A KitchenAid stand mixer does more than mix. The hub on the front runs a long list of attachments, and that hub is the best argument for owning the machine at all. The catch is that it is easy to buy attachments on impulse, then leave them in the case. A few of them earn a permanent spot, and the right few depend on what you cook.
This is a one-brand page by design. KitchenAid’s manual warns against attachments it does not recommend or sell, so every pick here is KitchenAid’s own. We cover pasta and grinding, slicing, ice cream, baking and more, with notes on which mixers each one fits.
Julia’s earns a commission on purchases made through links on this page, at no cost to you. Recommendations are based on what a restaurant kitchen looks for, product specifications and verified buyer reports.
Quick verdict: which KitchenAid attachment to buy first
For most kitchens, the first buy is the KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment, because it slices, shreds and juliennes on one hub. If you want fresh pasta and home-ground meat, the pasta roller and metal grinder pair is the better start. If cheese is the main job, the simpler Fresh Prep Slicer and Shredder is all you need.
Most of these attachments fit any household KitchenAid stand mixer through the hub. The ice cream bowl is the exception, so read that section before you order.
Five KitchenAid attachments at a glance
Our five standout picks side by side, one for each kind of cook, with the fit each listing states. All seven attachments are reviewed in full below.
| Attachment | Best for | Job | Mixer fit | Buy on Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
KitchenAid Food Processor AttachmentBest overall
|
Vegetable prep | Slice, shred, julienne | All stand mixers | View on Amazon |
| Pasta and sausage | Roll, cut, grind, stuff | All household stand mixers | View on Amazon | |
KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer and ShredderBest slicer
|
Cheese and cabbage | Slice, shred | All stand mixers | View on Amazon |
KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker AttachmentBest for frozen desserts
|
Frozen desserts | Churn up to 2 quarts | Limited; confirm your model | View on Amazon |
KitchenAid Sifter and Scale AttachmentBest for bakers
|
Regular bakers | Weigh, sift | All household stand mixers | View on Amazon |
Product images from Amazon. Fit is as stated in each listing, so confirm your mixer model before you buy.
Our picks for the best kitchenaid attachments
These seven picks start with the attachments that do the most work and end with the ones that suit a certain kind of cook. Each section covers what it does, what it needs from you, and when to pass on it.
1. KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment – Slices, Shreds and Juliennes
This is the attachment that does the most everyday prep. It turns the mixer’s power hub into a food processor with slicing, shredding and julienne discs, so one hub covers a stack of onions for a pot of salsa, cheese for enchiladas and matchstick carrots for pickling.
The ExactSlice system lets you move from thick to thin with an outside lever, so you do not need to change the disc. KitchenAid’s own help pages name this as the main difference from the Fresh Prep Slicer, which has one fixed slicing thickness. The wide feed tube also takes larger pieces, which means less cutting up first.
KitchenAid sells a dicing version of this attachment as well, the KSM2FPA. BestReviews chose that version as a top pick, calling it a way to extend the mixer’s usefulness without buying a whole new countertop appliance. It also warned that some foods, such as cheese, are harder to process with it. The two share the same ExactSlice system and feed tube, so choose the slicer below if cheese is your main job.
Why we like it
- Three cuts on one hub: slice, shred and julienne
- ExactSlice lever changes thickness from outside
- Wide feed tube means less prep work
- BestReviews top-picks the dicing version of this attachment
Key specifications
| Model | KSM1FPA |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All KitchenAid stand mixers (listing) |
| Job | Slice, shred, julienne |
| Included | Slicing, shredding and julienne discs |
| Material | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Not stated in the listing |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This is the first attachment to buy if you prep a lot of vegetables and would rather not give counter space to a separate food processor. It does the most with one purchase.
Skip it if you only want shredded cheese. The Fresh Prep Slicer is simpler for that job, and this has more parts to wash and store.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Widest range of cuts on this page
- Adjustable slicing
- Saves buying a separate machine
Cons
- No dicing in this version
- BestReviews found cheese harder on the dicing version
- More parts to clean
2. KitchenAid Pasta Roller Set and Metal Food Grinder – Two Favorites in One Order
Pasta and meat grinding are the classic reasons to own a stand mixer, and this listing pairs the two best-known attachments: the 3-piece pasta roller and cutter set and the KSMMGA metal food grinder. BestReviews names the roller set its best of the best and says it makes fresh pasta with maximum efficiency.
