What are the different stand mixer beater attachments?

What are the different types of beaters for KitchenAid® stand mixers?

When using your KitchenAid^® stand mixer for your culinary endeavors, you have a variety of beater accessories to choose from. The best beater to use depends on your recipe, as each can be tasked with its own unique purpose. The following can guide you on how to use your beater accessory.

1. Flat beater

The flat beater accessory is a multi-purpose beater that comes standard with a KitchenAid^® stand mixer. It can be used for a variety of recipes and the rotating action of the paddle allows for thoroughly incorporating ingredients. Whether mixing cake batter, folding in nuts, creaming butter, mashing potatoes or shredding meat, a flat beater acts like a spoon in the mixing process.

Flex edge beater

A KitchenAid^® flex edge beater accessory is a flat beater with a flexible edge that acts like a spatula. When mixing ingredients, the flexible edge scrapes the sides of the bowl for you, which helps reduce mixing time. This accessory works well in recipes that call for creaming butter or making smooth dips. You can buy a flex edge beater separately, or as part of a stand mixer bundle.

2. Whisk/whip

The whisk/whip accessory is also a standard beater with the KitchenAid^® stand mixer. The wire whisk is designed to agitate wet ingredients as it mixes to incorporate air for recipes that require whipping cream or egg whites. It’s perfect for creating fluffy textures as with meringue or marshmallows.

3. Dough hook

KitchenAid brand offers two types of dough hook accessories–“C” shaped or Spiral shaped depending on your stand mixer and bowl model. These are curved, hook-shaped stand mixer accessories specifically made for kneading dough. A dough hook comes standard with your KitchenAid^® stand mixer. Learn more about using a dough hook and spiral dough hook.

4. Pastry beater

With the KitchenAid^® pastry beater accessory, you can make handmade quality pastry dough, with less effort. It’s specifically designed for cutting cold butter into flour when creating dough for light and flaky pastries. Learn more about the tools and techniques you need for your best pastry dishes. You can purchase a pastry beater separately for your tilt-head or bowl-lift model, or with select stand mixer upgrades.

What are the flat beater attachments used for?

From sweet to savory, the versatile flat beater accessory can be used for various recipes, including heavy mixtures like biscuits. It thoroughly mixes cookie batter and gently folds in chocolate chips for delectable chocolate chip cookies. Consider using it to shred chicken for tacos or mash potatoes to your desired creaminess.

When using a KitchenAid^® stand mixer flat beater accessory for your recipes, use low to medium speeds (1-6) to thoroughly combine ingredients when mixing or creaming. Folding ingredients can require a lower speed to avoid over-mixing.

A flex edge beater with a built-in spatula works best when creaming ingredients such as cream cheese frosting. A flat beater or flex edge beater are both great choices for tasks like mixing cake batter, cookies or creamy dips. Learn more about when to use a flex edge beater or flat beater.

What is the whisk/whip attachment used for?

If you want to whip ingredients to a lighter, airy consistency, a whisk/whip accessory is ideal for this mixing technique. Consider using a wire whip when making homemade butter, fluffy whipped cream or puffy meringue. Set your stand mixer at a higher speed (4-10) to reach perfect peaks.

What is the dough hook attachment used for?

The dough hook accessory on your KitchenAid^® stand mixer mixes and kneads yeast dough with ease, saving you both the time and effort of hand kneading. It can streamline your dough-making process for recipes such as homemade bread, pizza crust or pasta. Use speed 2 on your stand mixer to knead your dough, until the texture of the dough signals that it’s kneaded. Some recipes will call for a drier dough than others, so pay close attention to the type and texture of your dough.

What is the pastry beater attachment used for?

It’s best to use your pastry beater accessory for cutting cold butter into flour to make pastries like homemade pie crust, butter biscuits and scones. The pastry beater also works well for shredding meats and mashing fruits and vegetables. Set your stand mixer to speed 2 to mix and mash your ingredients.

How do I attach KitchenAid® stand mixer beater attachments?

Before you attach a beater accessory, turn your KitchenAid^® stand mixer’s speed control to OFF and unplug it. The beater shaft is under your stand mixer’s head. Line up the pin on the shaft with the notch on the accessory and slide it over the shaft and up as far as possible. Then, turn the accessory counterclockwise until it is secure. Learn more on how to use your KitchenAid® stand mixer.

Are all KitchenAid® stand mixer beater attachments interchangeable?

KitchenAid^® beater accessories are designed to fit a mini, tilt-head or bowl-lift KitchenAid^® stand mixer. They are not interchangeable between stand mixer sizes or bowl sizes. You can check your user’s manual to determine the compatible beater accessory for your stand mixer model or bowl.

What beaters come with a KitchenAid® stand mixer?

The beater accessories that come with a KitchenAid^® stand mixer are the flat beater, dough hook and wire whisk/whip. Some mixers come with a flex edge beater, a double flex edge beater or a pastry beater as well. Look for a stand mixer with premium accessories for upgrades like the flex-edge beater or pastry beater.

Where can I buy KitchenAid® stand mixer beater attachments?

If you need to buy additional KitchenAid^® stand mixer accessories, look for genuine KitchenAid brand accessories for proper fit and function. Accessories come in a variety of materials and are designed to fit certain stand mixer models or bowl sizes. Consult your user’s manual to determine compatible accessories.