KitchenAid stand mixers are beloved kitchen appliances known for their power, versatility, and iconic design. One of the biggest benefits of owning a KitchenAid mixer is the ability to enhance its functionality with various attachments. KitchenAid offers over 10 different attachments ranging from food grinders to pasta makers that can help you prepare an array of recipes with ease.
But with so many attachments available, it can be confusing to figure out which ones are really worth the investment. In this blog post, we’ll uncover the truth about the top KitchenAid mixer attachments – their key features, benefits, and whether they’re truly essential additions or just “nice-to-have” accessories.
The meat grinder attachment is arguably one of the most useful attachments for any KitchenAid stand mixer owner. As its name suggests, this attachment allows you to grind various meats from the comfort of your home.
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The ability to grind meat at home is a huge advantage over buying pre-ground meat from the grocery store. You can ensure freshness and customize textures based on recipes. The meat grinder attachment is easy to use, disassemble, and clean as well. This is arguably an essential attachment for any home cook interested in making their own sausages or chopped meat.
For pasta lovers, the pasta roller attachment can be a game changer. This attachment allows you to roll out fresh pasta dough quickly and evenly every time.
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While fresh pasta can sound intimidating, the pasta roller attachment takes all the work out of the process. You’ll get perfect pasta every time without the mess and uneven rolling of a rolling pin. The cutting attachments give you professional results. This attachment is great for any pasta lover but especially useful if you follow gluten-free or paleo diets that rely on homemade pasta.
In addition to grinding meat, the food grinder attachment can also grind a variety of fruits, vegetables, and cheeses into uniform textures.
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The food grinder is great for achieving the perfect texture whether you need a smooth apple sauce or chunky salsa. It can make quick work of grinding meats and cheeses too. This attachment is especially helpful for parents looking to make their own baby food.
While not as essential as the meat grinder, the food grinder attachment is still handy to have for preparing homemade purees, breadcrumbs, and more.
Fresh citrus juice can elevate the flavor of many recipes. With the citrus juicer attachment, you can juice oranges, grapefruits, lemons, and more with minimal effort.
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This attachment makes it fast and easy to get fresh citrus juice whenever you need it. While not completely necessary, it can save you time and effort over manually juicing. The auto-reverse function ensures you get the maximum amount of juice from each fruit.
At the end of the day, how useful a KitchenAid attachment will be depends on your cooking needs and preferences. For those who cook a lot of meat and make sausages or ground meats often, the meat grinder is a very worthwhile investment. The pasta roller will be constantly used by those who enjoy homemade pastas. Occasional bakers or citrus juicers may find some attachments helpful but not absolute necessities.
Evaluate your needs and which food prep tasks could be made easier with a KitchenAid attachment. For most home cooks, starting with the meat grinder and pasta roller covers the most useful ground. Other attachments like slicers or spiralizers can be added over time for more versatility. At around $60-150 per attachment, they are an affordable way to get more functionality from your stand mixer.
Just be wary of going overboard and letting attachments clutter your kitchen when you realistically wouldn’t use them often. Focus on quality over quantity to build up your KitchenAid attachment arsenal with the essentials.
What attachment is best for making breadcrumbs and crushed crackers?
The food grinder attachment with the fine grinding plate would work best for making fine breadcrumbs or crushing crackers into smaller crumbs. The coarse grinding plate could be used for larger panko-style breadcrumbs.
Is the ravioli maker attachment worth purchasing?
The ravioli maker attachment can be worthwhile if you enjoy making homemade ravioli and don’t want to cut and stuff pasta squares individually. However, it is a more specialized attachment that may not get frequent use. Many home cooks find it easier and more affordable to make ravioli the traditional way.
Can all attachments work on any KitchenAid stand mixer?
Most attachments are compatible across all KitchenAid stand mixer models. However, some attachments like food processors or spiralizers are only made to fit specific mixer sizes/bowls. Always check that an attachment will properly fit your particular KitchenAid model before purchasing.
Conclusion
KitchenAid stand mixers provide a solid foundation, while the attachments help take your culinary creations to the next level. Focus on starting with the most versatile attachments like the meat grinder and pasta roller. Then you can build up your collection over time as your needs evolve. With the right attachments, you’ll be able to handle an array of recipes and food prep tasks like a pro!
