The KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA is the plastic grinder, and the complaints against it cluster around breakage once you grind often. The metal KSMMGA costs more and draws fewer clogging complaints, but it has its own trap: one dishwasher cycle turns it gray. Choose wrong and you pay twice, once for the attachment and once for the replacement.
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If you already own a KitchenAid mixer, the short answer is simple. Pick the metal KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA on Amazon if you grind more than a few times a year, and the KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA on Amazon only for light, occasional use. The rest of this page shows the five checks behind that call, so you can overrule it if your kitchen is different.
Both models fit the power hub of any household KitchenAid stand mixer, so the choice is about the grinder, not the mixer. I compared live Amazon listing data, KitchenAid’s published cleaning pages and manuals, and the 20 newest 3-star and 4-star Amazon reviews for each model, plus my own use where noted.
| Your situation | Pick | Price tier | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|
| You grind more than a few times a year | KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA | $$$ | Check Price on Amazon |
| You grind occasionally, or you want the strainer add-on | KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA | $$ | Check Price on Amazon |
Price tiers on this page: $ under 40, $$ 40-69, $$$ 70-99, $$$$ 100+. Tiers come from verified Amazon listings and stay accurate longer than exact prices.
In this guide
Is the KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA Worth It?
KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA suits light, occasional grinding, but the metal KSMMGA is the safer pick if you grind often. The plastic model ships with 2 grinding plates, while the metal one adds a third plate and 2 sausage stuffer tubes. Five of the 10 newest critical reviews of the plastic model report a part that broke or failed.
Worth it depends on one number you control: how often you grind. Someone who makes burgers a few times a year is the buyer the plastic grinder suits. Anyone grinding regularly is betting that a plastic housing will hold up, and the reviews show where that bet fails.
Amazon reviewers split on the KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA by usage. Light users report that it handles venison, brisket trimmings and sausage meat. Heavier users report a plastic adapter that broke right away, a shaft that sheared after several years and a blade that clogs on silver skin.
The metal side fails differently. Waste on the KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA comes from the dishwasher, because six of the 20 newest 3-star and 4-star reviews describe tarnish or oxidation after a wash cycle. KitchenAid’s cleaning page for the metal grinder says the body, screw, tray and collar are aluminum and that none of the metal parts are dishwasher safe.
That leaves two avoidable mistakes. Buying the plastic grinder for heavy use means replacing it, and washing the metal KSMMGA like a dish set ruins its finish. The sections below show how to avoid both and which model fits your kitchen.
5 Checks Before You Pick a Meat Grinder Attachment for Stand Mixer
I used five checks that apply to any meat grinder attachment for stand mixer use, each tied to something that actually goes wrong with these two grinders. Each comes from KitchenAid’s own pages or from patterns in recent Amazon reviews.
- Failure mode first. The plastic grinder’s complaints cluster on thin plastic and breakage. The metal grinder’s complaints cluster on finish damage from washing, not on the grinder failing.
- Cleaning rules next. KitchenAid lists the KSMFGA collar, removable tray and food pusher as top-rack dishwasher safe, and the housing, grind screw, plates and blade as hand wash only. On the KSMMGA, the aluminum body, grind screw, tray and collar and the steel blade are hand wash only.
- In the box. The KSMFGA listing names 2 plates, a tray and a pusher. The KSMMGA listing names 3 plates, 2 sausage stuffer tubes and a larger tray.
- Load on the mixer. Cold meat and a cold grinder matter more than speed. A plastic-grinder reviewer chills both for 20 to 30 minutes and trims all silver skin, while another reviewer who partially froze pork still hit clogging, so treat chilling as a requirement and not a cure.
- Parts and add-ons. KitchenAid’s KSMMGA product guide states that none of the KSMMGA parts and accessories fit the plastic food grinder, and the KSMFGA manual says the same in reverse. The Amazon listing for the KSMFGA names the sausage stuffer kit KSMSSA and the fruit and vegetable strainer KSMFVSP as add-ons, and I found no KitchenAid listing that pairs the strainer with the metal model.
Check 5 also answers the common parts question. KitchenAid food grinder attachment parts do not cross over between the two models, and two Amazon reviewers report the same break between the old plastic design and the new one.
