KitchenAid Accessories - Tips for Which Attachments Are Worth the Expense

View PDF | Print View
by: jackrgriffith
Total views: 5
Word Count: 921
Date: Sat, 29 Jan 2011 Time: 3:02 PM
0 comments

KitchenAid Accessories - Tips for Which Attachments Are Worth the Expense

By Olivia Stanford

If you love your KitchenAid Stand Mixer, then you probably have a few KitchenAid accessories.

Or maybe not, and you're wondering what people say are the best accessories for your stand mixer?

Read on, because we'll discuss some of the most loved - and least loved - KitchenAid accessories for your 4.5, 5 and 6 quart stand mixers.

KitchenAid Accessories That I Love

I've owned my 5 quart KitchenAid stand "bowl-lift"mixer for more than 10 years now, and she has earned a permanent position in the place of honor on my counter top.

She is my constant companion for all things culinary, from whipping egg whites for that perfect meringue, to making the perfect ice cream blend, to mixing chocolate chip cookie dough, to kneading bread dough. I've even blended homemade soap with my KitchenAid!

My favorite KitchenAid accessories have to be the wire whip and the ice cream mixer bowl. The whip is easy to clean, whips egg whites and whipping cream to nice light peaks with ease and does a great job! (My meringues always win at our local county fair!)

The ice cream maker attachment, though, is my absolute favorite of all KitchenAid accessories.

It is a large bowl the same size as the original mixing bowl, but this bowl has an insulated surround that is filled with some sort of freezer liquid. You place the bowl in your freezer for 24 hours (KitchenAid recommends 8 hours, I believe, but it works much better to leave it in the freezer a full 24 hours). Pull it out and attach the paddle, add your favorite ice cream mixture and mix away.

In 10 - 30 minutes you'll have wonderful frozen custard, sherbet, ice cream, ice milk, gelato, sorbet or whatever you choose, fresh and delicious.

Clean up is a breeze. You just wash it out in the sink (don't place in the dishwasher, it could ruin the freezer liquid inside) and it's ready to go again!

Positive Reviews for Other KitchenAid Accessories

There are a number of other KitchenAid accessories that are currently available for bowl-lift and tilt-head mixer models.

Newer KitchenAid accessories include a heavy 5 quart glass mixing bowl with lid that people are loving. Out of 15 reviews on Amazon, 14 of them listed 5 stars for this new mixing bowl that will fit 4.5 quart and 5 quart mixers. This new mixing bowl can be used instead of or as a secondary mixing bowl for your mixer.

One reviewer pointed out that the glass bowl allows her to see if any batter did not get mixed, and another described how much her children love to watch the batter mix through the clear glass.

The new glass mixing bowl is available at Amazon for $60.

Other KitchenAid accessories include the pasta roller attachment, food grinder, slicer/shredder attachment, pouring shield (prevents spills when adding ingredients to the bowl), sausage stuffer attachment, pasta extruder, citrus juicer and grain mill attachment.

Reviews are all quite positive for the pasta roller, ice cream maker bowl, pasta extruder, grain mill, slicer/shredder and grain mill.

Most reviews comment on the ease of use of these accessories, and how simple they are to clean up.

Negative Reviews for Some KitchenAid Accessories

Reviews for the sausage stuffer, food grinder and citrus juicer are less positive.

Many people liked them, but there were several comments about the products being difficult to use.

For example, the strainer part that is included with the juicer is "pretty much useless," according to several reviewers, who suggested instead placing an additional strainer on top of the mixing bowl.

The food grinder received mixed reviews, with several people stating that the blade was not sharp or useful. One person used the word "junk" to describe the blade.

There is no gasket included with the food grinder and meat tended to squirt out because of lack of a tight seal. Several people also commented on metal shavings being mixed with their meat.

On the other hand, some people stated they loved the meat grinder! More than half of the reviews received 5 stars. One woman stated that she used the grinder for their own beef and lamb, with venison in the fall, and the grinder worked perfectly.

Reviews for the sausage stuffer were quite mixed, with an even number of 1 to 5 stars being received. Some people loved it but others hated it. The reviews averaged about 3 stars.

Comments included that since the sausage stuffer is located at the top of the mixer, the weight of the stuffed sausage pulls it off the stuffer before it is completely filled.

Other comments included problems with air bubbles forming in the feeder tube. One person noted that the air pockets even formed a vacuum, sucking the casing into the tube. Several people recommended that despite the low price for the sausage stuffer (about $10), it was better to buy a more traditional sausage stuffer instead of this KitchenAid attachment.

Of course, your experiences may be different.

KitchenAid is known for good customer service, and if you have any trouble with your KitchenAid accessories, be sure to call them for help!

About the Author

This author really loves his home and family and lives life to the full. He also loves to learn about everything. Feel free to see some of his interests at

Bathroom Sink Cabinets
and

Dog Food Containers.