A kneading machine for food doughs includes a kneading machine frame with a lower portion and a head portion attached to the lower portion. A kneading bowl can be arranged on the lower portion, a drive to rotate the kneading bowl is provided, and a kneading tool and a drive to drive the kneading tool are held on the head portion. Safety-relevant components of the kneading machine are surrounded by a housing and a major portion of the kneading machine frame is exposed. The exposed kneading machine frame includes struts between which respective free spaces are defined. The kneading machine includes a removable cover which covers at least a major portion of the free spaces defined by the exposed kneading machine frame towards an outside. The cover is fastened to the kneading machine frame and/or the housing by connections which can be released without tools.