The Greatest Stand Mixer Hack Everyone Needs to Know

updated Jan 15, 2021
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someone is mixing dough in a stand mixer
Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Stylist: Jesse Szewczyk

So, you just got a brand new stand mixer. Yay! By now, you probably know that your new kitchen appliance isn’t just a go-to tool for all things baking (and if you’re creative, for plenty of other cooking endeavors, like mashed potatoes and meatloaf to big batches of lemonade). That shiny, colorful stand mixer is also a swoon-worthy countertop accessory, adding instant flair to your kitchen space. 

Read more: 6 Things You Should Know About Your New Stand Mixer

Okay, yes, maybe you keep your mixer on the counter out of obligation. Stand mixers are powerful and efficient tools, which is why they’re so handy to have around. But they’re also big and heavy and impossibly hard to store — especially if you’re already short on cabinet and pantry real-estate. If you play your cards right, though, your stand mixer can also become storage whenever you’re not using it. Are you intrigued yet?

Credit: Photo: Joe Lingeman; Food Stylist: Jesse Szewczyk

Store Your Stand Mixer’s Attachments in the Mixing Bowl

Here’s a simple hack for making your life in the kitchen a whole lot easier: Keep the attachments in the mixing bowl. Stowing away your stand mixer’s attachments in a drawer or hanging them on hooks in a cabinet doesn’t just take up precious storage space in your kitchen — it also adds an unnecessary extra step (or steps, if you can’t find them!) to your mixing process. 

Instead of cramming the dough hook, whisk, and other attachments into a random spot, only to have to dig them out later, make a habit of putting them back into the bowl after washing them! To prevent scratches and dings (and to stave off dust in your mixing vessel!), try lining the bowl with your prettiest tea towel and then putting the pieces inside for easy storage and access. As a bonus, the tea towel will absorb any lingering moisture after you wash the attachments. It’s a simple hack, for sure, but you’ll thank yourself for your forethought next time you find a must-make cupcake recipe.