I used to have an “off brand” stand-up mixer. It worked okay. But then I got a Kitchen-Aid stand-up mixer and I’ll never go back! I LOVE my Kitchen-Aid. It is the one tool I would not want to live without. In fact, I’ve told my husband several times that if it ever quits on me (it’s 10 years old), I’m going out that day to get another one. I probably use it an average of at least once a day. I also made sure my daughter and daughter-in-law have one, too.
If you have a Kitchen-Aid, you know what I’m talking about. If you don’t, you are missing out! This is an incredible machine. Most people think all it does is mix up batter or bread but it does more than that. This machine can do a LOT! Here are a few things I do with mine:
- Mix up the meat mixture for meatloaf.
- Mix up the meat mixture for meatballs. I always mixed up meat with my hands and one day decided to try it in the Kitchen-Aid. It worked awesome and I always do it that way now.
- Meringue. You can mix up meringue with a hand mixer but I think it’s a lot easier in the Kitchen-Aid.
- Mash potatoes.
- Hummus. Sometimes I use my Cuisanart Food Processor for hummus but I also have done it in the Kitchen-Aid.
- Pie Dough. I’ve tried making pie dough in the food processor but I can’t quite get it the consistency I want. But I have perfect success in my Kitchen-Aid.
- And this is a new one that I am extremely excited about – shred chicken. I read somewhere on-line that you could shred chicken in the Kitchen-Aid. I didn’t quite believe but I was going through the tedious process of shredding chicken for a chicken tortilla soup I was making (that delicious recipe will be on the blog this weekend) and decided to give it a try. It was amazing!!! I will be doing that from now on.
- Of course, I always use it for the usual things like bread, cookie dough, cake batter, egg noodles, etc.
So if you don’t have a Kitchen-Aid stand up mixer, you might want to save your money and get one. It is an awesome tool and worth every penny.
I like the shredded chicken idea. It tedious to do that by hand. I wouldn’t have thought about a mixer being able to shred it. Guess I better start saving my money!
I saw it on the internet somewhere and really couldn’t believe it would work. But I use a lot of recipes with shredded chicken so I thought I’d try. It worked so well! I was really surprised. I’ll be doing it that way from now on! Saved time and effort. Plus sometimes shredding chicken hurts my hands. I truly do love my Kitchen-Aid. If you get one, you’ll wonder how you survived without it.
I saw on Pinterest.com about shredding the chicken with the Kitchen-Aid . Amazing how easy this is. I use my mixer just about everyday as well. I love it!
Wasn’t that awesome about shredding chicken! I just couldn’t believe it worked. I HATE shredding chicken!!! But with the Kitchen-Aid it’s so easy!
I hate shredding chicken!! Which attachment do you use for these that?? I assume you use the dough hook for the meatloaf and meatballs?
I just got a Kitchen Aid for my birthday. I tried to use it earlier this week, but I can’t get the paddle attachment on. I’ve used it tons, and now my husband can get it on but he can’t get it to turn and latch. I’m so disappointed. I use mine all the time, too, just not for any of these things.
Do you wash the paddle in the dishwasher? Sometimes stuff gets in the top of the paddle. I’ve had similar problems occasionally but you should be able to fix it pretty easily. Just look in the top of the paddle and mess around with it. I don’t wash my paddle in the dishwasher too much anymore but if I do, I turned it so the open part of the paddle or hook is facing down. That helps a lot. Don’t be discouraged – that’s just a small glitch that you should be able to figure out. If you can’t, bring it to my house and I’ll fix it for you!
I use the paddle for shredding chicken, mixing meatloaf and mixing meat for meatballs – not the dough hook.
Thanks, Patty!
I’ve soaked it and it’s in the dishwasher now…but I don’t have any occasion to use it because we’re heading out of town.
I’ll let you know how it worked once I get back.
I hope that works. If it doesn’t, just keep messing with it. I know that’s the problem and it can be fixed and prevented. I want you to LOVE your Kitchen-Aid. Happy Thanksgiving.
Patty, do you use any of the attachments that you can buy to go with your Kitchen Aid ?
I never have bought any attachments. I’ve looked at them a time or two but didn’t feel that I needed them. I have a cheese grater on my food processor but I never use it. I just grate cheese manually or buy it already grated. I think they have a meat grinder but I don’t ever have a need for that. A cousin of mine used hers making meatballs or meatloaf but I just mix it with the paddle and it’s good enough for me.
The thing is – the kitchen-aid is a simple but extremely versatile tool as is. When you start adding all that extra stuff, it gets more complicated, more expensive and harder to clean. But that’s just me. Who knows – I could really be missing out.
Did you read the article about the kitche-aid shredded chicken with just the paddle? Oh, my gosh! I’m so excited about that!!!
Love my kitchenaid so much! I have a few questions as I am kind of a kitchenaid newbie. Today I did the meatball mixture and i used 3 lbs of hamburger. I felt like it was coming up and out am I using too much?
Also, when using it for cakes I can’t get anything in there to scrape the sides and I don’t think it does a great job and at times leaves a bit unmixed at the bottom Could this need to be adjusted?
Thanks!
Three pounds of meat might be too much. I usually use 1-1/2 pounds of beef for my meatballs. Maybe mix it in two batches and then put them together in a bowl when you’re ready to shape them.
As far as cakes, in all honesty, I usually just use my small electric mixer for the reasons you mentioned. If I use my Kitchen-Aid for cake batter, I stop it and use my rubber spatula to scrape the sides and the bottom and then run it a little more and then scrape again. It’s just easier to use the other mixer.
I use my kitchen-aid the most for shredding chicken, meat loaf, meatballs, meringue, cookie dough, bread, pie crust. Probably more but those come to mind. I LOVE my Kitchen-Aid but it isn’t perfect for everything.
Also, here’s a tip that might come in handy later. After a while, some people have had problems getting their paddle or hook attachments on. I had that problem. I think what happens is that food gets in the opening and makes it hard to fit on the mixer. You can prevent that by washing your attachments by hand. If you do put them in the dishwasher, be sure the opening is pointing down so food can’t get in there as easily. When it happened to me, I cleaned out the openings and cleaned the mixer where they attach and then worked at it a couple of times and I haven’t had any more problems.
If you have any other questions, please let me know. I’ve been using my mixer for about 12 years. If it ever quit, I’d go out that day and get a new one.
There are 2 things you can do about stuff in the bottom or on the sides not being thoroughly mixed. The first is the adjustment screw. I don’t know if the lift-bowl model has this, but my hinged one does. See your owner’s manual or the Kitchen-Aid website. The second is a new paddle. More specifically, there are paddles with rubber spatulas built right in. Some have rubber on one side, some have it on both sides, and some even have alternating “fingers”. These last are supposed to be pretty good. I’ve never used any of these myself, but I think they’d be worth a try. Hope this helps!
Thanks for sharing, Chris. I had no idea those super duper paddles were available. I’ll have to check them out.
I don’t know about the adustment screw – it’s probably there. I’ll take a look and see. I want to do an article sometime on how to maintain your Kitchen-Aid and I imagine I’ll learn all kinds of new things when I do my research! It’s amazing what you can find out when you read the owner’s manual.