An old plate or blade will not rescue a new plastic grinder, and a spare metal plate will not fit it either. Budget for the whole unit, not a part.
KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA Review
The KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA is the plastic option, and it carries the Amazon’s Choice badge with 1K+ bought in the past month. That demand is real, which is why the failure pattern is worth reading before you add it to your cart.
| KSMFGA at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Housing | Plastic, per the Amazon listing and KitchenAid |
| In the box | Food grinder, food tray, fine plate, coarse plate, food pusher |
| Fits | Power hub of household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Add-ons listed | Sausage stuffer kit KSMSSA and fruit and vegetable strainer KSMFVSP, sold separately |
| Top-rack dishwasher | Collar, removable tray, food pusher |
| Hand wash only | Main housing, grind screw, grinding plates, blade |
| Amazon badge | Amazon’s Choice |
| Bought per month | 1K+ |
| Price tier | $$ |
Amazon reviewers report breakage most often on the plastic model. Five of the 10 newest reviews in Amazon’s critical filter describe a part that broke or failed, including a shaft that snapped on thin pork strips and a plastic adapter that failed right away. One reviewer wrote: "The plastic screw on adapter broke immediately apart."
The 20 newest 3-star and 4-star reviews of the KSMFGA add the milder complaints. Four describe plastic that feels thin or cheap, often next to the older grinder, three report clogging, and two report liquid reaching the mixer’s motor compartment.
The liquid reports are worth knowing about. One reviewer added extra o-rings to stop liquid reaching the motor compartment, and another had to dismantle the mixer to clean out roasted pepper juice. Keep wet, juicy ingredients out of the plastic grinder.
Mixer size matters too. One reviewer ground venison with a 4.5 quart mixer and reported that it bogged down in places, then suggested a larger mixer would cope better. If you are weighing a mixer upgrade first, our guide to cheaper KitchenAid mixers compares the Classic and Artisan, and the KitchenAid Artisan 5 Qt stand mixer review covers the 5 Qt model.
Before you tap check that the listing shows 2 plates and a plastic housing, confirm the title says KSMFGA and read the seller line. One reviewer received an older design than the photo showed.
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Who should skip the KSMFGA
- Weekly grinders skip it. If you grind most weeks, the metal model fits better. Jump to the metal grinder review.
- Sausage makers should compare. The stuffer kit is sold separately for the plastic grinder, while the metal grinder lists two tubes in the box.
- Wet food jobs skip. Two reviewers report juice running back toward the mixer’s motor compartment.
- Old-grinder owners swap everything. Two reviewers report that plates and blades from the older grinder do not fit the new plastic grinder.
KitchenAid Metal Grinder Attachment KSMMGA Review
The KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA holds the #1 Best Seller badge in Stand Mixer Accessories, and Amazon shows 3K+ bought in the past month. I bought mine and have used it for many years. It still works fine.
| KSMMGA at a glance | |
|---|---|
| Housing | Aluminum body, grind screw, tray and collar, with a stainless steel blade, per KitchenAid |
| In the box | Food grinder, larger food tray, food pusher, fine, medium and coarse plates, 2 sausage stuffer tubes and plate, cleaning brush |
| Fits | Power hub of household KitchenAid stand mixers |
| Top-rack dishwasher | Plastic sausage stuffer parts and cleaning brush |
| Hand wash only | All metal parts |
| Amazon badge | #1 Best Seller in Stand Mixer Accessories |
| Bought per month | 3K+ |
| Price tier | $$$ |
Amazon reviewers report one failure above all others, and it is not the grinder. Six of the 20 newest 3-star and 4-star reviews describe tarnish or gray oxidation after a dishwasher cycle. One reviewer wrote: "Worked well but was put in dishwasher and tarnished."
The critical reviews add a twist. Six of the 10 newest critical reviews describe a gray or black residue, or a surface that is not stainless. Several buyers assumed stainless steel and did not expect aluminum, since the listing sells it as a metal food grinder attachment and says all-metal, while KitchenAid’s cleaning page is where the aluminum body is spelled out.
Everything else is minor. One reviewer found the sausage stuffer backs up more than it feeds, one received the attachment without its blade, and one warned that chicken bones will strip the mixer’s gear. Seven of the 20 reviews raise none of these, and the 4-star and 5-star reviews report grinding beef, pork, lamb and venison.
