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Most of would likely never think about buying a meat grinder. But the reality is, purchasing one of the best meat grinders on the market can not only save you money – it can leave you with much tastier meals.
Meat grinders are also surprisingly affordable – the best models only cost about as much as a new winter coat. We aggregated millions of real customer reviews, tested the top models, and can now easily tell you what the 10 best meat grinders on the market are today.
Our Top Pick
Altra Electric Meat Grinder
This meat grinder has it all – and it comes in at a very affordable price. Tons of great user reviews, multiple settings and options, and flawless performance in all of our testing. It’s our top choice, and we highly recommend it.
Other Great Picks
Homeasy Meat Grinder
This great meat grinder from Homeasy has a plethora of great user reviews, has a very low price, and handled everything we could throw at it during our testing. It also has multiple functions, and is topped only by our number one choice. Definitely recommended.
Aobosi Meat Grinder
This is another great choice. Aobosi wasn’t a brand we were too familiar with before testing this model, but we were pleasantly surprised. It comes in at a great price point, and the myriad of user reviews agree that it’s a stellar appliance. Our highest recommendation.
Cam2 Manual Meat Grinder
This manual meat grinder is made with great craftsmanship, and is still affordable. While we recommend an electric meat grinder, some may prefer an old school solution. If that’s what you’re looking for – we highly recommend this model.
Cuisinart Electric Meat Grinder
Cuisinart is well-known for their excellent kitchen appliances, and this meat grinder is another stellar addition to their catalog. It works with a wide variety of meats, is made from stainless steel, and held up well during all of our extensive testing. A definite recommendation.
STX Electric Meat Grinder
If you’re looking for a deluxe meat grinder, this model from STX is a perfect solution. It comes fully loaded with tons of power, a myriad of perfect customer reviews, and performed the best of all the models included in our testing. The only downside is that it’s slightly more expensive, but we think it’s well worth the price if you can afford it.
LHS Manual Meat Grinder
This manual meat grinder is a perfect budget model for anyone not looking to spend a lot. The numerous 5-star customer reviews also speak volumes, and it did very well during our testing. While we recommend spending a little bit more if you can afford it, this is a perfect choice for anyone looking to stay within a strict budget.
LEM Electric Meat Grinder
This deluxe model from LEM handled everything during our testing, but is definitely not the cheapest option on our list. If you are looking for a serious grinder that can handle lots of regular use – this is a great choice, however. A perfect premium pick.
Chard Meat Hand Grinder
This manual meat grinder is another great option, for anyone looking to save money. It has lots of great buyer reviews, and while a little primitive, performed well during all of our tests. While other models are worth it, if you have a bigger budget – this grinder is a great choice for the value-conscious.
Sunmile Electric Meat Grinder
This is another stellar grinder, and it comes in at a very affordable price point. If you want to avoid using a manual grinder, but still keep your cost down – this may just be the right model for you. Highly recommended.
What Is A Meat Grinder?
A meat grinder is something you’ve likely seen at your local deli. It’s a kitchen appliance, that takes large amounts of meat, and quickly brings them down into smaller pieces.
They can replace mincers, and overall make your cooking process a lot easier. Grinders also let you control the type, quality, and quantity of your meat – resulting in healthier meals (if so desired).
You can prepare meat for tacos, spaghetti and meatballs, sausages, and burgers – all very easily with your own meat grinder. There are manual grinders, as well as electric grinders, all of which come in at slightly different price points.
Is A Manual Or Automatic Meat Grinder Better?
We prefer the electric models – especially when dealing with larger quantities of meat. The manual models will be perfect for anyone on a tight budget, or those looking to only grind small quantities of meat at a time.
What Will You Be Grinding?
Making the right buying decision depends on what exactly you’ll be grinding (vegetables, meats, sausages, etc.) – and how much of it will be ground at one time. Larger quantities of meat, and tougher cuts of meat, will require electric grinders.
If you plan on grinding large amounts of tough meats on a regular basis, we recommend opting for a premium or deluxe model. If you only want to grind light meats, and only on occasion – a budget grinder may be a better fit for you.
What Is The Best Meat Grinder For Home Use?
There are tons of great picks on the market, for meat grinders. At the top of our list, is the Altra Electric Meat Grinder.
Of course, there are lots of other great picks, but we think this is the best choice for regular home use. If you want to spend more (or less) we have lots of other great models on our list, as well.
Is A Meat Grinder Worth It?
After testing multiple meat grinders extensively, we believe that having your own grinder is definitely worth it. You can grind down any type of meat to your desired size, and you can control the nutrition quality of the meal right down to the nitty gritty details.
Of course, if you’re not a big meat eater, you likely don’t need to purchase a meat grinder. However, even the best models cost hardly anything, which means that it’s ultimately still sensible for even occasional meat eater to buy one of the best meat grinders on the market.
