Probably the most-used instruments in a prepare dinner’s kitchen—whether or not at residence or in a restaurant—are sometimes those which are essentially the most versatile. An heirloom cast-iron skillet, a go-to chef’s knife, the tough-as-nails cutting board: these are the instruments that do the heavy lifting. For cooks and critical residence cooks alike, this record normally features a high quality stand mixer.

For us, the hands-down favourite is the KitchenAid model mixer, with its modern, archetypal design, multitude of dazzling colours (together with the newly launched beetroot), and, most significantly, their extensive list of removable attachments. The most effective KitchenAid mixer attachments are game-changers for the house prepare dinner or baker, permitting you to exponentially enhance your culinary choices. In lots of circumstances, these attachments could be bought for a fraction of the price of their analog or project-exclusive counterparts, like a meals processor or grain mill. Plus, they’ll get the job accomplished in a fraction of the time. No want for hand-crank pasta rollers right here, my associates!

We love how the lengthy record of attachments are all interchangeable whatever the mixer mannequin you’ve (with an exception or two in the event you’re utilizing the KitchenAid Mini). Which means that whether or not you’re a newbie baker, a budget-conscious weekend connoisseur, or a semi-pro who wants the top-of-the-line mannequin, all the attachments will match the machine that’s presently in your countertop. 

And certain, a trusty hand mixer would possibly get the job accomplished for some. They’re simple to make use of, simple to retailer, and are completely able to whipping egg whites right into a meringue or mixing up a batch of cookie dough. However, when it comes right down to it, a KitchenAid stand mixer outfitted with our favourite attachments is unbeatable. 

After hours of testing, now we have some favorites. Right here’s our tackle the most effective KitchenAid mixer attachments.

Our Prime Picks

Greatest General: KitchenAid 3-Piece Roller & Cutter Set

Versatility Score: Excessive | Good for: Most contemporary pasta/noodle doughs | Materials: Stainless Metal  

Execs


  • Straightforward to make use of
  • 8 totally different thickness settings
  • Cutters included for 2 standard pasta/noodle shapes
  • Stainless Metal development

Cons


  • Much less of an “artisan really feel” in comparison with a hand-crank machine

Why we selected it: This attachment instantly ups your culinary functionality, and the 2 sizes of cutters permit you to create a near-limitless number of noodle dishes.It can actually open up a brand new culinary universe. If I needed to decide only one KitchenAid attachment to personal, this might be it.

Whether or not dried or contemporary, bronze-die extruded or hand-rolled, numerous types of noodles have been sustaining cultures for millennia. They’re the centerpiece of numerous dishes in cuisines spanning the globe, and there’s a cause for that: they typically require just a few low-cost, available components and supply extra vitality per calorie than nearly every other meals. Our favourite factor in regards to the KitchenAid 3-Piece Pasta Curler & Cutter set is the immense number of contemporary pasta and noodle dishes you may make. t. 

In much less time required for a run to the grocery retailer, you’ll be capable to throw collectively a batch of dough, roll it out to the thickness you need, and  minimize it into good noodles.o! The curler works properly for each enriched doughs (like an egg-based Italian pasta) and different less-hydrated doughs, resembling contemporary ramen

This curler is sort of intuitive. There are eight totally different thickness ranges, starting from 1 (the thickest) to eight (nearly see-through skinny). To make use of the curler, lob off a hunk of dough, flatten it out between your palm and your countertop, and slowly feed it into the machine. A characteristic we love is the best way this attachment enables you to roll the dough on the velocity that makes you most snug. First timer? Run the machine on the bottom velocity setting whilst you get your bearings. Seasoned pasta-making professional? Let that factor rip (so long as you may sustain with it!).  

In the event you choose longer noodles, the cutter is for you. It has two settings, one thinner and rounder (assume spaghetti or ramen), and the opposite is wider and flatter (like fettuccine or broad rice noodles). When you’ve rolled out your dough sheets to your required thickness and size, take away the curler and exchange it with one of many cutters. Merely feed your dough sheets into the cutters and watch them rework proper earlier than your eyes. It’s fairly mesmerizing. 

