from-scratch cooking
Best Attachments for From-Scratch Cooking
Best stand mixer attachments for from-scratch cooking: a metal food grinder, an adjustable grain mill, and a sifter scale for measured baking.
Our top picks at a glance
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment KSMMGA
Home butchers grinding burgers, sausage, and bulk meat blends.
KitchenAid All Metal Grain Mill KGM
Bakers milling small batches of fresh flour and cracked grains at home.
KitchenAid Sifter Plus Scale Attachment KSMSFTA
Precision bakers who weigh flour and want sifting in one step.
The short answer
Scratch cooks get the most from the KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder plus the Grain Mill. Together they cover protein and flour, the two inputs that change home cooking most.
The picks, ranked
| Pick | Compatibility | Material | Warranty | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment KSMMGABest Grinder for Scratch Cooks | All household KitchenAid stand mixers | Metal body, stainless plates | 1 year | Check price |
| 2KitchenAid All Metal Grain Mill KGMBest for Fresh-Milled Baking | All household KitchenAid stand mixers | Metal body and burrs | 1 year | Check price |
| 3KitchenAid Sifter Plus Scale Attachment KSMSFTABest for Measured Baking | All household KitchenAid stand mixers | Plastic housing with metal sifter | 1 year | Check price |
| 4KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGABest Trial Grinder | All household KitchenAid stand mixers | Plastic housing, stainless steel blade | 1 year | Check price |
| 5KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment KSM2FPABest Scratch Prep Helper | All household KitchenAid stand mixers | Plastic housing with stainless discs | 1 year | Check price |
Best Grinder for Scratch Cooks
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment KSMMGA
All-metal grinder with fine, medium, and coarse plates plus sausage tubes.
Metal cold performance and plate choice give control over burger blends and sausage texture that pre-ground meat cannot match.
Strengths
- Metal body and drive stay cold longer for better grind texture
- Three plates plus two sausage stuffer tubes cover most home jobs
- Includes storage case and cleaning brush
- Large tray handles batch grinding sessions
Limitations
- All parts need thorough washing and drying after raw meat
- Grind rate is set by mixer power and plate size
- Metal body makes it the heaviest grinder attachment here
| Compatibility | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Metal body, stainless plates |
| Dimensions | 12.4 x 5 x 8.5 inches |
| Weight | 4.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Owners praise burger texture versus pre-ground meat
- Cold metal performance for fat-rich blends is often highlighted
- Sausage stuffing tubes get strong owner feedback
Common complaints
- Owners stress the cleaning time after grinding
- Some want a larger tray for very big batches
- Smearing occurs if meat is not kept very cold, owners warn
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Home butchers grinding burgers, sausage, and bulk meat blends.
Skip if: Skip if you grind only a few times a year and want the lowest cost path.
Best for Fresh-Milled Baking
KitchenAid All Metal Grain Mill KGM
Adjustable burr mill for fresh flour, cracked grains, and cornmeal.
Mill only what the recipe needs and keep the rest as whole grain. Fresh flour character shows most in hearth loaves and pancakes.
Strengths
- Metal burrs adjust from cracked grains to fine flour
- Direct hub drive keeps milling compact and storable
- Fresh-milled flour for specialty loaves and pancakes
- Solid metal construction suits regular use
Limitations
- Slow output compared with dedicated countertop mills
- Not intended for oily grains, nuts, or coffee beans
- Flour dust and noise are part of every session
| Compatibility | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Metal body and burrs |
| Dimensions | 9.5 x 6.5 x 8 inches approx |
| Weight | 4.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Owners praise fresh flour flavor in breads
- Many value cracking grains for porridge and baking
- Compact storage versus a full mill is often cited
Common complaints
- Owners find throughput slow for big bread schedules
- Some report flour dust cleanup frustration
- Fine flour requires multiple passes for some grains
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Bakers milling small batches of fresh flour and cracked grains at home.
Skip if: Skip if you mill large volumes weekly or grind oily seeds and coffee.
Best for Measured Baking
KitchenAid Sifter Plus Scale Attachment KSMSFTA
Weighs and sifts flour directly into the bowl for precise baking.
Weighed, sifted flour in one pass tightens recipe repeatability for cakes and enriched doughs.
