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Mixer Attachments Buying Guide
Make the most out of your equipment with these helpful accessories.
We don’t mind stating it: stand mixers belong in every commercial kitchen. Mixers are the second pair of hands you want—they do the heavy lifting while you’re free to plan your recipe, source other ingredients, or even sit down for a moment and take a break (yeah, right).
It’s obvious that a mixer’s basic function is to, well, mix, but beauty of this small equipment is its versatility. Make no mistake, a mixer isn’t just for the baker. In addition to mixing ingredients together, it also does a great job at grinding meat for sausages, cutting pasta dough, and even grating cheese.
In this buying guide we’ll go over all of the different attachments commonly available on mixers. Note: Before purchasing any mixer make sure you review its attachments and accessories as these vary by manufacturer.
Common Mixer Attachments
When you buy a new stand mixer, manufacturers will include a few attachments to help you get started. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to everything your mixer is capable of doing. Read on to learn more:
A flat beater, or paddle, is the most commonly used mixer attachment. Used to mix batter, frosting and more, this attachment is incredibly versatile. Consider it your second in command.
Kneading dough is essential for a proper rise in your bread, but we can all agree that time is better spent doing other things. Save your arms (and gain a few minutes back in your day) by letting the dough hook attachment do the work for you. You’ll get delicious, chewy bread each and every time.
When you need to aerate ingredients for light-as-air whipped cream, look to your wire whip. Use for cakes, meringue and much more.
Best for flaky biscuits and pie crust, use a pastry knife to cut large batches of cold butter into your flour. This attachment for your mixer minimizes your contact with the product, keeping your dough cool and ready for baking.
Who says pasta from scratch is difficult? Once you start making pasta in-house your customers will be asking for more with their dollars. Bonus for you, pasta maker attachments for mixers frees up a hand that would’ve otherwise been needed to operate the manual crank.
Whether you need a lot of freshly-grated parmesan for service, or you’re on the hook for several carrot cakes, the grater attachment is perfect for getting prep done quickly while you focus on other tasks.
For perfect scalloped potatoes, ratatouille and more, use your slicer attachment for quick, consistent cuts every time. With slicer attachments on your mixer, you won’t have to worry about the inherent safety risk with manual mandolins.
For guests who go gluten free or follow strict no-carb diets, consider offering veggie spirals as an easy menu substitution.
A bowl scraper is used in conjunction with a beater or wire whip to ensure perfectly-blended batters. Plus, who wouldn’t love reduced labor and recipe times! No more stopping the mixer to hand scrap the bowl yourself! Bowl scrapers deliver consistent results each and every time, making it the perfect addition for busy commercial kitchens.
Sure, your new mixer already comes with a mixing bowl in tow, but have you considered adding an additional bowl or two to your arsenal of supplies? Keeping multiple mixing bowls on hand is essential for busy bakers, who don’t have time to do the dishes before starting a new recipe.
Bowl Guards
For additional safety in your kitchen, try using a bowl guard. These handy accessories sit atop your bowl to prevent fingers and other extremities from coming into contact with the moving parts.
