KitchenAid stand mixers provide a cook or baker with "power tools" that are just as important as a wrench to a mechanic or a saw to a contractor. This is especially true for anyone who needs to make gluten-free foods to accommodate special dietary restrictions in the household. Add-on accessories, such as the company's pasta makers, are equally handy for anyone who wants to make good gluten-free foods from scratch. While most accessories are dishwasher safe, the pasta makers require a little extra care.
Gluten Intolerance
Gluten and its relatives are a family of proteins found in various widely-used grains, including wheat, spelt, rye, triticale and barley. Many people are sensitive to these proteins, which cause an adverse reaction in the intestines. The symptoms range from diarrhea to painful cramping, and in the long term can result in poor nutrition and physical damage to the digestive system. The only treatment is avoiding grains that include gluten and its near kin. Unfortunately, those are precisely the grains that make the best bread and pasta.
Gluten-Free Pasta
Gluten-free cooking and baking rely on grains, grain-like seeds and floury starches that are naturally gluten-free. Common examples include corn flour, rice flour, tapioca flour, potato starch, millet, buckwheat and quinoa. These don't make a dough with the resilience and elasticity of wheat doughs, so additional ingredients such as eggs and xanthan gum or guar gum must be used instead to approximate the correct texture. These doughs can be used in either of KitchenAid's pasta maker accessories. The dough will be more fragile, and some trial and error might be needed to adjust the recipe for the pasta maker.
Pasta Roller Accessory Kit
Two types of pasta can be made at home on a KitchenAid. The most common is flat noodles such as lasagna or fettuccine, which can be made with the pasta roller accessory and its companion pieces, such as the ravioli maker and various cutters. These pieces can't be washed in water or the dishwasher. Instead, let the accessories sit out and dry for an hour after use. Use the supplied cleaning brush to dry-scrub any dough from the rollers and crevices, then wipe the rollers with a soft dry cloth. Use a toothpick to pry off any pieces of dough that stick.
Pasta Extruding Press
The second type of pasta that you can make on a KitchenAid is round noodles, such as spaghetti or macaroni, which are extruded through a round plate with holes cut in it. To clean, remove the press unit from the KitchenAid and loosen the pasta ring with the supplied wrench tool. Remove the plate and set it aside, then remove the augur from the housing. The augur, ring and tool are dishwasher safe. Wipe the housing with a damp cloth. Let the plates dry and brush away any stuck-on dough, then hand-wash the plates and cutter in hot, soapy water.
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