Grating cheese by hand is easy enough when you are making mac and cheese for one, but how about if you need a whole platter for a taco party? If you have a KitchenAid mixer, you can get shredded cheese in a few seconds. In this article, I will show you how to shred cheese with a KitchenAid stand mixer. Also, I will share with you why it is better to shred your own cheese than buying the pre-shredded kind. Finally, I will share a favorite recipe of mine that uses a ton of shredded cheese, which should not be a problem once you learn how to grate cheese with your KitchenAid stand mixer.
Why Should You Shred Your Own Cheese?
You may have noticed that after grating your own cheese and putting it away in the fridge, it all clumps together. However, for some reason, the packaged, pre-shredded cheese you find in supermarkets stays totally clump-free! Why is that? The answer is cellulose powder. It is not bad for you, but it’s an additive that does not have benefits for you. By shredding your own blocks of cheese, you will be sure you and your family are not digesting any unnecessary additives.
Shredding your own cheese is less expensive as well. Purchasing a single block of cheese is much cheaper than buying packs of the pre-shredded kind. Yes, you will have to spend some extra cash for a KitchenAid stand mixer and the right attachment, but those are investments that will benefit you in the long run, especially if you know how to shred cheese with kitchenaid stand mixer.
Finally, freshly shredded cheese tastes so much better! Pre-grated cheese has a powdery texture, and that ruins its interaction with other ingredients when making a dish. As always, when it comes to cooking, fresh is best!
How to Use the KitchenAid Slicer and Shredder Attachment
Before I show you how to shred cheese with KitchenAid stand mixer, you will need the right attachment. KitchenAid has all kinds of tools and equipment you can attach to your mixer, from pasta makers to spiralizers. In this case, you will need KitchenAid’s Slicer and Shredder Attachment. You can purchase this on Amazon.com. Be sure you get the right one that fits your KitchenAid stand mixer model.
When you get your attachment, it will come with instructions on how to attach it. Just in case you need a refresher, you simply need to unscrew the screw at the top of your mixer and attach the white plastic housing. You will get three shredding cones when you get the Slicer and Shredder Attachment, and you want to use the cone with a lot of fine, small holes or blades around it. Insert and secure this into the plastic housing.
How much cheese do you need? Get the appropriately sized bowl and place it beneath the attachment. Pop open the lid on top of the plastic housing. This where you will drop your block of cheese. Turn on the KitchenAid to the first or second setting and watch the magic happen. The cheese should start shredding and fall into the bowl. If you want it to shred faster, turn up the speed, but watch out for flying cheese shreds. If you need to shred cheese quickly, be sure to use a large bowl so it can catch any bits of cheese that fly out of the shredder.
The KitchenAid Slicer and Shredder Attachment will work on even the hardest cheese, such as parmesan. If you need to shred a soft cheese, such as mozzarella, freeze it an hour before doing so. If you try to shred cheeses that are too soft, they can clump up in the shredder.
When you are done and need to clean the shredding cone, do not put it directly in the dishwasher. Soak it in hot water then use a toothbrush to scrub off the cheese that has clung to the blades.
A Bonus Recipe for Your Freshly Shredded Cheese
Now that you know how to shred cheese with KitchenAid stand mixer, it is time to make use of all that cheese you have just shredded! How about some Lobster Mac and Cheese? It is a dish that calls for three kinds of cheese, so it is the perfect excuse to break out your KitchenAid Slicer and Shredder Attachment.
Ingredients
- 1lb macaroni
- 1 cup lobster meat or 3 lobster tails
- 4 tbsp butter
- ¼ cup flour
- ¼ tsp salt
- ½ tsp pepper
- 2 ½ cups whole milk
- 4 oz cream cheese
- 4 oz white cheddar cheese, shredded
- 8 oz sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
- 1/3 cup breadcrumbs
Directions
- Cook the macaroni according to the directions on the package.
- Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- To cook the lobster, start with boiling a large pan of water over high heat.
- Drop the lobster tails in and cook for 3 ½ minutes.
- Once they are done, turn off the heat, remove the tails, and let them cool.
- Cut lengthwise down the shell and remove the meat. Cut the lobster meat into chunks.
- To make the mac and cheese, start by melting butter in a large skillet.
- Whisk in flour, salt, and pepper.
- Slowly add milk and whisk until it simmers and thickens.
- Add the cheeses one at a time and stir until melted.
- In a large bowl, combine the macaroni, cheese sauce, and lobster meat.
- Pour the mixture into a baking dish and top with breadcrumbs.
- Bake for 30 minutes and serve immediately.
Want to make mac and cheese for just 15 minutes? Check this recipe from our friend Cook and Hook.
Conclusion
Now that you know how to shred cheese with KitchenAid stand mixer, enjoying freshly grated cheese is going to be so easy! You can use all kinds of cheeses, and it will take only a matter of minutes to fill up a large bowl so you can have shredded cheese at any time. With the attachment, you can also use the Slicer and Shredder Attachment for slicing and shredding vegetables, like carrots and zucchini. It is truly a fantastic invention and investment for your cooking needs. Know more about kitchen mixers.