Before you tap confirm KSMMGA in the title, check that the listing names fine, medium and coarse plates plus sausage tubes, and plan to hand wash every metal part. One reviewer says the storage case pictured is not what arrived.
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Who should skip the metal grinder
- Dishwasher-only households skip. KitchenAid lists every metal part as hand wash only. Jump to the plastic grinder review, where the collar, tray and pusher go top rack, although the housing, screw, plates and blade still need hand washing.
- Bone grinders skip it. One reviewer warns that chicken bones will strip the mixer’s gear.
- Large batches compare standalone. One reviewer says it falls short of a dedicated meat grinder but works as an attachment.
- Vegetable choppers skip both. Our guide to the best food processor covers that job.
KSMFGA vs KSMMGA Side by Side
This KitchenAid grinder attachment review puts the KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA and the KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA on the same rows, using the Amazon listings and KitchenAid’s care pages.
| Row | KSMFGA (plastic) | KSMMGA (metal) |
|---|---|---|
| Housing | Plastic | Aluminum body, screw, tray and collar, steel blade |
| Grinding plates | Fine and coarse | Fine, medium and coarse |
| Sausage stuffer | Kit sold separately | 2 tubes and a plate in the box |
| Food tray | Standard | Larger |
| Top-rack dishwasher | Collar, tray, pusher | Plastic sausage parts and brush |
| Hand wash only | Housing, screw, plates, blade | All metal parts |
| Strainer add-on listed | Yes, KSMFVSP | Not listed |
| Main complaint pattern | Thin plastic, breakage, clogging | Dishwasher tarnish |
| Amazon badge | Amazon’s Choice | #1 Best Seller in Stand Mixer Accessories |
| Bought per month | 1K+ | 3K+ |
| Price tier | $$ | $$$ |
| Where to buy | Check Price on Amazon | Check Price on Amazon |
The gap in the box is concrete: one extra plate and two sausage tubes. The third plate gives the metal grinder a medium grind, and the tubes remove the need for a separate stuffer kit. Add the sausage kit to the plastic grinder and compare both listings before you assume the plastic model is the cheaper route.
Best Meat Grinder Attachment for KitchenAid: Which One to Choose
The best meat grinder attachment for KitchenAid owners depends on use, not on the badge. Choose the metal grinder when regret costs more than the extra tier, and the plastic one when it costs less.
Think about regret in two scenarios. If you buy the plastic grinder and grind more than you planned, you replace it and a plastic housing sits in a drawer. If you buy the metal grinder and grind twice a year, you paid one tier more for a grinder you hand wash anyway.
Choose the KSMMGA if
- You grind regularly. The largest metal-grinder complaint is washing damage, so heavier use fits it better.
- You make sausage. Two tubes and a plate ship in the box.
- You want metal. The KSMMGA is the KitchenAid grinder attachment metal option compared here, with an aluminum body and a steel blade.
- You will hand wash. Wash right after grinding, dry with a towel and keep every metal part out of the dishwasher.
Choose the KSMFGA if
- You grind occasionally. Light users report that it handles venison, brisket trimmings and sausage meat.
- You need the strainer. The Amazon listing names the KSMFVSP as an add-on for the KSMFGA, so check fit before choosing metal.
- You want dishwasher parts. KitchenAid lists the collar, removable tray and pusher as top-rack safe.
Skip both if
- Large weekly batches. A dedicated electric grinder avoids loading the mixer. I have not verified a standalone model for this page, so I do not recommend one.
- You need a mixer. Start with our guide to the best budget stand mixer.
Care and Cleaning Tips for the KitchenAid Grinder Attachment
Cleaning decides how long each attachment lasts. The rules differ by model, and the metal grinder shows mistakes more visibly. The table below follows KitchenAid’s care page for the plastic grinder and its page for the metal grinder.
| Part | KSMFGA | KSMMGA |
|---|---|---|
| Collar | Top rack | Hand wash |
| Removable tray | Top rack | Hand wash |
| Food pusher | Top rack | Top rack |
| Main housing or body | Hand wash | Hand wash |
| Grind screw | Hand wash | Hand wash |
| Grinding plates | Hand wash | Hand wash |
| Blade | Hand wash | Hand wash |
| Sausage stuffer tubes | Not included | Top rack |
KitchenAid says gray or black film on the metal grinder is normally caused by the dishwasher or the wrong cleaner, a natural reaction of aluminum to dishwasher detergent. Its fix is a 30-minute soak in warm, soapy water with vinegar at 3 cups of vinegar to 2 quarts of water, then a gentle scrub with a nylon brush. Rinse, then wipe every part with a dry towel right away, because KitchenAid says not to air dry.
