Tis the season for KitchenAid Mixers!
But let’s start this post off with some honest truth-telling. If I didn’t have a food blog, I don’t think I would own a KitchenAid mixer. 😱
Just some HONEST TRUTH-TELLING. I don’t bake very often and counter space is super limited in our tiny 0ld-house kitchen.
Rather than a stand mixer, I would go big on TWO kitchen appliances:
My recipes these days almost always use either the food processor or the blender. They are must-haves for healthy eating: textured vegetables, healthy smoothies, smooth creamy soups, flavorful sauces… but we’ve already talked at length about both of those and if you missed it, just click HERE FOR THE FOOD PROCESSOR and HERE FOR THE BLENDER. This is where my true kitchen appliance passion lies.
All The Love For My KitchenAid Stand Mixer
That being said, this post is about stand mixers, and a KitchenAid stand mixer is such a classic, iconic kitchen appliance for anyone who loves to bake. I think for a lot of people, their Kitchen Aid is to them what my food processor is to me. I literally just had this conversation with the girls at my dinner club – we swapped tips and tricks for how we each use our different appliances for different things and how we all COULD NEVER LIVE WITHOUT whichever one is our favorite – for me, the food processor, and for several of my friends, their KitchenAid mixers.
So since I’ve already come clean about the KitchenAid stand mixer being maybe #3-ish on my list of favorite kitchen tools ever, you must know that I had some excellent help with this post.
My friends, my sister, co-workers, random extended family members, the internet… all of the little nuggets of KitchenAid inspo that I’ve picked up over the last year and a half have most definitely been inspired less my by own genius and more by the collective genius my people.
Let me quickly introduce you to my own little Pinch of Yum MIXER FAMILY 👇
I have these two mixers:
I use them both regularly, although to be completely transparent, I probably wouldn’t have the stand mixer if KitchenAid had not supplied our POY operation with such a treasure.
The little baby hand mixer stays in the kitchen at all times (it’s my go-to for chocolate chip cookies which I am not sorry to say are probably the most frequently baked thing in our house).
And the big KitchenAid rotates between the kitchen counter, the basement, and friends’ and families’ houses. Yes, we loan her out quite a bit. And yes, she has a name. And yes, it’s Sally, obvi.
Okay, so a quick mixer overview.
*Note: The prices listed here were the prices at the time of publishing this post. These could change.
I registered for the SunBeam Electric Hand Mixer when we got married and it’s still alive and kicking almost 7 years later. Not bad for $20.
If you’re totally new to cooking/baking or stocking the kitchen for the first time ever, don’t buy the big KitchenAid mixer – get this starter one instead. I’d be willing to bet that it will cover 60-70% of your baking jobs, and bonus: you’ll get a nice arm workout while you’re at it. 💪
The one bad thing is that this little guy isn’t high-powered enough to handle some of the things that the KitchenAid stand mixer can handle, like bread dough, fluffy whipped cream, and meringue.
But if all you’re looking for is something for the cookies and cookies and cookies, it’s a winner!
This is the KitchenAid 7-Quart ProLine Stand Mixer, and it should be the one you should get if you bake bread every weekend and bake fancy things for dinner parties and maybe aspire to own a bakery or something. Where dose peeps at?
I have this one, and let me just say – it is a MIGHTY FORCE TO BE RECKONED WITH. It is extremely strong and I would be hard-pressed to find any baking project that it could not tackle head-on.
I frequently borrow it to my co-worker who uses it for batch after batch of beautiful homemade artisan bread – just boom boom boom – this machine cranks out the hefty loaves of dough like it’s nothing. She just texted me the other day to say she might be getting one of her own for Christmas, which is 🎉🎉🎉! but Sally will miss you, J.
This is the KitchenAid 5-Quart Artisan Stand Mixer, and I know I said if I didn’t have a food blog I probably wouldn’t buy a mixer, but let me just say that if I didn’t have a food blog and I was indeed going to buy a mixer, this would be it.
It’s a little smaller than the first KitchenAid I showed you, and it’s in their Artisan series instead of the ProLine, and bottom line: it is SO PERFECT for the regular home-bakers of the world.
If you don’t bake bread every weekend but you love baking enough to have a desire (er, NEED) for a stand mixer, look no further. Bonus points for the fact that it’s sparkly and pretty on the counter so it doubles as kitchen decor. 👌
This mixer has a 4.7 star rating from 4,762 reviews.
THAT IS A BIG DEAL. People love this mixer.
How To Use Your KitchenAid Stand Mixer
Getting right along with it now.
Whether you’ve had one for years, or just got one as a gift, or are self-gifting one for Christmas (no judgement) – here are 12 creative ways you can love your mixer!
#1: Meatballs
Recipe: Swedish Meatballs
Why it works well in the mixer: All I’m going to say is that anything that can do the job of mashing up two types of raw ground meat so that your hands don’t have to is A HERO in my book. KitchenAid: hero status achieved.
#2: Pizza Dough (Or Any Dough)
Recipe: Pizza Dough
Why it works in a mixer: Two words: DOUGH HOOK. That life-changing dough hook. It does all the work of kneading for you in a lovely contained space. Yassss.
