I’ve been an avid cook and baker since childhood and have heard only great things about the KitchenAid stand mixer, but I spent decades believing I didn’t need one. Why purchase a device that costs hundreds of dollars when I have an entire set of kitchen tools, plus my hands, for mixing, whisking and kneading?
But last year, I reached a point of cooking and baking fatigue. And I’ll admit it: I was swayed by watching videos of my favorite chefs and food content creators effortlessly making delicious desserts and more with their KitchenAid mixers. So my partner and I combined our holiday gift cards and purchased a five-quart, tilt-head KitchenAid Artisan Series in the dreamy almond cream color.
I can admit when I’m wrong, and I was wrong about a KitchenAid stand mixer not being worth the cost — especially because I’ve learned that it’s not just for baking. In fact, there are many surprising foods you can make in your KitchenAid mixer to take some effort out of your time in the kitchen.
1. Chicken salad
The idea for this article came to me when I saw TikTok creator Jenna Denise use their KitchenAid mixer to shred chicken for chicken salad. Even though I’m a vegetarian, I did the same with Quorn’s Meatless Diced ChiQin Pieces, and it worked perfectly. After shredding the “chicken” with the included coated flat beater, I added the remaining ingredients and had the KitchenAid mix the entire salad.
2. Egg salad
Once I successfully made vegan chicken salad in my KitchenAid mixer, that got me thinking: What about egg salad? Turns out, it works just as well. I simply peel boiled eggs, add them to the mixer, use the flat beater to mash them and then add the rest of the ingredients for a delicious, effortless egg salad.
3. Butter
Using the wire whisk, I whipped 4 cups of heavy cream to make butter in my KitchenAid mixer. Bonus: Once you have your butter, use the flat beater to add different flavors, such as cinnamon and sugar or garlic and herbs.
4. Buttermilk
When you make butter in your KitchenAid mixer, it’s a two-for-one experience because the liquid that forms is buttermilk. Make sure you save this for use in pancakes or biscuits.
5. Pulled pork
Your mixer can be used to shred most cooked, boneless meats, including pork. Simply employ the flat beater to shred your pork for dishes like tacos, sandwiches, soups, nachos and more.
6. Guacamole
If you’re not in the mood to mash avocados by hand, your KitchenAid’s flat beater can do that work for you. Add your avocado meat to the mixer to mash, then add the other ingredients for a hands-free guac.
7. Meatballs
Not a fan of mixing ground meat by hand? Instead, use your KitchenAid mixer’s flat beater to prepare the mixture for meatballs, meatloaf or burgers. Just throw all your ingredients into the mixer and let it handle the rest.
8. Mashed potatoes
Mashing potatoes can be an arm workout, especially if you want the perfect texture that doesn’t turn into gluey, sticky mash. By letting your mixer’s flat beater mash your potatoes, you can focus on watching them until they reach your ideal fluffy texture.
9. Mayo
One of the perks of using a KitchenAid mixer to make food from scratch is knowing exactly what’s going into the dish. The same goes for mayo, which can be made with your mixer’s whisk and only six ingredients: egg yolks, Dijon mustard, vinegar, sunflower oil, salt and pepper. No food processor required.
However, since it doesn’t contain any preservatives like store-bought mayonnaise, just make sure to refrigerate your homemade mayo and use it within four days.
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