The best and most iconic stand mixer of all time is the KitchenAid. It whisks, kneads, and whips like no other appliance. If you invest in the best KitchenAid attachments, yours will be able to do so much more too.
There are over thirty different attachments and accessories which are compatible with these iconic stand mixers. They will transform your classic stand mixer into an ice cream maker, pasta roller, spiralizer, and meat grinder.
I've looked through every single one to find those most worthy of a place in your kitchen. As you might expect, there are a few that I'm not sure you'll need. I've grouped my favorite KitchenAid appliances and attachments together and suggested some options that you might not want to waste your money on, too.
The Best KitchenAid Attachments
These nine attachments help to transform your simple stand mixer into an ice cream maker, meat grinder, juicer, and so much more. Whilst they all perform close to faultlessly, I would caution that you think carefully before buying anything. If you know you need an ice cream maker, the KitchenAid attachment is an incredible investment. However, if it's never crossed your mind to churn home-made soft-serve, this will be clutter in your cupboards, rather than a useful investment.
Technically, this was the best ice cream maker I tested. Even against dedicated appliances, the KitchenAid made the silkiest, smoothest sorbet, ice cream, and vegan ice cream. It's bulky to store in your freezer drawer, but one of the cheapest and most effective ice cream makers you can buy (if you already own a KitchenAid).
Possibly the best attachment of them all, this is perfect for hamburgers, meat loaf, and much more. You could use a food processor to do these jobs, but this comes with three grinding plates, for a range of coarseness, allowing you to create a more precise texture. This even comes with a nozzle for sausages too.
If you dream of a making fresh pasta, your dreams have just come true. The KitchenAid attachment automates cranking, freeing up an extra hand for you to feed the dough and guide the pasta sheet to safety. My only criticism is that it rusts if you clean it with water: you have to use mineral oil (although this is the case for most pasta makers).
A specialist in slicing and grating fresh fruit, vegetables, and cheese, this attachment makes life a little easier. The different wheels can grate and slice up to 5 lbs of food in one go, but, because it sits quite high, can scatter some slices across the countertop. If I'm being cynical, this is a lot of hassle compared to a tower grater, but for big batches, it will save you lots of time.
If you love a summer snow cone, this is the best attachment to buy. It shaves ice fast, leaving flakes which are fluffy, but still a little crunchy. The ice soaks up syrup really well, so if you have kids or you're hosting a dinner party, this is a really fun attachment to have. You'll need to freeze in the ice moulds before you can use it. These can be a bit limiting, but you can if you find you're using them too often.
Juicers are incredibly popular, but the best models tend to be quite bulky. If you want a more compact way to press green juice in the morning, this could be useful. It can create sauces, jams, and juices, but most reviews say this is better on the basics. Stick to simple citrus drinks and this will be great, if not a little fiddly to clean.
Any keen baker knows, one bowl never cuts it. You might have two bakes on the go at once, or you might need one for wet and one for dry ingredients too. KitchenAid know this struggle, so have released a range of bowls in a variety of colors. This is my favorite hue, perfect for adding some glamour to your kitchen.
You'll recognise the shape of this paddle; it's almost identical to standard K-beaters, but with flexible silicone edges. I cannot stress enough how useful this is for sticky batters and bakes. The sides of your bowl will never look cleaner. It's more of a luxury than a necessity, but a lovely treat to have.
Spiralizers had their season in the spotlight: we all bought one and left it collecting dust in our cupboards. If you think you'll use one, I'd normally recommend investing in a hand-crank model. However, if you have a KitchenAid, this could be the space-saver you need. Some reviews say that it can be a little irregular in thickness, but I've never experienced any issues.
Attachments to Avoid
I'll have to name and shame a few attachments. With a range of over 30 accessories, not every single one could be perfect.
First, let me stand up for the ice cream maker. It is incredible. The old 2020 design came with its faults, establishing a poor reputation for this compact churner. however, I tested the newer version a few months ago and have given you more details further up the page. If other buying guides warn you against it, it's because they tested the old version.
Food choppers and dicers are the appliances that sound like a good idea, but really, are more of a luxury than a necessity. This is effective, but is also pretty bulky for what is essentially a second food processor. The feeding tube is also pretty small, so you'll still need to prep veg in advance.
The All Metal Grain mill sounds exciting. Making your own flour is taking the next greatest step away from an ultra-processed diet, allowing you more control over your food. However, reviews say this is quite slow and noisy. You also have to run the stand mixer at full speed to get it to work.
The Gourmet pasta press is one of KitchenAid's many pasta attachments. This one is an extruder which will make rigatoni or spaghetti. It takes a lot of hands and effort to load the hopper and cut the pasta. However, lots of reviewer think the clean-up isn't worth the reward. All in all it's not much fun to use.
FAQs
Which KitchenAid attachment is used the most?
The K-beater, one of their most basic attachments, is the most-used. I like the flexi-beater which you can buy, because it keeps the bowl clean and ensures every last ingredient is mixed into your batter.
What's the best KitchenAid attachment or accessory?
This depends on what kind of KitchenAid user you are. If you consider yourself to be more cheffy, the meat grinder or pasta roller are both excellent. If you have a sweet tooth, I strongly recommend the ice cream maker attachment.
Is the KitchenAid ice cream maker any good?
It's the best ice cream maker I've tested. The only reason it isn't top spot in our best ice cream makers buying guide is because it requires you to own a KitchenAid stand mixer.
Should I get the KitchenAid pastry attachment?
If you make a lot of pastry, it's excellent. Lots of people use it to mash potatoes and make pie dough too. However, if you need to buy just one attachment, there are plenty more useful accessories I'd go for first.
Final thoughts
Just when I thought KitchenAid stand mixers couldn't get any better, I discovered their vast range of accessories. These are incredibly useful for making the most of your stand mixer. They can cover the functions of juicers, food processors, meat grinders, and more. However, be careful not to invest in some of the more niche ones: they'll quickly become clutter.
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