Baking Club

The Kitchen Gadget You Know Will Break, but Love Anyway

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April 26, 2018
3 Comments

Recently in our Baking Club, club member Anja T. shared that one of her stand mixer's attachments broke while making dough, and casually mentioned that it wasn't a big deal as she had a replacement on hand. What was the problematic attachment? A paddle, but not just any paddle—a paddle with scraper blades.

Photo by Anja T.

Multiple members commiserated that they'd had the same thing happen, but we were shocked to hear that most of those members loved scraper paddles so much they kept buying them anyway and some kept a backstock of replacements on hand, in anticipation of them breaking!

  • Rachael D.: "I'm on number 4 of those scraper paddles. I love mine but they snap so easily it seems."

  • Kim B. W.: "I love mine, but it also broke! I bought another one because the scraper edges are fantastic."

  • Lindy F.: "That’s happened to me, too. Twice. I also have a backup."

Mildly baffled by this, I questioned what made scraper paddles worth it, and the devotees declared that they hated having to stop the mixer and scrape down the bowl all of the time, and the scraper paddles eliminated the need to do so. Today's moral: Happy bakers have backups.

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Are you a fan of paddle attachments with scraper edges? Is there a gadget you know will break eventually, but you love it so much you'd keep buying it over and over again? Tell us all below!

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Lindsay-Jean Hard
I like esoteric facts about vegetables. Author of the IACP Award-nominated cookbook, Cooking with Scraps.

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3 Comments

JenniferM
JenniferM April 26, 2018
My KitchenAid stand mixer has a bowl that isn't compatible with the scraper paddle. I've long wanted one, but if they're just breaking left and right I shall now feel completely cured of my fear of missing out. (I bought it refurbished from KitchenAid - maybe it has an off-size bowl, but it's way more powerful than I would have otherwise been able to afford, so now I'm doubly glad to have it.)
 
shahnnen E.
shahnnen E. April 26, 2018
I have one that only has the scraper on one side-- so it's like a blend of both worlds and it's the attachment I use the most and I use it A LOT and my first one still hasn't broken. I think the actual KitchenAid brand ones are metal and sturdier?
 
Smaug
Smaug April 26, 2018
Not a fan. They don't mix as well- they tend to keep shoving the same stuff around the edge of the bowl- or up out of the bowl- without cutting through it, which is where most of the mixing goes on. Work OK for stuff that you could as easily mix with a spoon.