KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
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KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
We recently purchased a new KitchenAid mixer. It came with the slicer/grater attachment. I didn't realize they had so many other attachments. I noticed they have a flexible beater which can be purchased separately. Am assuming this scrapes the dough from the side of the bowl? If so, is that worth purchasing? Also, are any of the pasta attachments worth buying? Would love to hear what attachments you've purchased and if you use a particular attachment often.
Take your time
Wait.
Add an attachment to a list.
If you still want it a year later, then buy it.
Add an attachment to a list.
If you still want it a year later, then buy it.
Old fart who does three index stock funds, baby.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
The only true attachment we use regularly is the meat grinder. I don't consider the different blades to really be attachments, but we have the one you described as well.
Our pasta maker has never left the box...
Our pasta maker has never left the box...
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
I got a stand mixer a few months ago and use it mostly to make bread and pizza dough with the dough hook, so I have not purchased any bowl attachments yet (like that scraper). But, I did buy the pasta attachment - the proper one from kitchenaid, not one of the others that are all over amazon - and I love it. I got the one that rolls the pasta dough into thin sheets, the one cuts fettucini and the one for spaghetti. They came in a set. I also picked up the pasta extruder for spaghetti, buccatini, etc, this weekend during their sale, but haven't tried it yet.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Replace the included cast aluminum dough hook, whisk, etc. and replace with SS and enamel coated equals, which are dishwasher safe.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
The pasta maker attachment is discounted right now on Amazon for Cyber Monday.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
After years of owning the Kitchenaid, we bought the pasta maker and meat grinder over the weekend. The meat grinder was the best, and I wonder why we didn’t buy one until now. We used the pasta maker once already, but I wonder if we would be using it much in the future.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
what do you use the meatgrinder for? Instead of buying ground meat you grind it yourself?techiegirl wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:21 pm After years of owning the Kitchenaid, we bought the pasta maker and meat grinder over the weekend. The meat grinder was the best, and I wonder why we didn’t buy one until now. We used the pasta maker once already, but I wonder if we would be using it much in the future.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
That’s exactly it. My aunt never believed in buying ground meat, and she always chopped it herself. I never got the hang of chopping meat, but this meat grinder is awesome.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
For me it's not just about grinding meat myself as making all kinds of combinations for burgers. Instead of plain old ground beef I can mix up some brisket, some chuck, and some shortrib to make the perfect, overly expensive, homemade burger.JS-Elcano wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:24 pmwhat do you use the meatgrinder for? Instead of buying ground meat you grind it yourself?techiegirl wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:21 pm After years of owning the Kitchenaid, we bought the pasta maker and meat grinder over the weekend. The meat grinder was the best, and I wonder why we didn’t buy one until now. We used the pasta maker once already, but I wonder if we would be using it much in the future.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Pasta roller and pasta cutter set
Pasta press for rigatoni, etc.
We enjoy the fresh pasta.
Pasta press for rigatoni, etc.
We enjoy the fresh pasta.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
I have too many of them but the only one I find we consistently use is the ice cream maker. I hope to get back to the pasta maker when my kids are older. Ambivalent to the rest.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
I consider the rubber-edged scraper/beater to be an absolute essential. We bake a lot in this house, and that gets used constantly. I'm on my second one, the first one wore out.
I just "had" to have the spiralizer attachment. It's never left its box. I'm kicking myself.
I wouldn't use the pasta maker--I rarely make pasta, but have a hand-crank pasta machine that works just fine. It's not all that difficult or strenuous.
I use my Cuisinart if I need to grind meat, but I don't do it very often--maybe ham salad if we've had a big ham.
I have the ice cream maker, and I've used it, but the bowl has been sitting in my back freezer for quite a while now, untouched. Mostly, I have too many ice-cream-loving mouths (5 of us), and it doesn't have nearly enough capacity to make everyone happy. Maybe when I ditch a few of these kids?
Bottom line, I recommend that you see what you would actually use. Try to be honest and not get caught up in "shiny object syndrome" (I'm very guilty of this).
I just "had" to have the spiralizer attachment. It's never left its box. I'm kicking myself.
I wouldn't use the pasta maker--I rarely make pasta, but have a hand-crank pasta machine that works just fine. It's not all that difficult or strenuous.
I use my Cuisinart if I need to grind meat, but I don't do it very often--maybe ham salad if we've had a big ham.