The pasta set has stainless steel rollers and cutters. It rolls 6-inch sheets with 8 thickness settings, and the listing names a spaghetti cutter; KitchenAid’s single listing for this set adds a fettuccine cutter. Wipe the rollers by hand and use the cleaning tool, since this set does not go in the dishwasher.
The grinder comes with fine, medium and coarse plates and two sausage stuffer tubes, which puts homemade chorizo within reach. It has a larger food tray than the older plastic model. KitchenAid says to chill it in the fridge or freezer first for a clean grind. Hand wash the body and plates, as the manual directs.
Want only one of the two? Our guides to the best pasta maker and the best stand mixer meat grinder cover each on its own.
Why we like it
- Covers both pasta and grinding in one listing
- Pasta rollers have 8 thickness settings
- Grinder includes three plates and two stuffer tubes
- BestReviews’ best-of-the-best pick for the roller set
Key specifications
| Model | KSMPRA-type pasta set and KSMMGA grinder (listing names KSMMGA only) |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Job | Roll and cut pasta; grind; stuff sausage |
| Included | Roller, cutters; grinder, 3 plates, 2 tubes |
| Material | Stainless pasta rollers and cutters; metal grinder |
| Cleaning | Hand wipe rollers; hand wash grinder |
| Warranty | 1 year on each when sold singly |
Why we recommend it
If you know you want both, one order covers them. Both connect to any household KitchenAid mixer, and pasta and sausage are the two jobs a mixer’s hub does that no bowl can.
Skip it if you only want one of the two, or if you need dishwasher parts. Neither main unit goes in the dishwasher.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Two major attachments in one order
- Both are all-metal units
- BestReviews backs the roller set
Cons
- Listing data is thin compared with the single listings
- Both need hand cleaning
- Costs more than buying only what you need
3. KitchenAid Fresh Prep Slicer and Shredder – The Simple Cheese Shredder
If shredding a block of cheese for enchiladas is the job you do most, this is the simple answer. It clips onto the hub, has three blades, and drops food straight into any bowl you put under it.
The blades are a 3 mm slicer for cucumbers, carrots, celery and zucchini, a 4 mm medium shredder for cheese and firm vegetables, and a 6 mm coarse shredder for cabbage and potatoes. KitchenAid’s help pages suggest the coarse blade for coleslaw and hash browns. The same blade handles shredded cabbage for tacos and tostadas.
The 2-in-1 food pusher handles both wide and narrow produce. All the parts pack into a storage case, the blades and pusher go in the dishwasher on the top rack, and the main body is washed by hand.
Its limit is that there is one slicing thickness. It also will not do what a real food processor does with liquids and blends, as one blogger who owns it points out.
Why we like it
- Three blades for slicing and shredding
- Slices or shreds into any bowl
- 2-in-1 pusher handles wide and narrow produce
- Blades are top-rack dishwasher safe
- Storage case included
Key specifications
| Model | KSMVSA |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All KitchenAid stand mixers (listing) |
| Job | Slice and shred |
| Included | 3 mm slicer, 4 mm and 6 mm shredders, pusher, case |
| Material | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Blades and pusher top rack; body by hand |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
This suits a cook who wants less work with a grater, without the extra parts of a food processor attachment. It is the easiest attachment here to reach for on a weeknight.
Skip it if you want to choose your slice thickness. The Food Processor Attachment does that job.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Simple to set up
- Dishwasher-safe blades
- Good match for cheese and cabbage
Cons
- One slicing thickness
- No julienne
- Not a food processor replacement
4. KitchenAid Ice Cream Maker Attachment – Two Quarts From a Frozen Bowl
This is a freezer bowl and a dasher that turn your mixer into an ice cream machine. The listing says it makes up to 2 quarts of ice cream, gelato or sorbet in 20 to 30 minutes, with a dasher that turns inside the bowl to spread and scrape the mix.
In a Mexican kitchen, think horchata ice cream, mango sorbet or a lime sherbet with a little chile. Any flavor works, as long as you remember the bowl. BestReviews, writing about KitchenAid’s newer ice cream bowl, notes that it must be frozen for 24 hours before use, and the same planning applies to any bowl of this type.
Check your mixer closely, because this listing is not consistent. The title says it excludes 7- and 8-quart and most 6-quart models, while its feature list says it fits all household mixers of 4.5 quarts and larger. Go by the title, and confirm your model with KitchenAid before you buy. Our best ice cream maker guide covers the newer bowl and machines with their own motor.