One factor to notice: I like to recommend to ALWAYS begin rolling your dough on the thickest setting. Neglecting to take action will solely tear your dough and value you time. The gluten within the dough must be stretched progressively; that is achieved by beginning on the thicker setting and thinning the dough incrementally. As somebody who has used this machine a whole bunch of instances over the course of my skilled cooking profession, my recommendation is to run dough sheets twice on every setting. There’s a cause for this: the primary “roll” will give the preliminary form and construction to your dough, however you’ll discover it recoil barely as soon as the machine spits it out. The second “roll” will flatten the dough absolutely, and produce it to the specified thickness required to proceed rolling it. Dough, by nature, will all the time pull again whenever you attempt to stretch it, because of the aforementioned gluten. This easy protein–which contributes to the chewy, springy texture of your favourite bagel or slice of pizza–is your good friend, and you will need to deal with it as such. Making an attempt to power issues will solely find yourself inflicting a rift between you and your dough, and is one thing I might advise towards in any respect prices. 

Yet another factor: underneath completely no circumstances do you have to run these attachments underneath, or submerge them in, water. These machines, whereas constructed in Italy utilizing stainless-steel, could be susceptible to rust and breakdown if the interior mechanisms get moist. Happily, although, you’ll obtain a nifty brush within the field, which is used for eradicating bits of flour and crusted-on dough. This must be all it’s essential to preserve your attachments trying spiffy and able to fulfilling your carb-filled desires for years to return.

Greatest Worth: KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer/Shredder Attachment

Versatility Score: Excessive | Good for: Most greens and cheeses | Materials: Plastic, Stainless Metal 

Execs


  • Nice for tedious or large-batch initiatives
  • 3 dimension settings able to shredding and slicing
  • Straightforward to make use of
  • Comparatively simple to scrub: blades are dishwasher secure

Cons


  • Light-weight, semi-plastic development
  • Tendency for some splatter/mess relying on what you’re processing

Why we selected it: It takes the busy-work out of the most important number of components.

This attachment supplies essentially the most alternatives for on a regular basis use and has the potential to save lots of you essentially the most time (particularly in the event you’re a meal-prepper or somebody who typically cooks for a crowd). As one in all KitchenAid’s extra budget-friendly attachments, it will probably make a big impression in your kitchen prep with out making too massive of an impression in your pockets. My favourite side of this attachment is the sheer number of meals you can course of with it. Decide nearly any vegetable—from a starchy potato to a past-its-prime zucchini—and this attachment has you coated. Cheeses, too, could be reshaped by this attachment (even smooth ones like contemporary mozzarella). It’s assured to be more energizing than the processed, pre-shredded stuff on the grocery retailer.

I discovered that the small shredder/grater dimension labored properly for tougher cheeses and denser veggies (assume Parmesan or carrots), and the bigger shredder labored finest on softer cheeses and their softer vegetable counterparts (like queso fresco or cabbage). In the event you’re somebody who isn’t fairly assured of their knife abilities however wants a bunch of cucumbers sliced for a batch of pickles, this add-on is for you.

Issues to notice about this attachment deal extra with its development and cleansing. It’s made from plastic and stainless-steel, so that you’ll all the time wish to remember to not power it too exhausting when utilizing it. The blades are sharp however, over time, and like anything, they’ll uninteresting a bit. This shouldn’t be a priority until you’re getting ready every day batches of coleslaw, but it surely’s one thing to look out for. Moreover, solely the blades are dishwasher-safe, and so they’re really helpful solely to be cleaned on the highest shelf of your dishwasher. As for cleansing the plastic housing, some dish cleaning soap, heat water, and slightly time on the dish rack will suffice. Simply remember in the event you’re shredding issues that are likely to stain—like beets or carrots—as a result of until you’ve a bowl with each excessive and broad sides to catch your processed veggies or cheeses, there’s a potential for some spillage and dribbling juice. General, although, it is a very useful instrument to make use of throughout your subsequent kitchen escapade.

Greatest for the Complete-Grain Aficionado: KitchenAid All Metal Grain Mill Attachment

Versatility Score: Medium | Good for: All low-moisture complete grains | Materials: Stainless Metal, Solid Aluminum 

Execs


  • Adjustable-size grind, starting from coarse to tremendous
  • Permits you to retain vitamins you’d lose in lots of pre-ground flours.
  • Able to dealing with quite a lot of low-moisture grains

Cons


  • Fairly loud
  • Higher for small-batch grinds, 2 lb or much less

Why we selected it: It’s a good way to get pleasure from actually contemporary milled grains with out sacrificing cabinet or countertop house.

