KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment Parts: Plates, Blades and Tubes by Mixer Series

Fit is decided by the attachment model, not the mixer series

KitchenAid grinders do not have their own motor. They bolt into the power hub on the front of the stand mixer, and the mixer turns the grind screw through that hub. The hub is the shared interface across the mixer line, so the part you actually have to match is the attachment itself, not a plate-by-mixer chart. KitchenAid publishes an attachment guide that lists the grinders by mixer type (Mini, tilt-head and bowl-lift), and a support page on its Attachment Fit Guarantee. Check your exact mixer there before you spend money.

So the working order is: confirm the grinder attachment fits your mixer’s hub, identify which grinder you own, then shop for plates, blades or tubes made for that grinder. Two grinders are in the current lineup: the Food Grinder Attachment (KSMFGA) and the Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA). Their parts are not described the same way in the manuals, which is why model identification comes first.

KSMFGA versus KSMMGA: what each one ships with

The KSMFGA manual lists a food pusher, removable tray, main housing, grind screw, blade, collar, a coarse grinding plate rated at 6 mm and a fine plate rated at 4.5 mm. The KSMMGA manual lists more pieces:

• a fine grinding plate (3 mm)
• a medium plate (4.5 mm)
• a coarse plate (8 mm)
• a sausage stuffer plate
• a small stuffer tube (9.5 mm) and a large stuffer tube (19 mm)
• blade, collar, grind screw, main housing, tray, pusher and a cleaning brush

The millimetre figure is the hole diameter in the plate. Note that the 4.5 mm plate is called “fine” on one grinder and “medium” on the other. A name on a listing is therefore not a fit statement. Do not assume a plate from one grinder seats and clears properly in the other. Confirm the part against the model printed on your attachment and in your own manual.

Choosing a plate for venison

For occasional venison, the practical pattern is a first pass through the largest-hole plate, then a second pass through a smaller one if you want a tighter texture for burger or sausage. On the KSMMGA that means the 8 mm plate first, then the 4.5 mm or 3 mm. On the KSMFGA it means the 6 mm plate, then the 4.5 mm.

The fine plates are where lean game struggles. Elk, deer and antelope carry little fat, so a small-hole plate gives the meat more to pack against and the output turns pasty if the meat is warm. If you already own the coarse plate and fine plate, a replacement is rarely a texture upgrade. It is usually a swap for a plate that is scratched, dented at the edge, or has a damaged hole pattern.

Blade and plate wear on a venison diet

The blade and the plate work as a pair. The blade rides flat against the plate and shears the meat as it is pushed through the holes. When the blade edge rounds off, or the plate face is no longer flat, meat gets mashed instead of cut. You see it as paste collecting on the plate face, a slower feed, and meat that comes out looking smeared.

Sinew and silverskin are the usual cause of early dulling and clogging. They wrap around the blade and block holes in the plate. Trim them before cubing, and keep the meat and the metal parts cold. The blade, plate and collar are the pieces that wear, so when output gets worse, inspect those before you suspect the mixer. Replace the blade and plate together rather than one at a time, because a new blade against a worn plate face still leaves gaps.

Sausage stuffer plate and tubes

The stuffing parts replace the cutting parts. On the KSMMGA, the sausage stuffer plate goes where the grinding plate goes, with the blade left out, and a stuffer tube attaches over it. The manual lists the small tube at 9.5 mm and the large at 19 mm. The small tube suits a thin casing such as snack sticks and breakfast links; the large one suits a bigger bratwurst or Italian-style casing.

KitchenAid also sells a separate Sausage Stuffer Kit (KSMSSA), and its attachment guide places the kit with the food grinders. The kit’s exact contents and which grinder housing it seats on are details to confirm on the product page and in its manual. If your plan is a few batches of venison sausage per season, check whether your grinder already includes the plate and tubes before ordering the kit.

Checking a replacement before you order

Start with the model number on the attachment housing or in the manual, then compare the part’s hole diameter, its outer diameter and the way it locates in the housing. Third-party plate sets are often sold by a size number used for other grinder brands, and KitchenAid’s own manuals specify hole diameter in millimetres instead. A plate sold as a “#8” or “#12” does not tell you whether it fits a KitchenAid housing.

The KitchenAid safety instructions state that attachments not recommended or sold by KitchenAid may cause fire, electric shock or injury. For a part that spins against a blade, buy from a listing that names your KitchenAid grinder model and offers returns, and test-fit it with no meat in the housing before the first grind.

What a stand-mixer grinder can handle

The grind screw is driven through the mixer, so throughput is limited by the mixer and by how fast you can keep cold cubes in the tray. It suits a few pounds of trim at a time. It is not designed for a whole animal in a single session. For that, the existing pages on this site cover dedicated grinders with their own motors.

Work in small lots. Keep the rest of the meat in the freezer, push with the food pusher and never with your hand, and stop if the screw labours or the mixer motor feels hot. Follow the speed setting in your attachment’s manual, then wash the parts by hand after every use according to the care instructions, and dry the blade and plates at once so they do not stain.

Shop KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment KSMMGA for KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment Parts: Plates, Blades and Tubes by Mixer Series

Shop KitchenAid Food Grinder Attachment KSMFGA for KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment Parts: Plates, Blades and Tubes by Mixer Series

Related guides

• #12 vs #22 Grinder Plates for Elk and Large Game: Throat Size and Grind Texture
• Best Meat Grinder for Elk, Moose and Bear: Is a 1 to 1.5 HP Commercial-Grade Model Worth It?
• Best Meat Grinders for Wild Game: Entry, Mid-Tier and Commercial Picks from $50 to $800
• Meat Grinder Meat Cubing and Pre-Chilling: How to Keep Venison Cold to Prevent Smearing
• Stand Mixer Grinder Attachment vs Dedicated Meat Grinder: What Venison Workloads Demand
• Replacement Grinding Plates and Blades: What to Buy and When to Replace Them

FAQ

Do KitchenAid grinder plates fit every KitchenAid mixer?

Plates fit the grinder attachment, not the mixer. The attachment itself connects through the power hub, and KitchenAid’s attachment guide lists which mixer types it supports. Confirm your mixer there, then match plates to your grinder model.

Can I use a plate from the KSMFGA on a KSMMGA?

Do not assume so. The two grinders list different plate sets, and the 4.5 mm plate is named fine on one and medium on the other. Check the part against your attachment’s model number and manual before ordering.

Which plate should I use for ground venison?

Run the meat through the coarse plate first, then through a smaller-hole plate if you want a finer grind. Lean game smears easily through small holes, so keep the cubes very cold and trim out sinew and silverskin first.