What Do The Numbers On Meat Grinders Mean?
This number corresponds to the grinder plates. A larger number means larger plates, which in turn means your grinder can handle bigger quantities of food.
Smaller grinders will not easily be able to handle large amounts of food. So if you’re looking to frequently grind meats, and do so in large amounts, opt for a grinder with a high number on the grinder plates.
How Much Power Do You Need In A Meat Grinder?
This ultimately comes down to what you plan on grinding (is it tough, or thin) – and how much you plan on grinding. Large quantities of thick meat will require a more powerful grinder.
Whereas if you want to grind small amounts of vegetables, you will be able to use a budget-priced manual grinder. Ultimately, if you’re unsure, it’s safer to opt for more power – that way you have it, if you need it.
What Else Can You Put In A Meat Grinder?
The truth is, almost any food will work in a meat grinder. Vegetables, fruits – anything you can dream up.
However, some grinders won’t work with certain foods. So be sure and check your machine’s owner’s manual, before grinding other foods besides meat.
How Do Meat Grinders Work?
Meat grinders work just how they sound – they grind up your meat into much smaller, smoother pieces. The grinder itself uses blades that cut and push your meat into your preferred size, without drying it out.
Mincers can also be used to cut meat into smaller pieces – but they’re not nearly as efficient and easy as meat grinders. While you can own both a mincer and a grinder, we think you only need one – a meat grinder – in your family’s kitchen.
Can You Put Vegetables In A Meat Grinder?
Yes, you can grind vegetables in a meat grinder. In fact, almost any foods will work in a grinder – but you’ll want to specifically check your grinder’s manual, as some models will not grind certain types of food.
What Material Should A Grinder Be Made Out Of?
In the best-case scenario, you want a meat grinder made out of the sturdiest material possible. Usually this includes steel or metal housing, which will last for eons.
The cheaper models will usually be cased in plastic, which typically doesn’t last as long. Again, it ultimately comes down to how much you plan on using your grinder, and how much you want to spend.
How Is A Commercial Meat Grinder Different?
The difference between home meat grinders and commercial grinders basically comes down to one thing – volume. Commercial grinders are built to handle lots of grinding, as well as tougher cuts of meat.
This capacity is necessary for grinding in supermarkets, which is where most commercial grinders end up. Ultimately, unless you have huge quantities of meat to grind, it will be wholly unnecessary to buy a commercial meat grinder for your home kitchen.
Can I Make Hummus With A Meat Grinder?
One of the most popular uses for grinders, from people who are not big meat eaters, is to grind chickpeas. This results in delicious hummus, which will be as fresh as possible.
Our family and friends love this hummus at gatherings like the Super Bowl. If you want to make delicious dips, a meat grinder is actually a surprising way to do so.
Can I Make Gazpacho Soup With A Meat Grinder?
Surprisingly, yes. Grinding up some raw veggies results in a delicious finished soup.
Of course, there are endless meals and soups you can make with a grinder. We particularly love to make unique meals with protein-packed meats, as well as dips and soups, with our grinder.
Choosing A Sturdy Machine
Ultimately, one of the most important aspects to consider, is how well-made your grinder is. You don’t want a machine that will break down, or one that cannot handle lots of force.
Grinders should be built for heavy, frequent use. This is why we recommend opting for a more expensive, deluxe model – assuming you have room for it in your budget.
Meat grinders also have lots of attachments – many of which come packaged directly inside the box you’ll get when you buy one. One popular choice is sausage stuffers, which help you make your own sausages after grinding up your chosen meat.
Strangely, one way to grind more meat efficiently, is to grind partially frozen meat. While you don’t want to try and grind completely frozen meat, halfway frozen meat will actually make the grinding process easier.
There are also products on the market, like meat tenderizers, that aid in the grinding process. Some of the more deluxe models also come with a pan that goes in the grinder’s tube.
This pan holds the meat that is next in the queue to be ground. However, budget-priced models often don’t have this pan, which is yet another reason to opt for a more premium model.
Can You Put Bones In A Meat Grinder?
Generally, we don’t recommend putting bones in a meat grinder. However, some have reported that small (and soft) bones, like those from a rabbit, may be properly disposed of in a meat grinder.
Overall, we’re not fans of this idea at all. We don’t recommend putting any bones in a meat grinder, as the whole process is ripe for serious issues – and may even ruin your machine.
The Best Meat Grinders
There you have it – our top picks for the best meat grinders. Whether you want a manual model, an electric grinder, or a premium pick – we’ve got you covered.
Whether you know it or not, most people will benefit from having a meat grinder in their kitchen. Even if you want one of the top models, it will only set you back a little bit – but it will provide value for the rest of your life.
Whether you want to make sausages, make your own hummus, or even make a delicious gazpacho soup – a meat grinder can make the process much easier. If you found this review useful, be sure to check out some of our other home and kitchen product reviews.