In the event you’re particularly concerned about baking, this attachment might pique your curiosity. As somebody who has operated a big stone grain mill at a bakery, and made a loaf of sourdough bread each weekend for the final a number of years, I inform you with utmost certainty that there’s nothing even shut to the flavour of freshly-milled complete grains. Many flours which are commercially out there have been floor months upfront; as quickly as they’re floor, these grains start to oxidize, and their taste sometimes begins to dissipate. After just a few months in a warehouse or grocery retailer, their style generally is a shell of its former self. Different flours, just like the AP flour in your cabinet, are extra processed.They’re sifted to take away sure bits just like the bran or germ. As soon as these are eliminated,  you’re left with a softer texture, however most of the vitamins are misplaced. Complete grains, however, retain these vitamins, in order that they are often absorbed by your physique as an alternative of being tossed apart. I’m speaking in regards to the heavy-hitters, like fiber, B nutritional vitamins, vitamin E, and quite a few wholesome fat. Good things, proper?

When utilizing the Grain Mill attachment, I observed a few issues. First off, this factor is stable! Once they say “all-metal”, they imply it. The interior workings are stainless-steel and the outer items are forged aluminum. Hefty kitchen equipment are all the time a plus for me and, whenever you’re milling grains, few supplies apart from steel suffice. The burrs (the elements that do the grinding) are able to producing a spread of grind sizes to suit your wants, and you may all the time run the flour by a second time in the event you’re in search of a super-fine finish product. 

Honest warning: the attachment is sort of loud to function. Per the directions, I ran it on the very best velocity on a KitchenAid. I floor a pound of Khorasan wheat (an historic wheat varietal with grains double the dimensions of normal wheat berries) and a pound of excellent old school hard red wheat (the sort you’d discover in a complete wheat loaf from a bakery). For each varieties, the sound was akin to pulverizing ice cubes in a meals processor. Due to this, I might positively advocate utilizing this attachment throughout “enterprise hours”, particularly in the event you dwell in an house constructing. On the best setting, the mill took about quarter-hour for every pound of wheat. Whereas milling, you’ll discover the motor heating up a bit, so KitchenAid recommends letting the machine relaxation 45 minutes between milling classes; at that noise degree, you’ll positively need slightly break, too. So far as care and cleansing go, merely loosen the screws on the entrance and mud off the interior workings (a cleansing brush is supplied). A number of different housekeeping notes: don’t submerge it in water or get it moist and, most significantly, you will need to solely use low-moisture, non-oily grains, e.g. wheat, rice, cornmeal. Nothing moist, and nothing oily should be floor in it. Which means no nuts and no espresso beans; use a designated coffee grinder for beans, and a strong Vitamix for nut butters.

Greatest for the Pasta Lover: ​​KitchenAid Gourmet Pasta Press Attachment with 6 Interchangeable Pasta Plates

Versatility Score: Medium | Good for: Extruded Pasta Shapes | Materials: Plastic, Stainless Metal 

Execs


  • Permits for quite a lot of extruded shapes
  • Comparatively simple to make use of
  • Gives an artisan really feel vs. shopping for dried pasta shapes

Cons


  • Partial plastic development
  • Works finest with 1 dough recipe
  • Annoying to scrub

Why we selected it: This attachment simply expands your world of do-it-yourself contemporary pasta into quite a lot of shapes.

Who doesn’t love pasta? It’s scrumptious, filling, and usually simple to organize. There are such a lot of basic shapes on the market–over 300–it’s typically exhausting to decide on which to prepare dinner. There was even a new shape invented within the 2020s, however I digress. Except you’re fortunate sufficient to have entry to knowledgeable pasta extruder (which regularly begin at a number of thousand {dollars}), you’d be hard-pressed to discover a machine that’s able to making these shapes contemporary in your individual residence. For lower than a pair hundred bucks, you’ll be capable to make six textured configurations. This attachment will yield each small and huge macaroni elbows, rigatoni, fusilli, spaghetti, and bucatini (spaghetti’s superior sauce-adhering cousin). This selection lets you maximize the result of any do-it-yourself pasta dish, as a result of now you can tailor the pasta form to the sauce.

Regardless of this piece’s advantages, I did run into just a few hiccups. To start out, it’s exhausting to not discover the majority-plastic development when utilizing this attachment. It tends to really feel a bit flimsy at instances, particularly when feeding the dough into the hopper. I attempted a number of totally different egg-based recipes, and a few positively labored higher than others. The machine carried out finest when the dough was reasonably stiff. I had the most effective outcomes when utilizing the dough recipe from the accompanying handbook (which is a fairly normal contemporary pasta dough). I attempted utilizing a richer, barely eggier one and noticed {that a} slight enhance in hydration appeared to gum-up the works. 