I have the ice cream maker, and I've used it, but the bowl has been sitting in my back freezer for quite a while now, untouched. Mostly, I have too many ice-cream-loving mouths (5 of us), and it doesn't have nearly enough capacity to make everyone happy. Maybe when I ditch a few of these kids?
Bottom line, I recommend that you see what you would actually use. Try to be honest and not get caught up in "shiny object syndrome" (I'm very guilty of this).
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
I bought my first KA in 1987 and got most of the attachments early on.
The only one I still use is the pasta roller set (the Pro-line one, I wore out the regular line one - cracking plastic bits)
The meat grinder was too slow for more than a pound or two and the meat would heat up, fat would start smearing, and the grind became more of a mush. I replaced it with a Cabela's/Waring Pro which is much better. If you only do "to order" grinding, it's fine, but if you want to get into larger quantities, homemade sausage, etc., you're better off with a separate machine.
The only one I still use is the pasta roller set (the Pro-line one, I wore out the regular line one - cracking plastic bits)
The meat grinder was too slow for more than a pound or two and the meat would heat up, fat would start smearing, and the grind became more of a mush. I replaced it with a Cabela's/Waring Pro which is much better. If you only do "to order" grinding, it's fine, but if you want to get into larger quantities, homemade sausage, etc., you're better off with a separate machine.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
We use to have the pasta maker attachment but gave it away. We much prefer our dedicated pasta maker. Way easier to use, clean and has a lot more flexibility. As for the meat grinder, we don't eat much ground meat to start with so have never got one. But I no a couple other people who do own it and use it on occasion. They say it works but it pretty slow if you are doing quite a bit.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
The first question you need to ask yourself is, "Why do you have a stand mixer in the first place?". The attachments worth buying are the ones you will actually use. The answer will be different for everyone.
I personally never use the whisk attachment, and only occasionally use the beater panel (for creaming sugar into butter); meanwhile, the dough hook gets almost weekly use. I expect this to be the exact reverse of most people.
I personally never use the whisk attachment, and only occasionally use the beater panel (for creaming sugar into butter); meanwhile, the dough hook gets almost weekly use. I expect this to be the exact reverse of most people.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
The main thing we use it for is for making my Mom's pimento cheese recipe. There is no way to make it without a meat grinder and it is so much different than any store bought pimento cheese it is basically a different food altogether.
The meatgrinder was a gift from my mom when she was still alive so that we could make this since this was her signature recipe that she would not share with people. We do not use the meatgrinder often but it will likely outlast us.
When we used to eat more meat we would also use it to make roast beef spread out of leftover roast beef. This was also one of my mom's "secrets". The secrete ingredient is that you use whole Claussen refrigerated dill pickles that you grind up AND you also put in several tablespoons of the liquid that is in the pickle jar.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Our Kitchenaid is the 1991 version. We use the various mixing instruments, slicer/shredder, and meat grinder regularly.
"Better is the enemy of good." Good is good.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Just realize that they have a variety of models, which aren't all the same size. But they use the same attachment point, and are close enough in size that it kinda works. So if you get a replacement whisk without paying attention to the model number, nine months later you're looking at the bottom of the bowl wondering if there are any downsides to the whisk polishing tiny particles off the bowl into your pies and mashed potatoes. Or the other direction, where your replacement hook is too short and leaves dough stranded in the bottom of the bowl.
I'm mixed on the enamel-coated items, over time bits sometimes seem to chip off, such as on the guard of the dough hook. I think stainless is the way to go, when you can get it.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Our KitchenAid mixer is 40+ years old, and gets a fair amount of use. We've had a number of attachments, but most fell into disuse over time. We use the whisk, side-scraping beater, and pouring shield on a regular basis.
Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
Some people that don't want veins, bits of bones and lean finely textured beef( or LFTB ) in their ground meat tend to grind their own.JS-Elcano wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:24 pmwhat do you use the meatgrinder for? Instead of buying ground meat you grind it yourself?techiegirl wrote: ↑Mon Nov 29, 2021 10:21 pm After years of owning the Kitchenaid, we bought the pasta maker and meat grinder over the weekend. The meat grinder was the best, and I wonder why we didn’t buy one until now. We used the pasta maker once already, but I wonder if we would be using it much in the future.
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Re: KitchenAid Stand Mixer - Which Attachments Are Worth Buying?
+1 for the rubber-edged scraper/beater. Definitely necessary for creaming butter+sugar for cookies or other baked goods.