Before you grind
- Chill meat and parts. The metal grinder listing advises pre-chilling the grinder in the refrigerator or freezer, and a plastic-grinder reviewer chills both for 20 to 30 minutes.
- Trim silver skin. A plastic-grinder reviewer connects clogging to silver skin left on the meat.
- Never force the pusher. Another plastic-grinder reviewer says clogging stayed rare as long as the meat was cold and was not pushed.
- Keep dry bread out. KitchenAid’s manual warns that partially dried bread may jam the metal grinder.
- Read the instructions. The KitchenAid food grinder attachment instructions matter at assembly, since one plastic-grinder reviewer calls setting the blade tricky and one metal-grinder buyer wanted more detail.
Stand Mixer Meat Grinder Attachment Limits: Bones, Wet Food and Mixer Size
A stand mixer meat grinder attachment borrows the mixer’s motor, which sets its limits. Bones are the first one, because KitchenAid’s reply on a retailer Q&A page says the plastic grinder is not recommended for grinding bones, and one Amazon reviewer warns that chicken bones will strip the gear in the mixer. Debone first.
Wet food is the second limit. Roasted peppers sent juice back toward the motor compartment on the plastic grinder, and KitchenAid warns that partially dried bread can jam the metal grinder.
Mixer size is the third limit, since one reviewer reports the mixer bogging down on a 4.5 quart model. Run a small batch first and listen for strain.
One safety point applies to either grinder. The USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service says to cook ground beef to 160 degrees F as measured by a food thermometer, and it cautions that grinding beef at home is not a safer alternative to buying ground beef at a store. Keep the meat cold and clean every part right away.
If the grinder works out for you, our KitchenAid 3 piece pasta roller and cutter set review covers another attachment worth comparing before you add a third.
KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA FAQ
What is the difference between the KitchenAid plastic and metal food grinder?
The KSMFGA has a plastic housing and 2 grinding plates, while the KSMMGA has an aluminum body, 3 plates and 2 sausage stuffer tubes. KitchenAid says no parts swap between them.
- Housing. Plastic on one, aluminum body with a steel blade on the other.
- In the box. The metal model adds a medium plate, sausage tubes and a larger tray.
- Parts. Plates and blades do not cross over between the two.
Is the KitchenAid metal food grinder dishwasher safe?
No. KitchenAid says all metal parts of the KitchenAid KSMMGA are hand wash only, and only its plastic sausage parts and brush are dishwasher safe.
- What happens. Six of the 20 newest 3-star and 4-star Amazon reviews describe tarnish or oxidation after a wash cycle.
- The fix. KitchenAid suggests a 30-minute vinegar soak, a nylon brush scrub and an immediate towel dry.
Can the KitchenAid food grinder attachment grind bones?
No. KitchenAid’s reply on a retailer Q&A page says the KSMFGA is not recommended for grinding bones.
- Gear risk. One Amazon reviewer warns that chicken bones will strip the mixer’s gear.
- What to do. Debone the meat and trim silver skin before grinding.
Final Verdict: Avoid the Waste With the Right KitchenAid Grinder
Buy the KitchenAid metal grinder attachment KSMMGA unless you will grind only a few times a year. Its biggest complaint is about washing, which you control, rather than breakage, which you do not. I bought mine, and it has worked for many years.
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Buy the KitchenAid food grinder attachment KSMFGA only if you grind lightly, want the strainer add-on or want the lower price tier, and accept that Amazon reviewers report breakage in the critical reviews. If you land on it, chill the meat and the parts, keep wet ingredients out and hand wash the housing, screw, plates and blade.
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As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. Listing details, badges and tiers were confirmed on Amazon in October 2026 and can change.