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What Can You Do with a Stand Mixer?

By: Megan

Content Writer

8 min read

Stand mixers are common household items, as they remove the hassle of combining ingredients by hand. What you may not know is that mixing isn’t all these small appliances are good for. You can upgrade your lineup with additional attachments to simplify meal prep further. The whisk is most common, often included with your initial purchase. However, some mixers also come with a paddle and dough hook. But you aren’t limited to these three; other stand mixer attachments, like the pasta roller or ice cream maker, expand the small appliance’s abilities and versatility. With the right tools, you can make almost any meal from scratch, from homemade buttercream to fluffy breads.

Using the Three Core Attachments

The whisk, paddle/flat beater and dough hook. These are the most common stand mixer attachments. And many mixers, like KitchenAid’s models, already come with these accessories. Now you may be wondering: what can you do with a KitchenAid stand mixer beyond making the classic baked goods? And what exactly is the paddle attachment used for? Below, we explore the various recipes you can make using your stand mixer attachments.

Whisking Ingredients Together

For most models, the whisk is included with your initial purchase. Also known as a balloon whisk or wire whip, this stand mixer attachment is the most well-known option—as it’s used in many handheld versions. It’s also the most versatile. Instead of manually beating eggs or whipping heavy cream for what seems like endless minutes, the whisk works effortlessly, continuously rotating until you achieve stiff egg-white peaks or smooth whipped cream. However, this stand mixer attachment isn’t just for classic baked goods. Try making homemade butter and buttermilk, frosting, meringues or even mashed potatoes. It’s also great for aerating liquids, giving your soufflés a professional, airy lift.

So…Why the Paddle?

Of the three core stand mixer attachments, the paddle tends to raise some eyebrows. Its unique shape is designed to cut through mixtures using a smear-and-fold motion. The movement is ideal for creaming items together, like sugar and butter. Unlike the whisk, which rapidly aerates, the flat panels carefully add air into the mixture, meaning cookies and cakes have more volume. In addition to doughs, the paddle is great for combining meats for homemade sausage or shredding chicken for enchiladas. You can even use this stand mixer attachment to make ice cream or tortillas from scratch.

Creating Homemade Breads, Pizzas and More

As the name suggests, the dough hook creates bakery-quality doughs, either for bread or pizza. Its C-shaped claw replaces manual kneading, mimicking the motions of stretching and massaging. These movements give baked goods their volume and elasticity. And while some mixtures are light and airy, heavier ones, like wheat bread, get tiring quickly when kneaded by hand. Working dough can also be time-consuming. Letting your stand mixer do the hard part gives you the freedom to complete other tasks until it’s ready to proof or bake.

When You’ll Need Additional Accessories

The three core stand mixer attachments are versatile tools. And for some recipes, they’re all you need. However, more ambitious chefs and bakers might be looking for more precise ways to prepare ingredients. Depending on which brand...you can find extra accessories that turn your mixer into a countertop multitasker. For example, KitchenAid makes a variety of options that turn a classic mixer into an all-in-one appliance.

Dive into the world of Italian cooking with the pasta roller and use the meat grinder for homemade meatballs. Or use the grain mill attachment for homemade flour blends. Hate manually chopping ingredients? Switch to the spiralizer or vegetable sheet cutter. If you want to cut back on your small appliance collection, KitchenAid has even designed a food processor option. Using the ExactSlice™ System, you can slice, dice, shred and julienne strips of produce and cheeses with minimal effort on your part. These are just a handful of examples of the various stand mixer attachments you can purchase to upgrade your culinary repertoire.

Create Any Recipe with Your Stand Mixer

Stand mixer attachments help you make all your cravings from scratch, and they’ll taste like they’re made by a professional, from delicate macarons to fluffy breads. Even your favorite chicken enchiladas can be made from scratch with these kitchen tools. Whether you choose to stick with the classic trio or invest in the extras, no recipe is too challenging for your small appliance. If you’d like to learn more, either about the stand mixer attachments or the corresponding small appliance, give our team of experts a call at 800-860-3577. Interested in purchasing a new stand mixer? Check out our guide to mixers to explore your options.