#3: Guacamole
Recipe: Guacamole
Why it works well in a mixer: I actually love the process of making guacamole by hand in a normal dinner situation, but if and when I’m making it for a big group and need to mash 9 billion avocados, this is the way its done.
#4: Mashed Potatoes
Recipe: Mashed Potatoes
Why it works well in the mixer: Have you ever mashed that many potatoes by hand? Yeah. This is 100% more effortless and it still gives you excellently fluffy results. Case closed.
#5: Shredded Chicken
Recipe: none – just put cooked chicken breasts in there with the paddle attachment and turn it on low to shred!
Why it works well in the mixer: Hands-free shredded! Fast and easy! Dinner on the table in two and a half blinks! I love this hack.
#6: Quick Breads and Muffins
Recipe: Cinnamon Sugar Apple Muffins
Why it works well in a mixer: You don’t even have to think. Just add the wet, add the dry, and go. I also find this is a more effective way to get everything incorporated vs. using a hand mixer or stirring by hand without over-mixing (which can make your baked goods tougher). It helps me get everything mixed while doing as little mixing as possible. That totally makes sense, right?
#7: Cookies
Recipe: Chocolate Chip Cookies or Thick and Fudgy Double Chocolate Cookies
Why it works well in the mixer: When you’re making LOTS of cookies for, say, holidays in December (hint hint), this will be a lifesaver. Dump it all in, turn it on, and voila.
#8: Meringue
Recipe: Mini Meringues
Why it works well in the mixer: This is a perfect use for the whisk attachment! How adorable are you, making mini meringues?! The hand mixer cannot do this – it’s not high-powered enough. Leave this one to the STAND MIXER.
#9: Cakes
Recipe: Red Velvet Cupcakes (see also: buttercream frosting 😍)
Why it works well in a mixer: Same as the muffins, this works really well because you can avoid an over-mixing disaster while making sure everything gets totally incorporated – no flour streaks allowed.
#10: Buttercream Frosting
Recipe: Buttercream Frosting
Why it works well in the mixer: You could not get more perfect texture than this. It’s smooth, creamy, just the right amount of fluffy, and completely heaven-sent. Again – this is the kind of thing the hand mixer would struggle with, but the stand mixer can take it on NBD.
#11: Scones
Recipe: Bakery Style Blueberry Scones
Why it works well in the mixer: Cutting butter into scone dough by hand is hard. Cutting butter into scone dough using a stand mixer is better. 👌
#12: Creative Artisan Breads
Recipe: Cinnamon Swirl Bread (and variations of it)
Why it works well in the mixer: This is the recipe that my co-worker introduced me to and it might, by itself, be enough to justify the addition of a stand mixer to your home. You can make these loaves so effortlessly, and you can mix in cheeses, herbs, anything you could ever dream of, and they are beautiful and you will be a star. Done.
We also do a lot of whipped cream in the mixer, so that should at least get a mention, and on the flip side, it might also be worth mentioning that we tested homemade mayonnaise with the stand mixer for this post, and just… nope. I’ve also heard that you can make brown sugar in the mixer but I’ve never tried it – anyone know anything about that?
What else are we missing? Are there brands of stand mixers that you love?
My favorite thing about these posts is all the ideas that come in via comments and social media, so thanks for reading, writing, and sharing your awesome ideas! YOU ROCK. 👊
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I just ordered a KitchenAid mixer a few days ago and can’t wait to start using it after reading this post! I love how many different things I can make with it!
Dani | http://www.styledvariety.com
So fun! Excited for you Dani!
I am receiving a mixer today, and can’t stop getting excited about it. I will DEFINITELY try the chocolate chip cookies recipe, plus I will be doing an apple pie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1
I got lucky, I won a classic model (brand new) during the Christmas bingo game, at work this year.
Love these ‘how to use” posts that you’ve been doing! Makes me want to get a KitchenAid Mixer for Christmas! Oh Santa, can you here me?
Santa baby………a kitchen aid for Christmas sure beats the alligator head I got last year, shrunken head at that. Great photos as always! Hope you had a nice Thanksgiving with your family.
Haha! Definitely beats an alligator head.. Yikes!
I love using my Artisan with the dough hook to make Sausage Balls. Makes the mixing in of sausage and Bisquik much easier as it’s such a stiff “dough”.
Great tip, Shelley!
And now I desperately crave sausage balls… Mmm. 🙂
This post was SOOO incredibly useful!! Lately I have been really sensitive to dairy and sugary things and I was really upset that I wouldn’t have much use for my KitchenAid anymore! This definitely got me very excited to get her out again (still working on a name…) and start making some awesome meals! Thank you for making these very informative posts to help all of us who live in our kitchens!
Glad it’s helpful, Linda!
would have never thought about doing guac in a stand mixer! completely agree about the merigune and the buttercream (especially if it’s swiss meringue buttercream); without a stand mixer, it easily took me 40 minutes to whip a batch of buttercream with a hand mixer.
