8 KitchenAid Attachments to Maximize Your Stand Mixer's Utility

Ah, the almighty KitchenAid stand mixer. Who doesn't dream about whipping up a gourmet feast after receiving this kitchen superstar for their wedding? But in order to maximize the mixer's full potential, the owner will need a few KitchenAid attachments to experience the variety of tasks it can help with. Maybe you're currently building your wedding registry or just shopping for your newlywed home now that you've got the turquoise KitchenAid stand mixer of your dreams. Or perhaps you're looking for a thoughtful supplement to a gift for loved ones who registered for a stand mixer. Whatever the case, KitchenAid stand mixer attachments make great additions to registries, practical gifts and wonderful self-purchases alike. Since KitchenAid mixer attachments can greatly enhance the capabilities of this kitchen appliance, why not upgrade pronto?

"KitchenAid Stand mixers are the gold standard when it comes to efficient mixing and the perfect kitchen accessory that everyone needs. Whether it's whipping, creaming or kneading, it's got you covered," says Stefanie Bishop, Auguste Escoffier School of Culinary Arts Pastry Chef Instructor. She notes that one of the primary standout features of these culinary appliances is that the stand can be fitted with several attachments to turn your mixer into everything from an ice cream maker to a fresh pasta roller. "I could not live without my KitchenAid at work in a professional kitchen or when baking at home," says Bishop, who as of press time, is a bride-to-be herself who understands "the stress and importance of registering for items that you will not only enjoy, but ones that will stand the test of time."

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Executive chef Steve Chiappetti of Chicago's the Albert, who started a cooking school called Chefs with Class more than 20 years ago and also holds monthly culinary classes at the Albert, echoes: "I can't imagine being in a professional or home kitchen without a KitchenAid stand mixer." Chiappetti notes there is nothing that a KitchenAid stand mixer can't help you accomplish and the attachments lend so much versatility. "I use mine for vegetable prep, making quick doughs and batters, force meats, dressings, mayonnaise, pasta and ice cream," he says. "Making biscuits or pizza dough is consistent and easy, and the pour guards prevent flour spills, which makes countertop cleanup a breeze." He says that the attachments for the KitchenAid mixer are incredibly easy to use and clean (most are dishwasher-safe), and their time-saving efficiency means less time sweating in the kitchen.

Ahead, a look at the best KitchenAid attachments for every kind of home chef.

1. KitchenAid Pasta Roller Attachment

Who needs it: the pasta curious

Considering pasta lovers are…pretty much ubiquitous, this is a stellar KitchenAid attachment to add to your wedding registry or buy for yourself, friends or family. "This is a must-have for the pasta lover who has perhaps been daunted by the idea of making it from scratch," says Chiappetti. "A lot of people see the original hand-crank pasta machines (which have their place) and understandably worry about the evenness of the dough as it comes through, the work involved and the cleanup." The KitchenAid pasta attachment takes all that guesswork out of the equation by producing smooth, even pasta sheets ready to be cut.

2. KitchenAid 5-Piece Pasta Deluxe Set

Who needs it: committed pasta lovers

Chiappetti recommends getting the five-piece pasta attachment set—which includes the pasta roller, the spaghetti cutter, the fettuccine cutter, the lasagna cutter and the capellini cutter—for anyone set on making homemade pasta a part of their regular dinner repertoire. "You're a) ensuring great dough consistency from the get-go, b) can proceed to shape your pasta as you wish and c) have the instant option of going with a more classic (spaghetti, capellini) or heartier (fettuccine, lasagna) dish depending on your craving," he says. Though, the fettuccine cutter stands out as his favorite attachment of the bunch.

3. KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment

Who needs it: every home cook

This attachment includes a meat grinder and four attachment plates with the addition of stuffer tubes for sausage making. (Pretty fancy, huh?) "This attachment is great for the more adventurous cook or someone serious about making sausages at home or grinding their own meats for burgers or meatballs," says Bishop. "All the pieces included are built to last and made from food-grade stainless steel, not plastic, and are dishwasher-safe." Plus, each grinding plate included comes in a range of sizes—course, medium and fine, which allows you to use the plate for things other than meat. "You can grate hard cheese or make breadcrumbs from leftover bread that's going stale or use it for vegetables," says Bishop.

Chiappetti agrees: "This is an attachment for someone who's looking for mega-ease with chopping and grinding…My favorite personal uses are to grind carrots, onions, celery and garlic to create instant veggies for chicken soup."

4. KitchenAid Dough Hook Attachment

Who needs it: bread makers and bakers

Liz Mincin, recipe developer and blogger at Waiting for Blancmange, calls the dough hook a classic attachment that's essential for bread makers of all levels. "It might be one of the basic KitchenAid attachments, but the dough hook is my absolute favorite," she says. "It has been invaluable to me in my work and also personal baking—allowing me to easily whip up dough for all manner of breads."

5. KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer and Shredder Attachment

Who needs it: knifework novices

Whether you aren't eager to dice up a storm with your chef's knife or are cooking for a crowd and don't have—oh—45 minutes to dice onions, this attachment is a boon. This KitchenAid stand mixer attachment makes easy work out of prepping all sorts of things, from shredding cheese to slicing all your cukes and zukes evenly. Plus, you'll get various types of slicing and shredding blades suitable for virtually every kind of kitchen job under the sun.

6. The KitchenAid 5 Blade Spiralizer with Peel, Core and Slice

Who needs it: healthy gourmands

Zoodles, here we come. (That's kitchen speak for "zucchini noodles," folks.) Chiappetti says the KitchenAid spiralizer attachment takes simple vegetable dishes to a new level. "It comes with a range of slicing and peeling blades, giving you the ability to peel, core, slice and spiralize fruits and veggies to your heart's content," he says. "For those looking for a vegetable alternative to pasta, it's easy to replace linguini noodles with zucchini or butternut squash spiral threads to create a lighter, healthier version of linguini carbonara."

In the kitchen, Chiappetti uses the spiralizer the most during what he dubs "fall pie season," allowing him to jump on peeling apples swiftly. "Last year, Elawa Farm, a local non-profit, asked us to make 200 homemade pies for a fundraiser. Our KitchenAid saved the day!" he says. "What would have taken more than half of a day in peeling and kneading was accomplished in a matter of hours with both the KitchenAid spiralizer attachment and the mixer itself cranking out the dough."

7. KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment

Who needs it: sweet tooths

"The ice cream maker is fantastic for ice cream lovers and anyone wanting to experiment with their own ice cream flavors," says Mincin, who received the ice cream attachment as a wedding gift and absolutely adores it. "It's another simple attachment that enables you to transform the KitchenAid into a multipurpose machine—no need to have an extra piece of large equipment on the countertop." Follow Mincin's lead and use the ice cream maker attachment to experiment with seasonal flavors and surprise your loved ones with a special dessert.

Bishop adds that the hardest part about making ice cream at home is the freezing component. "There is an art to freezing your mix to get the super creamy frozen treat we all love," she says. "With the KitchenAid stand mixer, it's as easy as making your ice cream base, a simple custard and freezing your bowl—the stand does the rest."

8. KitchenAid Sifter and Scale Attachment

Who needs it: cookie monsters

Love making cookies and cakes? This KitchenAid stand mixer attachment is a winner. The tool makes sifting dry ingredients a breeze and you can easily measure ingredients for precision baking with the scale plate. This utensil is also a veritable time-saver: Since your hands are free from sifting flour, you can get to work on other steps in the baking process or whip up that salad vinaigrette that you totally thought you'd have time to complete yesterday.