Why we like it
- Up to 2 quarts per batch
- 20 to 30 minutes of churning, per the listing
- Dasher scrapes and spreads the mix
- One-year replacement warranty in the listing
- Cleans up with warm, soapy water
Key specifications
| Model | KICA0WH |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | Title excludes 7-, 8- and most 6-quart mixers; confirm your model |
| Job | Churn ice cream, gelato, sorbet |
| Included | Freezer bowl, dasher |
| Material | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Warm, soapy water |
| Warranty | 1-year replacement |
Why we recommend it
If you own a 4.5- or 5-quart mixer and a freezer with room for the bowl, this is an easy way into homemade ice cream without another machine on the counter.
Skip it if your freezer is full or you own a 7- or 8-quart mixer. It may simply not fit.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large batch for its size
- Uses the mixer you own
- Simple to wash
Cons
- Bowl must be frozen ahead
- Listing is inconsistent on fit
- Takes up freezer space
5. KitchenAid Shave Ice Attachment – Raspados at Home
A raspado is shaved ice with fruit syrup, and in a Houston summer it makes a lot of sense. This attachment shaves a frozen puck of ice into a soft, snow-like texture. KitchenAid says it makes over a pint of fine shaved ice in 60 seconds, not counting the time spent freezing.
The kit has a fine blade, a coarse blade, and four molds with lids. You freeze the pucks ahead, shave them, and add your toppings. KitchenAid says you can freeze water, juice, milk or dairy, so the pucks themselves can carry the flavor: try hibiscus, tamarind or horchata.
We found no independent test of this attachment. Buyer comments at Best Buy describe it as easy to use and to clean. They also point out the things to expect: you must freeze pucks ahead, some buyers wanted a finer texture, and one wished it were not mostly plastic.
Why we like it
- Over a pint of fine shaved ice in 60 seconds, per KitchenAid
- Fine and coarse blades
- Four molds with lids included
- Freezes water, juice or dairy
Key specifications
| Model | KSMSIA |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Job | Shave frozen pucks |
| Included | Fine blade, coarse blade, 4 molds, 4 lids |
| Material | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Not stated in the listing |
| Warranty | Not stated |
Why we recommend it
This is the fun pick on the page. Families who want a summer treat, or cooks who love raspados and aguas frescas, will get the most from it.
Skip it if you want ice on demand. It needs frozen pucks, so spontaneous snow cones are out unless you keep a stock in the freezer.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Quick once the pucks are frozen
- Pucks can be flavored
- Two textures
Cons
- Must freeze molds ahead
- Only four molds in the kit
- Some buyers want a finer shave
6. KitchenAid Sifter and Scale Attachment – Weighs and Sifts Into the Bowl
For bakers, this is the attachment that changes the routine. A 4-cup hopper sits above the bowl, a digital scale weighs what goes in, and the sifter feeds the dry ingredients gradually into the bowl while the mixer runs.
That matters most for things like pan de muerto, conchas or tres leches, where you measure flour by weight and add it in stages. The scale also works alone on the counter with its included plate, so it replaces a kitchen scale too.
All parts except the scale and sifter housing are dishwasher safe, and a storage case keeps them together. The scale runs on batteries. Four cups of flour is a modest amount for a double batch, so expect to refill the hopper on larger recipes.
Why we like it
- Weighs and sifts in one step
- Scale also works alone on the counter
- Feeds ingredients gradually into the bowl
- Most parts dishwasher safe
- Storage case and one-year warranty
Key specifications
| Model | KSMSFTA |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Job | Weigh and sift dry ingredients |
| Included | Scale, hopper, sifter, housing, chute, scale plate |
| Material | Not stated |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher safe except scale and sifter housing |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
Choose this if you bake often and already weigh your flour. It takes a few steps and a bowl out of each recipe, and it gives you a scale you can use for everything else.
Skip it if you bake only now and then. A simple scale and a mesh sieve do the same work and take up less room.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Hands-free sifting
- Doubles as a kitchen scale
- Mostly dishwasher safe
Cons
- 4-cup hopper needs refills on big batches
- Large to store
- Scale needs batteries
7. KitchenAid Vegetable Sheet Cutter – Thin Sheets From Whole Vegetables
This one does a job no other tool in a home kitchen does as easily. Put a zucchini, an apple or a cucumber on the skewer and it turns against a blade, unrolling into a long, wide sheet. You can use the sheets in place of lasagna noodles or as wraps.
