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If you want to buy a stand mixer or kitchen machine, it is necessary to know what accessories and extra accessories you can get, and whether you need them. Below, we will explain the available options so that you can decide what is most important to you and what you should expect as a standard.

A stand mixer with a large number of additional functions, such as food processing accessories or blenders, can be tempting because you can buy three kitchen utensils for one price. However, if it does not do well in these extra work, or can not make a decent cake, you will be disappointed. 

Once you have decided on the accessories you want, be sure to check our stand-alone stand mixer reviews before purchasing to find a model that suits your needs.

Most stand mixers will be equipped with three standard accessories:

The all-metal attachment may last longer, and the dishwasher safe version will make your life easier (manually cleaning the balloon whisk can be troublesome). Better attachments have a small lip and the attachment is inserted into the blender to make it easier to grasp when removed without being covered by the cake mixture.

Some stand mixers will also include these useful additional features:

Some splash guards have a hinged lid so you can add ingredients, but the bowl can also be completely sealed during the mixing process. The other is just an opening with a small feed trough for adding ingredients. It's worth going to the store to see which style you like. 

The tank stirrer can be made of plastic, glass or heat-resistant glass. Some are suitable for crushing ice cubes or grinding coffee, but not all. Check the specifications before buying to make sure you get a product that meets your needs.

It may be cheaper to buy a separate small blender. We found some great blenders that cost less than £50, so check out our blender reviews to see if the mini blender is better for you.

Other accessories that are only available for certain models or require additional fees include a series of food processing accessories that can expand your blender's skill set:

More mature blender brands such as Bosch, Kenwood, and KitchenAid have more accessories available for purchase separately. If you’re not sure what you want, it’s worth checking out a mixer with the option to purchase additional accessories. 

No matter what accessory you decide to choose, make sure to buy the best blender. Most importantly, it will not let you down in important places-the core baking work. Find out which mixers have passed our rigorous tests and beat the competition to become Best Buy mixers.

Some stand mixers chop up nuts, herbs and spices, but they are often not as good as some food processors or mini choppers specifically designed for this task. They can also handle very hard ingredients such as ice, nutmeg or Coffee beans. 

If shredding, slicing, and grating are the top tasks in your kitchen, then a food processor may be more suitable for you. If your first task is to mix soup and smoothies, then use a jar blender. 

If you are not sure what you need, our handy video guide to baking gadgets will explain the advantages and disadvantages of each tool.