Cleansing this attachment is a little bit of an endeavor, however then once more, so is making contemporary pasta. In the event you’re up for the problem, the most important hurdle can be coping with the dough that inevitably will get caught within the dies (plates) after every session. The holes that the dough is pushed by are very small, and it will result in some build-up. For a number of minutes, you’ll be choosing out little dough bits with the supplied instrument (which is analogous to an all-metal pencil with a tapered, sharp level). My recommendation? Benefit from the pasta after you make it and let the build-up in these dies dry out earlier than making an attempt to scrub it. If the dough is dry, it tends to only fall out in crumbs as an alternative of behaving like stuck-on chewing gum.

My last suggestions: Give the handbook a once-over earlier than beginning the machine up (for instance, every form corresponds to a velocity setting on the mixer, and also you’ll wish to just be sure you use the best one) and, when it comes time to make use of the swiveling wire-cutter that cuts your pasta, simply commit and slice rapidly. In any other case you’ll mangle the shapes you’ve simply labored over. Mangia!

Greatest for the Carnivore: KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment

Versatility Score: Medium | Good for: Meat/Sausages| Materials: Stainless Metal, Solid Aluminum 

Execs


  • Capable of be chilled in freezer, permitting for a greater grinding expertise
  • Sturdy all-metal development
  • 3 totally different grind sizes
  • 2 sausage-stuffing attachments for the charcutier in your life

Cons


  • A bit of noisy
  • Works finest when grinder items and meat are ice-cold
  • A little bit of a ache to scrub

Why we selected it: It’s the plain selection for these trying to management the standard of their floor meat and sausages.

With slightly little bit of recipe sleuthing, and a fast chat together with your butcher, you’ll be capable to begin simply grinding your individual burger blends, meatball mixes, and sausage fillings. The attachment comes with two adapters so you may make your individual stuffed sausages as properly, each contemporary and for curing. It’s a course of that may appear daunting for residence cooks; sausage-making feels far more approachable with an attachment. Now, you can also rework cheap cuts of meat into the among the most flavorful dishes on the market.

With it’s sharp, stainless-steel inside blade and three totally different die-attachments (the steel plates which the chopped meat is pushed by), you’ll be capable to comply with the recipe for sausage filling, but in addition your individual burgers, whatever the form of meat Turkey? Beef? Hen? No drawback. Possibly laab tod is extra your velocity? Or maybe some a filling for some delicious dumplings?

In terms of cleansing, all the unit must be taken aside and washed completely, piece by piece. It’s not dishwasher secure, which is disappointing contemplating its meant use. You should definitely scrub it completely with cleaning soap and the supplied brush, and sanitize it underneath sizzling water. 

Yet another professional tip: meat grinders work finest when meat is partially-frozen (or at the least very chilly). The identical goes to the grinder itself. Simply toss all the attachment within the freezer a short time earlier than you’re prepared to make use of it. Your meat of selection must be specified by a single layer, ideally on a parchment-lined sheet tray so it doesn’t freeze right into a stable mass. Simply let every part chill till your components are simply starting to agency up across the edges, and you ought to be good to grind. 

Greatest for the Yard Griller: KitchenAid Attachment Food Grinder Accessory

Versatility Score: Medium | Good for: Meats, Greens | Materials: Plastic, Stainless Metal 

Execs


  • Finances-friendly
  • Able to grinding quite a lot of meats and greens
  • 2 grind sizes

Cons


  • Principally-plastic development
  • Unable to be put in freezer
  • Extra equipment out there at additional value

Why we selected it: It’s a cheap technique to obtain high-quality, freshly floor meats or greens at residence. 

This grinder is similar to the steel grinder detailed above, but it surely’s positively extra of a base mannequin, with out all of the bells and whistles. It prices a bit much less, however like anything, that value lower additionally will reduce sturdiness and performance. This piece is completely acceptable for grinding chilled cubes or pork, beef, or rooster for making burgers, meatloaf, or sausage. It’s additionally a fast and straightforward to technique to grind greens like tomatoes for numerous makes use of, mostly sauces.