There are two blades, thin and thick, plus an adapter for zucchini and cucumber, a food holder and a skewer. KitchenAid builds it from metal and says that gives stability when it is attached to the mixer. It all fits in its own storage case.
The blades, adapter, skewer and holder go in the dishwasher on the top rack, and the body wipes clean with a warm, damp cloth. If you would rather have noodles than sheets, look at our best spiralizer guide, which covers KitchenAid’s spiralizer attachment.
Why we like it
- Two blades for thick or thin sheets
- Metal body
- Zucchini and cucumber adapter included
- Own storage case
- Blades are top-rack dishwasher safe
Key specifications
| Model | KSMSCA |
|---|---|
| Mixer fit | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Job | Cut vegetable and fruit sheets |
| Included | Thin and thick blades, adapter, holder, skewer, case |
| Material | Metal |
| Cleaning | Top rack for blades and small parts; wipe the body |
| Warranty | 1 year |
Why we recommend it
This suits cooks who want lighter wraps and layered vegetable dishes, or who just enjoy a new technique. Zucchini sheets in a layered enchilada bake are one place to start.
Skip it if you eat few vegetable-based dishes, since it does one narrow thing and you may rarely reach for it.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Unique cut
- Sturdy metal build
- Compact storage case
Cons
- Narrow use
- Body is wipe-only
- Takes practice to choose the right produce
How to choose KitchenAid attachments for your kitchen
The hub makes these easy to swap, but each one takes storage space and a little setup. These are the questions we would ask first.
What do you make every week?
Buy for the job you repeat. A weekly taco night with shredded cheese and cabbage points to the slicer. Frequent salsa points to the food processor attachment. A special-occasion pasta dinner may not justify an attachment, unless you already love making dough.
Does it fit your mixer?
Hub attachments are built to fit household KitchenAid stand mixers, but bowls are different. The ice cream bowl depends on your mixer’s size and head type, and its listing contradicts itself. Check the model number on your mixer, and see our best stand mixer guide if you are still choosing one.
Check what works with what
Some add-ons only suit certain versions. KitchenAid’s fruit and vegetable strainer and its sausage stuffer kit are made for the plastic KSMFGA grinder, not the metal grinder in our pair, and neither fits the discontinued FGA model. Buy those only if you own the matching grinder.
How much cleaning will you accept?
Blades on the slicer and sheet cutter go in the top rack, while the pasta rollers are wipe-only and the metal grinder is washed by hand. If an attachment is a chore to clean, it tends to stay in the cabinet. Be honest about that before you buy.
Where will it live?
Many of these come with storage cases, which helps. Even so, a full set takes up a shelf. Two or three attachments you use are worth more than six you do not.
How we picked these KitchenAid attachments
We read each Amazon listing and checked that the attachment was in stock when we wrote this. We used KitchenAid’s help pages where they were available, along with BestReviews’ roundup of attachments and buyer comments where no editorial review turned up. We skipped the older ravioli maker, because retailers list it as discontinued and owner reviews are mixed, and we skipped the spiralizer here because its own guide already covers it. We also checked the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database under KitchenAid and Whirlpool and found no recall of stand mixer attachments. This page rests on that reading, not on our own trials.
KitchenAid attachment questions, answered
Do KitchenAid attachments fit all mixers?
Hub attachments fit household KitchenAid stand mixers, according to their listings. Bowl-based ones, such as the ice cream maker, depend on your mixer, so check the model.
Are stand mixer attachments from other brands worth it?
Many exist, but KitchenAid’s manual warns against attachments it does not recommend or sell. This page sticks to KitchenAid’s own for that reason.
Which stand mixer attachments should I buy first?
Buy for your most frequent job. For most home cooks that is the food processor attachment, the slicer, or the pasta and grinder pair.
Can attachments go in the dishwasher?
Some can. Slicer blades and sifter parts can, but the pasta rollers and metal grinder cannot. Check the care notes for each one above.
Does a slicer attachment replace a food processor?
For slicing and shredding, largely yes. For blending, purees and doughs, no. If you want one machine to do it all, our comparison of KitchenAid and Cuisinart food processors may help.
Our final word on the mixer hub
Start with one attachment that fits a job you do every week, and add others when you run into a real need. For the mixer itself, read our best stand mixer guide. If you are after juice, our best citrus juicer machine guide covers that job. And on nights you would rather not cook, call to order from Julia’s.