Stand mixer accessories you may want to own

A stand mixer is one of the workhorses in many kitchens. It is the go-to appliance when making pastries, potatoes, whipping cream and many other tasks. These can all be done with the basic tools that come with a mixer, the dough hook, the whisk and the flat mixer.

There are tasks that you can perform just about every day of the week with your stand mixer, and that is with just the basic machine. If you add some of the other special attachments that are available, you will be able to do just about everything but wash your kitchen floor with the stand mixer.

Food grinder

This is one of the most versatile of the attachments available. It can grind just about any type of meat, which allows you to make your own hamburger or ground chicken or turkey. Turn leftover ham into a great ham and pickle salad and corn beef into hash.

It can also grind nuts such as almonds, pecans, and walnuts, which helps in cookie recipes. And if you're in the mood for homemade salsa, you can easily whip up a batch with the food grinder.

Slicer shredder

This attachment offers the ability to slice and shred fruits and vegetables. There are two shredder cones and two slicer cones, allowing you to choose the thickness of the slices and shreds. This attachment can take the place of your food processor or hand shredder. It is a fast way to create coleslaw or slice up salad ingredients.

Citrus juicer

If you love fresh juice, this is the way to have it any day at any time. It also is the perfect way to produce the lemon or lime juice you need for some of your favorite recipes.

Pasta roller and cutter

You won't need to buy a separate pasta maker if you own a stand mixer. You can add the attachment and produce great fresh pasta and cut the spaghetti into the correct lengths. It is a lot easier than you might think, especially if you mix the dough in your stand mixer. KitchenAid features an additional ravioli maker attachment if you want to get even more creative with your pasta making.

Fruit and vegetable strainer

This strainer can be added to the grinder attachment when making things like soups, baby food and pureed fruit and vegetables. It is perfect for applesauce. It takes ground fruits and vegetables and strains out any seeds, skins, etc., for perfectly smooth results.

Ice cream maker

What could be better than fresh homemade ice cream? It is quick and easy with the ice cream maker attachment for your stand mixer.

Spiralizer

One of the newest attachments is te spiralizer and you can now make some wonderful veggies with this fun attachment. Think beyond the potatoes to zucchini, cucumbers etc. 

These are just some of the available stand mixer accessories. Attachments are not inexpensive, but when compared with buying additional appliances, they make good sense. The attachments take much less space in the kitchen, they're portable and offer easy cleanup.