Both approach, I’d say it’s a tremendous possibility for an off-the-cuff residence prepare dinner or somebody trying to make their foray into meat grinding. Personally, I wasn’t thrilled in regards to the plastic, as meat grinders function finest once they’re ice chilly. In contrast to the all-metal model, this one shouldn’t be frozen, as it should make the plastic brittle and extra inclined to breakasge. It’s helpful in that it has the choice of two grind sizes, and you may (with a charge) buy different add-ons for it, such because the sausage stuffer or fruit/vegetable strainer. In the event you’re in search of a little bit of fast, home-ground meat on a price range, this attachment is for you.  

How We Selected These Merchandise

In making these rankings, I used a set of three standards (in no specific order): ease of use/cleansing, total utility, and the final high quality of development. As somebody who has cooked professionally for over a decade, (in restaurant, bakery, and take a look at kitchen settings), I’ve seen my truthful shair KitchenAid mixers pushed to the brink. Whereas I didn’t go that far, I did give my 8+ yr previous Artisan collection a superb exercise, together with rolling, chopping, and extruding a number of batches of contemporary pasta dough. I additionally shredded 4 totally different cheeses, starting from contemporary mozzarella to parmigiano reggiano. I used the slicer to course of half a dozen zucchini, in addition to used the grater to shred cabbage, carrots, and beets with out subject. I additionally used the meat grinder attachment to course of one pound every of pork shoulder and cubed beef chuck (two of the hardest cuts on the market), solely to make use of them for my very personal batch of sausage. Lastly, I floor two kilos of exhausting complete wheat berries into a really tremendous flour with no drawback.

Options to Maintain in Thoughts When Looking for Kitchenaid Mixer Attachments

Efficiency

When utilizing any of those attachments, preserve an eye fixed (and a hand) on the motor of your Kitchenaid. You don’t wish to overheat it, so in the event you really feel it getting too heat, give it a relaxation for some time. Bear in mind for any odd sounds too! These attachments are meant for single-home use, so so long as you employ them for that, they need to be tremendous. The identical goes for mixing with the usual bowl and paddle/whisk attachments: If the motor is straining to combine a dense dough, as an example, give it a relaxation to forestall burning out the motor. 

Amount

Once more, so long as you’re not prepping restaurant-size batches of your meals day by day there’s nothing to fret about. These attachments must be greater than ample on your subsequent household perform or banquet. 

Weight

General, the attachments usually are not prohibitively heavy, although some are a bit hefty, just like the stable stainless-steel pasta attachments that clock in round 5 kilos. Nevertheless, all of them are considerably lighter than the mixer itself. 

Operation Mode 

You should definitely learn your manuals for every attachment earlier than use. Most attachments include explanations and designated mixer speeds at which to function them, in addition to particular care directions for cleansing and storage. 

Guarantee

KitchenAid attachments include a guaranty of 1 yr from the acquisition date. 

Straightforward to Use

All of those items are moderately intuitive and include easy-to-follow directions. Simply be sure you seek the advice of together with your product information earlier than you begin your subsequent kitchen undertaking.

Ask the Specialists

Q: Will KitchenAid attachments match all fashions?

Sure. All of  the attachments we examined are designed to suit any KitchenAid stand mixer; one exception is the KitchenAid Mini, which isn’t appropriate with the ice cream maker attachment.

Q: How do I connect KitchenAid mixer attachments?

Every one of many attachments secures to the attachment hub situated on the entrance of the machine. Simply loosen the screw-knob to take away the brand plate, insert the attachment by rotating it to make sure that it suits snugly towards the hub, and retighten the screw to safe your attachment tightly. 

Q: Learn how to get KitchenAid mixer attachments off?

Merely loosen the screw-knob in your attachment, gently pull the attachment to take away it from the machine, and exchange it with the brand plate to forestall any meals bit from making contained in the machine. 

Q: What number of attachments does the KitchenAid mixer have?

There are over a dozen base attachments. With the out there add-ons, they’re able to dozens of features.

Q: Do I get all of the attachments after I purchase the KitchenAid mixer?

Sadly, no. The attachments are all offered both individually or in associated units, just like the pasta rollers.

Q: How lengthy will KitchenAid mixer attachments will final on common? 

In the event you comply with the really helpful use, care, and cleansing pointers, many of those attachments ought to final for a few years.

Our Take

With so many attachments out there, KitchenAid has made it fairly simple to develop your culinary repertoire. Our favourite attachment is the 3-Piece Pasta Curler and Cutter set; it’s simple to make use of, well-made, and can yield a big number of stunning and scrumptious finish merchandise.

Each product is independently chosen and vetted by editors. Stuff you purchase by our hyperlinks might earn us a fee.





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