Most folks these days buy an electric meat grinder. There is a case to be made for manual meat grinders, but it’s a short one. They’re cheaper, and never likely to break down. Also, some people say they like the feel of grinding meat by hand. I know the feeling. I bought a manual coffee grinder for just that sensation, and it got old fast. If you only very rarely grind meat, you might go manual. Otherwise, electric meat grinders are better for a number of reasons – not least that it’s enough work already to prepare a great meal, I don’t need to add to it.

The prices of electric meat grinders range from the very affordable well under $100 Kitchenaid models to the fantastic reliable and refined pro models, such as models by Food Machinery of America by Omcan.

Before going, let’s compare the two ends of the spectrum with couple videos. First, an inexpensive Kitchenaid model on the right. You can see it’s not super fast (and the user is trying to force the meat through – not a good idea), and it seems a bit rickety for too much repeat use. But it does the job, and would serve fine if you are not grinding all that often

Next up is an Cabelas 1 horsepower grinder to the left , which can run from a few hundred dollars if you’re lucky to $1000 or more.
Yes, it hums along nicely! By the way, 1HP is equal to about 745 watts.

Likely your needs will fall between these two. (To that end, Waring has a great reputation as a solid low-end grinder around the $100 mark). So let’s look next at what features differentiate the various models, including the obvious ones of durability and power….
Durability

So we know what to look for here. You want to see little or no plastic parts at all. The most solid meat grinder is made of stainless steel, and held together by solid rivets or bolts. It will be heavy, and won’t wobble about on your counter. It won’t make little whiny noises when the motor is running, but will grind up the meat without breaking a sweat. Which bring us to the next item…

Power
Machiavelli made an art form of it, dictators and politicians crave it, and people flock to it. In the case of a meat grinder, little changes. Absolute power grinds meat absolutely. So you can start off with a modest 150 watts, which is equal to the amount of power you have if you are ruler of your home….. most of the time. It will suffice, but leave you wanting more. At the top end are 1.5 horsepower units (that’s about 1000 watts, you remember). This is equivalent being Ceasar and Cleopatra rolled up into one, and will make you the master of Italian sausage grinds (and anything else you should choose to grind… except grudges).

Cutting Plates and Accessories
You will want to be sure that the grinder comes with the cutting plates you will need, and that replacement parts are available. Established brands generally are good with this. A variety of cutting plates will give you a variety of grinding options, whether for sausage making or other purposes. A variety of sausage funnels will also be helpful if you are indeed a sausage maker.

Easy to Clean
Cleaning is vital – both to the service life of the machine and to… well, you’re own life. Working with meat requires strict habits and strict cleaning to avoid bacteria looking for a new home (you). The meat grinder should disassemble easily for cleaning, and be easy to put back together again. All parts that need cleaning should be easily accessible, with no place for little bits of meat to hide. Again, this is one advantage of stainless steel over plastic, as stainless cleans much better.

Reverse Run Setting
The first time your meat gets jammed, you will be happy to have this option. Don’t get a grinder without it.

And finally, a quick guide to grinding meat for sausage that may save you hours of frustration. Enjoy your electric meat grinder!

OK. I get it. There are several advantages to a manual meat grinder, maybe a dozen. The first 3 are it’s cheap, it’s inexpensive and it doesn’t cost much. Those are all good reasons, and if you’re not grinding meat on a regular basis, you can probably save the money for something more suited to your needs.

And yet, there are other reasons:

1- It won’t break down very easily. And if it does, you might be able to fix it. A manual meat grinder has no electric parts to worry about, and in fact fewer parts altogether to worry about. It is the epitome of reliability.
2- It will work during a power outage. Of course the same cannot be said for your fridge or freezer, so you’d better start grinding fast.
3- It’s light, and you can carry it with you. Theoretically, you could shoot a deer and be eating hamburgers from it before you start the drive back home. Practically, though, you might not get the best grind this way (since the meat should be cold).
4- It’s quiet. There are so many gadgets that make noise in the kitchen, it’s nice to be able to work in peace.

In addition to the above, a manual grinder can often be attached easily to the counter, and it has a kind of nice kitchen retro appeal to it. Also, since many recommend that you put the meat grinder into a freezer before you use it to grind meat, the compact manual meat grinder makes this much easier.

And did I say it’s cheap?

Not to be too tongue in cheek, but there are modifications that can be made even to a manual meat grinder to automate things a bit.

Whether you are one of the many people who are choosing to cook at home more often now instead of eating out in an effort to save money or simply enjoy making homemade meals, a stainless steel meat grinder is a very handy and versatile kitchen appliance to have. Not only can you create numerous homemade foods, owning your own meat grinder ensures that you will always know what is contained in your ground meats and allows you to create healthier dishes. In this article you will learn the about the uses and benefits of having a stainless steel meat grinder.

The many different uses for Meat Grinders

While a meat grinder is primarily thought of as an appliance for grinding meats, there are many other foods that can be prepared with this handy kitchen appliance.  Many meat grinders now come with different attachments that allow you to chop fruits and vegetables, make bread crumbs, and stuff your own sausage. The fine blades also allow you to make things such as applesauce or finely grind fresh fruits and vegetables that can be used to make your own baby food.  With different sized meat grinder plates you can also make your own cold cuts including bologna, salami, and pepperoni. By purchasing a meat grinder that is capable of utilizing several interchangeable attachments, it can be used in place of other smaller appliances such as food processors, choppers, mixers, or blenders.
Meat grinders are available in several different sizes that you can select from based upon your needs such as whether you will be grinding small or large amounts of food, or the available space you have in your kitchen. Many smaller size meat grinders can be temporarily clamped to the counter and removed later for easy storage while the larger sizes are typically made to be bolted down permanently. You can also to elect to purchase a meat grinder that operates either manually or with electricity. The manual grinders are typically smaller in size than the electric and may be better suited for smaller kitchens; however, if you plan on doing a large amount grinding you should choose an electric one as grinding large amounts of food with a hand crank can be significantly tiring.

Benefits of Purchasing a Stainless Steel Meat Grinder

The materials used in the manufacturing of meat grinders are typically stainless steel or a plated metal. While the grinders made of plated metal tend to be less expensive, purchasing one that is made of stainless steal is a better investment as it has the potential to last a lifetime as a metal plated meat grinder is susceptible to rust and plated metal has a tendency to chip away overtime. Stainless steel is rust resistant and will always appear shiny and like new when properly taken care of. Cleaning a stainless steel meat grinder is also easy as they can be simply washed with water and a liquid soap. As you can see, stainless steel meat grinders are a very handy and versatile kitchen appliance that would make a great addition to your kitchen or an excellent gift for a friend or family member who enjoys creating their own homemade foods.