Strengths
- Digital scale measures as it dispenses into the bowl
- Rotating sifter breaks lumps for lighter cakes
- Battery powered scale detaches for standalone weighing
- Reduces flour dust and transfer losses versus hand sifting
Limitations
- Throughput is slow for very large batch baking
- Scale capacity limits single addition size
- Requires batteries and careful dry storage
| Compatibility | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic housing with metal sifter |
| Dimensions | 12.6 x 6.5 x 8.8 inches approx |
| Weight | 2.2 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Owners praise repeatable cake texture from weighed flour
- Many love sifting without a separate dusty step
- Detachable scale earns counter space back, owners note
Common complaints
- Owners find it slow for bread flour volumes
- Some report the chute clogs with humid flour
- Battery changes interrupt if spares are not on hand
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Precision bakers who weigh flour and want sifting in one step.
Skip if: Skip if you bake by volume and rarely sift dry ingredients.
Best Trial Grinder
KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA
Plastic-bodied grinder with fine and coarse plates at the lowest KitchenAid tier.
Test whether grinding fits your cooking before committing to metal. Short, well-chilled batches are its sweet spot.
Strengths
- Fine 4.5 mm and coarse 6 mm plates cover burgers, chili grind, cheese, and breadcrumbs
- Fits all household KitchenAid stand mixers via the front power hub
- Light 1.4 lb body is easy to handle, wash, and store
- First-party fit, parts availability, and support at a budget tier
Limitations
- Plastic housing warms faster than metal, softening fat on long grinds
- Only two plates included and no sausage stuffer tubes in the box
- Blade and plates need hand washing and prompt drying
| Compatibility | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic housing, stainless steel blade |
| Dimensions | 7.6 x 4.5 x 8 inches |
| Weight | 1.4 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Owners praise value for occasional burger grinding
- Many like the light body for quick setup and cleanup
- First-party fit on Artisan and Classic models is a recurring positive
Common complaints
- Owners report smearing on longer fatty grinds
- Some want a medium plate and sausage tubes included
- Small tray means frequent refills on bigger batches
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Occasional grinders who want to try home grinding without the metal KitchenAid cost.
Skip if: Skip if you grind weekly, stuff sausage often, or need all-metal cold performance.
Best Scratch Prep Helper
KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment KSM2FPA
Hub-driven slicer and dicer with adjustable thickness, no extra motor base.
Shredding and slicing at mixer speed supports stocks, slaws, and preserves without another motor base.
Strengths
- ExactSlice lever adjusts slicing thickness externally
- Includes slicing, shredding, julienne, and dicing capability per kit
- Uses mixer power, so no second motor to store
- Wide feed tube reduces pre-cutting for many vegetables
Limitations
- No S-blade pureeing like a standalone food processor
- Dicing kit cleaning takes patience after sticky produce
- Throughput trails full-size standalone processors
| Compatibility | All household KitchenAid stand mixers |
|---|---|
| Material | Plastic housing with stainless discs |
| Dimensions | 10.4 x 6.5 x 9.8 inches approx |
| Weight | 3.5 lbs |
| Warranty | 1 year |
What owners report
Commonly praised
- Owners praise fast shredding for cheese and slaw
- Many like skipping a separate processor base in small kitchens
- Adjustable slicing is valued for gratins and salads
Common complaints
- Owners find the dicer fiddly to clean fully
- Some want pureeing, which this design cannot do
- Feed tube size still requires trimming large potatoes
Recurring themes from owner reviews on retailers and forums, summarised by our editors. Updated October 2026.
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Best for: Mixer owners who slice and dice weekly but lack room for a full processor.
Skip if: Skip if you need dough kneading or large puree batches from a processor.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
How cold should meat be for grinding?
Near freezing but still workable, with the grinder parts chilled as well. Cold fat cuts cleanly instead of smearing, which defines grind quality.
Can the grain mill make bread flour fine enough?
It produces usable fine flour, sometimes with a second pass and sifting for the finest results. Dedicated mills are faster for large weekly volumes.
Is grinding at home food-safe?
Yes with strict sanitation: chill equipment, work quickly, wash and dry all parts thoroughly after raw meat, and cook ground meat promptly or freeze it safely.