Shredding chicken (or any other meat) is my absolute favorite hack! Such a huge time saver and perfectly shredded every time. I saw it on Pinterest a while ago and have been doing it ever since, but every time I do it in front of someone else it is a mind blowing moment! Like wait, what?
I know! Huge time saver!
which attachment do you use when shredding chicken breasts?
Just the paddle attachment. 🙂
I’m so excited to see this! I super secretly just teamed up with my dad to get my mom one of these for Christmas because it has been her I-want-this-but-can’t-spoil-myself item for the last two years. Got my mom’s on Black Friday for $130 *airfive*
Any suggestions on best accessories?
Hi, Kayla! We actually just have the 3 basic attachments (paddle, dough hook, and whisk) so I don’t have any advice on attachments.
Kayla – I use the pasta attachments pretty regularly (if you consider monthly, regular). I just used the grinder attachment for the first time last weekend and am now looking at all the things I can grind. 🙂
I use the grater/slicer attachment a lot for cheese; I buy a big block, grate the whole thing, refrigerate part and freeze the rest if I’m not planning to use soon.
i just got the food processor myself. it has multiple different blades and stuff. it even comes with a plastic container for storage of the extra blades. still waiting on my mixer in the mail, but cant wait to start using it. i love to cook, and have been wanting a stand mixer. so i got it for my birthday tomorrow. now if amazon would hurry and deliver it…
We just received a Kitchen Aid mixer for a wedding gift and your post has given me some motivation to actually break it out!
Awesome, Ashley!
Hi Lindsey,
I love your posts. I am on my second KitchenAid Stand Mixer in 15 years. I would not have any other. Mine is named “Bertha” and she is the Candy Apple Red 7 QT Proline model. I think KitchenAid makes the best stand mixers in the world.
Bertha! Love that!
i rely alot on my immersion #soupseaon but love kitchenaid for shredding chicken and making dough.
This is giving me so many good ideas! I’ve never thought to try guacamole in the KitchenAid, but now I’m totally going to! And shredded chicken?? Mind. Blown. So cool lady, thanks for sharing!
Enjoy, Roxana!
YUM <3 Love the honesty in this post 🙂 and also the new thorough affiliate note…love how you worded everything 😀
Thanks, Brittany. 🙂
Meatballs! You’re so clever. 🙂
It works really well! 🙂
Hi Lindsey,
Did you know that KitchenAid has a new food processor attachment available for their mixers?! I just got my first KitchenAid mixer for a birthday present this fall and the food processor attachment is on my Christmas list. Thanks for all the great ideas for using the mixer!
I didn’t know that! Sounds amazing!
Really? Wow! I’ll have to look for that…
I got my KitchenAid stand mixer last year and I don’t know how I did without it!
Kari
http://www.sweetteasweetie.com
I can shred chicken in my KitchenAid? Who even knew? So excited to try this!
It’s great! Huge timesaver!
Marshmallows! A hand mixer won’t get you homemade marshmallows!!
Great idea, Betsy!
I’ve had mine for a few years, hubby surprised me with it for Christmas…best present ever!! One thing I do with mine that wasn’t covered in your list that I do a lot is egg salad, so easy with the wire attachment. I do a really rough chop before putting the eggs in for a whirl but that’s all I do and it makes perfect egg salad everytime!
Thanks for the tip, Kelly!
Ummm…I love the name you picked for your mixer!
I love to use mine (a hand-me-down from my sister in law) to make homemade pasta. The pasta maker attachment is my favorite add-on that I’ve purchased, along with a new glass bowl so the hand-me-down felt a little more like my own.
Thank you for the other great ideas!
Enjoy, Sally!
Sooo many great ideas here. I love my Kitchenaid so much, but I agree that the food processor probably is the more important kitchen tool for every day use. That being said, I use mine most often for baking, and, really, you can’t make marshmallows without a Kitchenaid.
Im saving my pennies for the metallic pro line series. The copper one is the bees’ knees. Due to some crazy new allergies I’ve been making my own breads almost weekly. I need a mixer that can keep up. Great post!
<3 Dani
This mixer will make your bread-making a breeze! 🙂
The one attachment that’s a MUST HAVE with a KitchenAid mixer is a beater blade. There are a few different ones out there, but basically it’s the paddle with little rubber scraper wings, so you don’t have to stop and scrape the sides.
Didn’t even know that existed! Thanks for the tip! 🙂
I have been wanting to buy one of these for ages. I have an old mixer so I am considering buying a decent one (possibly for Christmas) and make my life easier. Thanks for the review, very useful.
Glad to hear that, Alida!
The REAL beauty of the Kitchenaid are all the attachments that you can buy for it! The pasta maker (for the times when my son visits and wants nothing but Mom’s homemade pasta) and the food grinder (for a special grind of whole meats or the cranberry relish I make for Thanksgiving that turns to mush in a food processor) are my work horses!
We will have to try out those attachments soon!
Homemade mayo in the food processor. It is amazing. Even if you don’t like mayo, you just need to make it because it is crazy easy and excellent and it makes you feel like a wizard when it all emulsifies together. Essential for homemade bahn mi.
Thanks for the tip, Carlin!
Do you have a good recipe?