & Cons
Value for Money: Investment-Worthy?
Market Position and Investment
The KSM70S typically retails around $600-700, positioning it as KitchenAid’s flagship household mixer. While representing a significant investment, it bridges the gap between home and commercial-grade equipment at a fraction of the cost of professional mixers. When you consider the comprehensive attachment package, build quality, and capacity, the value proposition becomes compelling for serious home bakers.
Competitive Landscape
This mixer represents KitchenAid’s answer to those who found even the Professional 600 series insufficient for their needs. It’s their most powerful household mixer, designed for users who previously might have considered commercial equipment. Compared to other models in the market, such as the Cuisinart SM-70 or the Hamilton Beach Eclectrics, the KSM70S stands out due to its 1.3-horsepower motor, 7-quart bowl, and planetary mixing action. The 7-quart capacity and enhanced motor put it in a class of its own among home stand mixers.
Who Should Buy The Bowl-Lift Mixer?
This mixer is ideal for the serious home baker who frequently feeds large crowds, operates a small baking business from home, or simply refuses to compromise on capacity and power. If you regularly make multiple loaves of bread, large batches of cookies for events, or find yourself doubling recipes due to mixer limitations, the KSM70S eliminates those constraints entirely.
However, for casual bakers or small households, this might be more machine than necessary. The capacity truly shines when utilized—it’s designed for those who think big and bake bigger.
The Bottom Line
The KSM70S represents the pinnacle of residential stand mixer engineering. It delivers professional-level performance with home-kitchen convenience, wrapped in KitchenAid’s iconic design language. While it demands counter space and a substantial investment, it rewards ambitious home bakers with decades of uncompromising performance.
If you’re serious about large-batch baking and want the last mixer you’ll ever need to buy, the KSM70S justifies every penny of its premium price.
Video Review
Credit – KitchenAid
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