In-depth review
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Review (2026)
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder review: three plates, sausage stuffer tubes, and cold metal grind texture, compared with the plastic KSMFGA grinder.


KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment KSMMGA
All-metal grinder with fine, medium, and coarse plates plus sausage tubes.
Our verdict
The metal grinder justifies its tier through temperature control: cold metal keeps fat distinct, which is the whole point of grinding at home. Discipline around chilling and cleaning decides your results more than the mixer behind it.
What we like
- 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
What to watch out for
- 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
Who it is for
Cooks grinding burgers, meatballs, or sausage monthly or more, who care about fat blend and texture. Occasional grinders should weigh the plastic KSMFGA attachment or a butcher's custom grind first.
Grind quality and plate range
Fine, medium, and coarse plates cover burgers through chili grind, and grinding twice through progressively finer plates is the standard owner workflow for smooth sausage blends. The metal body and parts can be chilled in the freezer before a session, a step owners credit for clean fat definition.
Two sausage stuffer tubes handle breakfast links through larger casings. Output pace follows mixer power, so work in steady batches rather than forcing the pusher.
Cleaning and session workflow
Raw meat sanitation is non-negotiable: disassemble, wash, and dry every part completely, using the included brush for plate holes. Running a piece of bread through at the end pushes out residue and simplifies washing, a common owner practice.
The included case keeps plates and tubes contained, which matters for sharp small parts in shared drawers.
How it stacks up
Against the KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA, the metal model offers an all-metal body at 4.2 lbs versus plastic construction at 1.4 lbs, holding cold far longer on big batches while the KSMFGA counters with a much lower entry tier and two plates instead of three. Against the KitchenAid Food Processor Attachment, the grinder is a single-purpose meat tool while the processor slices and dices produce but cannot grind meat, so they serve different stations entirely.
Weekly grinders need the metal model. Monthly experimenters can live happily with the plastic one.
Storage, chilling, and cleanup routine
Ownership settles into a routine around temperature and sanitation. The metal body and parts can be chilled in the freezer before a session, which owners credit for clean fat definition, and the included storage case keeps the three plates, two stuffer tubes, and cleaning brush contained between sessions, which matters for sharp small parts in shared drawers. The case also keeps plate edges from contacting other tools in storage.
After grinding, the workflow is disassembly, thorough washing, and complete drying of every part, with the included brush clearing plate holes. Owners stress that this cleaning time is the real cost of the attachment, so households that grind monthly or more absorb it easily, while rare grinders feel it every time.
Key specifications
- 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
Also consider
KitchenAidKitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA
Plastic-bodied grinder with fine and coarse plates at the lowest KitchenAid tier.
- Compatibility: All household KitchenAid stand mixers
- Material: Plastic housing, stainless steel blade
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartBudget-friendly grinding for short, occasional, well-chilled batches.
KitchenAidKitchenAid Food Processor Attachment KSM2FPA
Hub-driven slicer and dicer with adjustable thickness, no extra motor base.
- Compatibility: All household KitchenAid stand mixers
- Material: Plastic housing with stainless discs
Sources: KitchenAid official product specifications, Major retailer product listings, Published kitchen gear reviews
Check price on Amazonor add to your Amazon cartIf your prep bottleneck is vegetables, not meat, this covers more daily jobs.
Research-based assessment. TheKitchenLedger has not hands-on tested this product; this evaluation synthesizes manufacturer specifications, retailer documentation, and published expert reviews.
FAQ
Questions, answered straight
Should I grind meat once or twice?
Once through a medium plate suits rustic burgers. Twice, coarse then medium or fine, gives smoother sausage and meatball texture. Keep meat cold between passes.
Can it grind bones or frozen meat?
No. Household grinder attachments are for boneless, thawed but very cold meat. Bones and hard-frozen blocks can damage plates and strain the mixer.
Can I grind vegetables and cheese?
Yes, firm vegetables and hard cheeses grind well for relishes and blends. Clean thoroughly between raw meat and ready-to-eat foods.