How to get the most out of your stand mixer

DO you have an expensive stand mixer sitting in your kitchen and not doing much? Here are six hacks to get the most out of it.

MANY years ago for my 21st birthday (okay, make that many many years ago), I was given a KitchenAid mixer.

It was shiny and red and it made me feel like a real grown up with nice things. I had wonderful reveries wherein I baked elaborately frosted butter cakes and basically turned into a domestic goddess.

I made one cake with it. Since then I haven’t really cooked many cakes, because I’m scared said cake will sit there, looking at me, and then I’ll eat the whole thing in a fit of weakness.

And so it has sat on my kitchen bench. Gathering dust.

And it seems I’m not alone. When I bought up the subject of stand mixers the other day, a few of my friends were being haunted by theirs as well. It’s too expensive to get rid of, but nobody is actually using it regularly.

So we’ve done a bit of research to find out a few ways to get more out of your stand mixer. Ways that go beyond the tried and true homemade pizza dough (that you can keep in the freezer for rainy lazy Sunday evenings) and healthy fresh breads.

Also, side note, be really careful of your hair when you’re using them.

1. You can get a bunch of fun attachments for them

Oh what fun. If you happen to have one of the KitchenAid mixers, there are a whole bunch of attachments you can get for them. There’s a sausage making one! And a pasta machine! And a spiralizer so you can make zucchini spaghetti and feel all virtuous about not eating carbs!

These are some of the most enticing ones.

Ice cream bowl attachment (basically a handy freeze bowl that stirs the sorbet/gelato/ice cream for a smooth consistency ($199)

Food processor (if you’re living in an apartment and you don’t have much storage space in the kitchen this smallish attachment is a handy addition) $399

Spiralizer with peel, core and slice attachment (the one pictured at the top of this article ... not only good for those zucchini noodles, but also good for making veggie chips) $199

3 piece pasta roller attachment (allows you to make fettuccine and spaghetti) $289.

2. You can use it to make spectacular homemade marshmallows

Fresh spearmint and strawberry marshmallows, anyone?

Nothing will bring out your inner child quite like stuffing a freshly made marshmallow in your gob. The key to a good marshmallow is giving them a good long whip. Your arm will fall off if you try to do it manually, so that’s where your stand mixer comes in. Here is a great recipe for them (and don’t forget, you can get creative with the flavours ... toasted coconut is apparently delicious).

3. Use it to make the creamiest mashed potatoes

Perfectly whipped mash potato ... a thing of beauty.

Simply throw soft-ish boiled potatoes into the mixer with salt, pepper, butter and bit of warmed milk and you’ll have mashed potato that will impress the pants off everyone. Use the wire mixer attachment (as an added bonus it’s easier to clean than a traditional potato masher - boom).

4. It’s really good for shredding meat

Chicken sambos for a party ... not so fiddly any more.

If you’re in charge of making a whole mess of shredded chicken sandwiches, this hack will save the day. Just cut your poached chicken breast into quarters, pop it into the mixer with the wire attachment and any other ingredients you want to go with the chicken (mayo, salt, pepper, chopped celery, whatever) and you’ll have a perfectly shredded filling in a matter of seconds. This technique works with pulled pork as well — any tender meat will be shredded nicely.

5. Use it to make killer guacamole

Hot tip: You can use the flat beater attachment to make the smoothest guacamole ever. There’s a recipe here.

6. Use it to make your own butter

Use it to churn your own fresh flavoured butter.

No one in their right mind would attempt to make their own butter unless they have a really strong arm and a hell of a lot of spare time. Or they’re Amish. But the stand mixer changes the game. The great thing about homemade butter is that you can control the amount of salt that goes into it, you can get it to the exact consistency you want. You can also really show off and experiment with different flavoured butters. There’s a recipe here.

Originally published as How to get the most out of your stand mixer