KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachment: Is a Compatible Set Worth It?
If you are weighing up a kitchenaid meat grinder attachment, the honest short answer is this: a well-made compatible set does the same job as the genuine part for a lot less money, because it plugs into the same standard front power hub and uses the same auger-and-plate mincing method.
TL;DR: The genuine KitchenAid metal food grinder usually costs well over £100 on its own. A compatible mincer such as the MeatGrinde set is £66.56 and, crucially, is a 2-in-1 — a meat grinder and a slicer/shredder in one box — so you are not also buying a separate machine for cheese and veg. The buying decision is really three-way: the genuine attachment, a compatible set, or a standalone electric mincer. For most UK home cooks who already own a stand mixer, a compatible 2-in-1 set is the best value; a standalone mincer only wins if you grind large volumes every week.
What a KitchenAid meat grinder attachment actually is
A meat grinder attachment is a mincer that borrows the motor you already own. It clamps onto the front power hub of your stand mixer, and as the motor turns, an auger draws chilled, cubed meat through the feed tube onto a rotating blade, then forces it through a metal plate whose holes set the coarseness of the mince. There is no second motor to store, service or pay for — that is the whole appeal.
This page is about the buying decision rather than the method. If you want the step-by-step on cuts, fat and technique, see how to make fresh mince at home; if you mainly care about cheese and vegetables, the same set doubles as a slicer shredder attachment; and for the space-saving logic of one set doing both jobs, read our guide to a meat grinder and vegetable slicer in one.
Genuine, compatible or standalone: which should you buy?
If you have opened several tabs comparing prices, footprints, warranties and return windows, you are asking the right question. The choice usually comes down to three options.
The genuine KitchenAid metal food grinder
The original is beautifully engineered and carries the KitchenAid name, but it is a mincer only, and it typically sells for well over £100. If brand and resale matter most to you, it is a fair choice — just remember you would still need a separate slicer/shredder for cheese and veg, which pushes the real total higher.
A compatible 2-in-1 set (for example, MeatGrinde)
Compatible sets fit the same universal hub and, in this case, bundle two attachments — a mincer for burgers, meatballs, sausage meat and mince, plus a slicer/shredder with interchangeable drums for cheese, carrots, potatoes and courgettes. At £66.56 inc VAT (£55.47 ex VAT) you get both functions for less than a single genuine mincer, which is why value-focused buyers land here.
A standalone electric mincer
A separate machine has its own motor, so it does not tie up your mixer and can chew through big batches. The trade-offs are a second motor to store and potentially fail, a bulkier footprint, and — on the cheapest models — noticeably rougher build. It earns its place if you mince several kilos most weeks.
How they compare
| Option | Typical price | Extra motor? | Does veg/cheese too? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Genuine KitchenAid mincer | Usually well over £100 | No (uses your mixer) | No — mincer only |
| Compatible 2-in-1 set (MeatGrinde) | £66.56 inc VAT | No (uses your mixer) | Yes — slicer/shredder included |
| Third-party mincer (e.g. AMZCHEF) | Around £60 to £70 | No (uses your mixer) | Sometimes — check the box |
| Standalone electric mincer | Wide range | Yes (its own motor) | No — mincer only |
Competitor prices and kit lists move around, so treat the figures above as a guide and confirm the current spec before you buy — the point is the shape of the decision, not a fixed number.
What you actually get for £66.56
Value is not just the sticker price; it is the total of what turns up and what protects you if it does not fit. Totting it up for the MeatGrinde set:
- Two attachments, one price: the meat grinder and the slicer/shredder, so you are not buying a mincer and a food processor separately.
- Clear pricing: £66.56 inc VAT, or £55.47 ex VAT if you are reclaiming — useful if you are watching cash flow rather than just the headline figure.
- Materials you can check: stainless-steel and BPA-free food-contact parts, UKCA/CE/LFGB compliant — not just "stainless" applied loosely to one component.
- UK aftercare: free UK delivery with fast dispatch, a 2-year UK warranty, and 30-day returns under the Consumer Rights Act 2015 — so a mismatch with your mixer is a return, not a loss. A 4.9/5 rating across 387 reviews backs up the durability picture.
Will it fit my mixer?
Nearly always, yes. KitchenAid stand mixers use a universal front power hub, and any attachment built for that hub fits mixers regardless of age — that is the point of the design. There are a few documented exceptions among certain bowl-lift and mini models, and compatibility is printed on the box, so if you own an unusual model it is worth a 30-second check before ordering. Fitting takes seconds: turn the mixer off and unplug it, lift or unscrew the hub cover, slide the attachment shaft into the square socket until the pin seats, and tighten the knob.
When a compatible set is not the right call
Honesty helps you buy once. A compatible 2-in-1 set is the wrong choice if you regularly mince several kilos in a sitting — sustained high-volume work is where a standalone mincer with its own motor earns its keep, and where you would not want to tie up your stand mixer. And if your goal is stuffing sausages into casings, note that this set prepares and seasons the sausage meat; filling casings needs stuffer tubes, so check exactly what is in the box before you rely on it for that step. For plain mince, burgers, meatballs, cheese and veg, though, the compatible route is hard to beat on value.
People also ask about the KitchenAid meat grinder attachment
Do KitchenAid meat grinder attachments fit all mixers?
Almost all of them. The front power hub is a universal design, so a compatible grinder fits KitchenAid stand mixers regardless of age. A handful of bowl-lift and mini models are exceptions, and the box lists compatibility, so check yours if it is unusual.
Is a compatible set as good as the genuine KitchenAid attachment?
For everyday home mincing, a well-made compatible set performs the same job using the same auger-and-plate method and the same hub. You are mainly paying the genuine premium for the brand name and resale value; the compatible set spends that difference on adding a slicer/shredder instead.
Can the attachment grind chicken and prepare sausage meat?
Yes. It minces chilled beef, pork, lamb and boneless chicken, and it prepares seasoned sausage meat. To fill casings you would need separate stuffer tubes, so check the box if sausage-making is your main plan.
Is it better to buy this or a standalone meat mincer?
If you already own a stand mixer and mince occasionally, the attachment saves money and cupboard space. A standalone mincer is better only for frequent, large-volume grinding where a dedicated motor and bigger throat matter.
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