Like most home cooks, I'm obsessed withKitchenAid stand mixers. Besides their iconic look (andsexy limited-edition colors), they're ultra-powerful and insanely high-quality—and they're not even paying me to say that.
Once you've got your hands on one of these bad boys, you've opened the door to a whole new world ofkitchen gadgets. There are tons ofKitchenAid mixer attachmentson the market, from juicers to grinders and ice cream makers, and it can be overwhelming to sift through 'em all and figure out which ones are worthwhile—so I took care of it for you. Here are the eight most popular mixer attachments, ranked in order from most frivolous to "must buy this ASAP" level of necessary.
8.Citrus Juicer
Yeah, yeah, we all lovecitrus juice. And this KitchenAid mixer attachment comes with high reviews, mostly by people who use it for making big batches ofOJandlemonade. If homemade juice is a regular part of your diet, then this tool is going to be a dream for you—but if you're simply looking tojuice one lemonfor a recipe, you'll be just fineusing a fork.
BUY IT:KitchenAid JE Citrus Juicer Attachment, $22.49 on Amazon
7.Vegetable Sheet Cutter
This one had me stumped for a bit as the only real use I could imagine for a produce-sheet-peeler wasnoodle-less zucchini lasagna(an awesome dish, though maybe not worth investing in a tool for it). Amazon reviewers offered a couple more ideas—one commenter said this attachment allows his children with braces to eat crunchy apples, and another suggested using it for potatoes, the same way you'd usea mandoline slicer. The more you know!
BUY IT:KitchenAid KSMSCA Vegetable Sheet Cutter, $99.95 on Amazon
6.Pasta Roller
If you're a pasta addict, and you've got the time and energy forDIY doughon a regular basis, this one may be right up your alley. That being said, rolling and cutting pasta can be doneby handif you're not down to spring for this attachment set—either way,fettuccinecan always be on the menu.
BUY IT:KitchenAid KSMPRA 3-Piece Pasta Roller & Cutter Attachment Set, $124.96 on Amazon
5.Mill
This attachment is designed to turn grains, dried legumes, and dried spices into flour, which I think is insanely cool, especially if you're into alternative flours likerice flour,buckwheat flour, andchickpea flour. Buying that stuff in stores can get real expensive, real fast. One Amazon reviewer says it best, "Freshly milled flour has no equal when it comes to flavor and nutrition."
BUY IT:Mockmill Stone Milling Attachment, $199 on Amazon
4.Ice Cream Maker
Okay, you don'tneedan ice cream maker to make killerfrozen dessertsat home. But, boy, does this make it easy. Just thinking about getting one of these attachments makes me want to dive face-first into a bowl oftin roof ice cream.
