Favorite Kitchenaid attachment?

[GardenStream]

I've been canning all week and I can't imagine doing it without my strainer attachment. That got me wondering if there are any other attachments which are just as wonderful.

[robugmum]

We just bought our stand mixer so I am subbing to steal ideas! Atobols, please, tell me about your strainer!!!!

[Ellp]

I only have one attachment (the pasta maker) but it makes really good sheets, linguine and spaghetti (although square shaped, not round).

[catnip]

I my ice cream maker.

[GardenStream]

Originally Posted by robugmum

Atobols, please, tell me about your strainer!!!!

I have the pasta maker (I've used it once about 5 years ago) and the fruit/vegetable strainer attaches to that.

It basically has an auger which pushes the veggies through a screen and spits the solids out the other end. I have used it to make rhubarb and grape juice. I just used it yesterday to make applesauce. I had to boil the apples first enough to soften them. I tried them raw, but I was getting apple juice rather than sauce. I use it all the time for canning tomatoes. I just half or quarter the tomatoes and toss them it. It's great at separating the sauce from the stems, skins and seeds. I also toss a jalapeno or two in when I'm making tomato sauce just to give it a little bit of heat.

I love that attachment so much! I canned applesauce, tomato sauce and sriracha sauce yesterday and I used it for every one of them.

[Koalamom]

I love my grating attachment, and just grated a giant zucchini for freezing in a few minutes!

I don't think we have the same attachment for making apple sauce. The one I have fits into the bowl and has a wooden piece that spins and pushes the sauce int the bowl leaving the pulp on top. Is this the same thing?
Well anyway, I have been using it all the time for canning apple sauce.

[GardenStream]

My strainer is this one.

I was looking at the slicing/shredding attachment and wondering how good it was. I'm also dreaming of the grain mill.

[robugmum]

I am going to inherit my MIL's unused meat grinding attachment - I can't wait!!
The strainer one looks great - especially for tomatoes. I'd use it to make paste! I like my applesauce chunky though so I'll probably just stick to cutting them roughly and cooking 'em up.

Do any of you use the Kitchenaid instead of a food processor? I am debating whather to get one or just buy more K. attachments.

ice cream maker? how does that work? My dd1 is angling for an ice cream birthday party (in December)

[catnip]

It's not cheap - you can get a decent electric ice cream machine for about 2/3 the cost. There is a metal bowl with the freezer stuff inside that latches in to the mixer where the bowl would ordinarily go. I like it, because I keep the bowl in the deep freeze, and all that needs to live in my cabinet is the agitator and the piece that attaches to the mixer mechanism. A Cuisinart has a fairly large mechanism that you have to store, and that's all it's used for.

I want the citrus juicer, because that's one more gadget that can leave my cupboard.