Sometimes I pause it and scrape down the sides. |
| I use ours for the usual baking needs plus meatballs. It's also great for mixing up the spinach artichoke dip evenly. DH has a pasta attachment that he loves. Ours gets used multiple times a week. |
I had to leave my old KA mixer behind when we moved overseas. But I remember struggling a little with the metal paddle. I switched to one with silicone ‘blades’ and it really helped scrape the bowl to get the ingredients mixed better. KA was an ace with high hydration doughs. I really miss it for that. |
Because most people are less likely to use it for smaller jobs like shredding chicken if you have to haul it out versus just use it. And OP is asking what all she can use it for. You might also want to just learn to accept that people are different. |
Sometimes you have to adjust it also. After awhile it gets a little off and you have to readjust the height so the blade/dough hook hits just right. |
If you're finding that your dough is not mixing properly, you may have to adjust it. There are YouTube videos that will show you how to do the dime test, and make adjustments. That said, there are no home mixers where you don't have to stop and scrape down the sides occasionally. It's still definitely worthwhile, as it cuts down on the amount of effort. Yesterday, I baked a Japanese milk bread (https://www.kingarthurbaking.com/recipes/japanese-milk-bread-recipe). The knead time in a KA is over 10 minutes, and it would be really difficult to do by hand. If you do make it, my advice is to go with your own proofing instincts instead of using the time they provide. I had to add significant amount of time; could just be that my kitchen or ingredients were colder, but my loaf turned out beautifully. |
| It's 2025 and you are getting a kitchen aid stand mixer? Do you live in Bolivia or similar?! |
I occasionally use it for batter or dough, but this is by far the most common use I have for my kitchenaid. No utensil works right for mixing ground beef and doing it by hand makes my finger joints ache terribly from the cold. If mine broke I would buy another tomorrow just for that. |
| I use my stand mixer for so many things, but never thought about using it for meatballs, which I made so many times over the years. I can't believe I never thought of this! Thanks, DCUM. |
Maybe they're young, you old bat. |
| It’s great for making frosting or royal icing that you have to beat for like five minutes it’s straight. |
| The best and easiest shredded chicken! Poach some chicken breasts until done. Toss into mixer with the paddle. Turn onto speed level 1. In about 30 seconds you’ll have fabulously shredded chicken. |
55 yr old NP and I don’t own a stand mixer. I can afford it and have the kitchen space, but have never seen the need for one. I read this thread wondering if I’d be convinced to get one, and I am not. Reading the responses, I realize that my feelings are due to a combination of not baking more than once every couple of weeks, and most every use listed I have no problem handling with my hand mixer (cookies, cakes) or my hands (kneading bread dough which I find it zen to do by hand; mixing meatballs; shredding chicken). |
+1 I love my hand mixer. I’ve gotten away from eating bread or baked goods. I don’t need a KA. |
| Well, I just posted about making your own butter, but this is something everyone with a stand mixer should try. You just put a quart of heavy whipping cream into the mixer and turn it on. It can take 20 minutes, so you can really just walk away. It first turns into whipped cream, but then the butter will pull away and clump up in the mixer part while the buttermilk ends in the bottom of the bowl (definitely recommend a shield on top of the bowl because it does splash at the end.) |