Tom Brady uses this cult-favorite mixer to make his signature waffles – it's a countertop hero for a reason

When it comes to an athlete's diet, ultra-healthy foods like protein smoothies and superfood salads may immediately come to mind. For former New England Patriots quarterback Tom Brady, however, waffles are the go-to – and there is a cult-favorite appliance he likes to use to make the batter.

The NFL alum recently shared a video to his Instagram page of his 'TB12'-friendly waffle recipe, in which he uses a white, KitchenAid Professional 600 to mix the batter. Though this exact model was recently discontinued, KitchenAids are a celebrity-favorite for a reason. We spoke to an expert to find out why, as well as get some recommendations for a comparable model to the 600.

There is a key feature that this stand mixer has that makes it stand out from the others, and it involves the bowl's movement.

'The KitchenAid Professional 600 was discontinued last year but was part of the brand's Pro Line, which features bowl-lift,' explains Tom's Guide senior homes editor Millie Fender. 'Unlike the traditional tilt-head mixers which have a hinge towards the back of the machine to insert and remove your bowl, the bowl-lift models instead have a lever which brings the bowl up to your chosen attachment.'

We can see in the video that when in action, Brady's mixer is smooth and efficient.

Fender goes on to explain that this kind of mixer is great for specific recipes, particularly ones that yield high amounts.

'It's a great option for large-volume bakes and particularly bread dough,' Fender states. 'My KitchenAid Classic sometimes shakes at the hinge of its tilt-head when I knead dough, but because this isn't present in the Pro line it's a more stable and reliable machine when you're working with heavy-duty recipes.'

The closest model to the discontinued 600 that Brady owns would be the KitchenAid 7 Quart Bowl-Lift Stand Mixer. As previously hinted, the product features 11 speeds and has the capacity for 13 dozen cookies or 8.5 lbs of bread. Of course, as the name suggests, it also includes a bowl lift rather than the aforementioned tilt-head mixer. It also comes in a variety of colors, including Brady's white, along with red, black, blue, and silver, among other options.