Our Picks for the Best Meat Grinders
There’s nothing better than home-cooked meals made from scratch. You know what I mean, heightened flavors and crazy good smells the moment you walk into the kitchen. And if we’re talking meat, well everything from sauces, to burgers, and sausages all taste so much better when prepared with top-quality ingredients, your choice of seasonings, and the texture that works best with your favorite recipes. And this is where a quality-built meat grinder enters the picture…. or rather your kitchen. While you may be envisioning your grandmother’s clunky, over-sized, unit that clamped to the table, they’ve progressed a lot since then. Designs are not only streamlined, lightweight and simple to use, they’re surprisingly easy on the pocketbook. Best of all, there are features to suit every cook’s need.
Our Top Choices for Best Meat Grinders
MeyKey, 2,000 watt 3-Blade Electric Meat Grinder: For Serious Production
Overview:
Type: Electric
Cutting Blades: 3
Material: Stainless-steel and heavy-duty plastic
Weight: 8.63 pounds
Safety: ETL Certified
Warranty: 30-day moneyback guarantee, 12-month replacement warranty
You’re going to wonder how you ever produced a decent burger without the streamlined, lightweight MeyKey Electric Meat Grinder. Not only does it include 3 different blades for fine, medium and coarse cuts, it comes with a sausage funnel and kibbe attachment for making perfect links and shells. No more fumbling around because this super-fast processor does it all for you. And with the larger format, stainless-steel meat tray, plus switches that include off, on and that all important reverse option, they’ve made your part easy too. Customize your meat blends to achieve the perfect flavors and texture for your soups, sauces, burgers, sausages, and more. No surprise that at 2,000 watts, this grinder is extremely powerful, with stainless-steel cutting blades that can effortlessly break down the toughest cuts of meat. And rest assured that with this unit you’ll always work safe because its ETL certified and includes a dual safety switch – so you control the operation at all times. A powerful suction base is the perfect solution to preventing the grinder from shifting or sliding while in use. And for busy cooks, you’re going to love how easy it is to disassemble for a quick and thorough clean-up.
Pros:
- 3 stainless steel blades for fine, medium and coarse grinds
- Includes sausage horn and kibbe shell attachment
- Large food tray for better control
- Easy to disassemble for cleaning
- ETL certified with dual safety switch
Cons:
- Not suitable for a dishwasher
If you want a powerful grinder that’s quick at processing whatever cuts of meat you want to run through it, then this model is definitely the way to go.
LHS, 2-Blade Manual Meat Grinder: For the Hands-On Cook
Overview:
Type: Manual
Cutting Blades: 2
Material: Stainless-steel and heavy-duty plastic
Weight: 2.1 pounds
Safety: fully enclosed blades
Sometimes cooking from scratch means getting back to basics, and that’s where the LHS manual meat grinder comes into play. Now, you may be thinking it’s too bulky, or awkward to use, and it won’t do a proper job, but that’s where you would be wrong. An extra-strong suction base keeps the unit perfectly positioned for smooth processing while the longer handle makes the cranking action more ergonomically comfortable. You just feed pieces of meat through the hopper and crank out perfectly textured ground meat. The lightweight unit comes with two blades for coarse or find grounds. And because it doesn’t need electricity, it’s ideal for camping or cabins where you may not always have access to power. But there’s more because this grinder is also an impressive cookie extruder. Seriously, you just put the cookie dough into the hopper and push it through. The included cookie attachment features four different designs and you simply cut off your preferred thickness as it comes through, then pop it onto a cookie sheet. While the blades can be tossed into the dishwasher for cleaning, all other components on this meat grinder need to be cleaned with hot, soapy water.
Pros:
- Works without power
- Designed for smooth, easy cranking
- 2 Blades for coarse or fine grinding
- Unique, 4 design cookie extruder attachment
- Easy to disassemble for cleaning
Cons:
- No information on warranty
If you want a basic yet versatile manual grinder that can tackle more jobs than just grinding meat, then this unit is worth exploring.
KitchenAid Meat Grinder Attachments: For Cooks Short on Space
Overview:
Type: Electric
Cutting Blades: 4
Material: Stainless-steel and plastic
Weight: 2.14 pounds
Warranty: 12-month warranty
For cooks who love all the latest kitchen gadgets but are running out of storage space, this KitchenAid Food Grinder attachment is the perfect solution. Its designed to be used in conjunction with the brand’s iconic mixer and stand and to be honest, it rivals many of the stand-alone meat grinders out there. It comes with 4 grinding blades in coarse, medium, fine, and kidney-shaped and it can tackle everything from meats for sausages, sauces and burgers to vegetables for slaws or salsas, hard cheeses such as parmesan and even fresh or dried bread. It also comes with two different diameter sausage tubes so you can choose between the smaller breakfast sausages or the larger Oktoberfest version. And it just keeps getting better because the blades for this food grinder are double-edged stainless-steel for a more even cut and improved efficiency as you work. Best of all, it’s compatible with all KitchenAid stand mixers so you never find yourself with a product that’s obsolete. It’s easy to disassemble and even comes with its own handy brush for a hot-water clean-up. So, toss that food processor, this lightweight attachment has all your slicing and dicing needs covered.
Pros:
- 4 stainless steel blades – fine, medium, coarse and kidney
- Includes 2 sizes of sausage tube
- Works with all KitchenAid mixers and stands
- Grinds meats, vegetables, cheeses and breads
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Must have the KitchenAid mixer and stand
STX Turboforce Cadet Classic, 1,200-watt, 3-Blade Grinder: For the True Meat Lover
Overview:
Type: Electric
Cutting Blades: 3
Material: Stainless-steel and heavy-duty plastic
Weight: 11.28 pounds
Safety: ETL Certified
Warranty: 30-day moneyback guarantee, 3-year warranty
Talk about the Swiss Army Knife of meat grinders, this STX Turboforce Cadet Classic does everything but grill the burgers for you. Let’s start with the 3 quad-beveled cutting blades that deliver clean, quick, and consistent processing of your favorite cuts of meat. They come in fine, medium and coarse textures which makes them ideal for prepping meats for your favorite sauces, burgers, sausages and more. And with 3 different sizes of sausage stuffing tubes, you’ll be able to enjoy everything from the smaller breakfast links, to those ready-for the-BBQ and bun, as well as the big German sausages – all prepared with the meats and seasonings you love. But there’s more, because this grinder also comes with 2 presses for cutting out perfectly sized burgers and sliders. No more guesswork, just press them out and pop them on the grill or into the freezer. For those who love Middle Eastern cuisine, you’ll appreciate the kibbe attachment that makes perfectly formed shells in just minutes. A handy pair of multi-prong claws are perfect for picking up and transferring hot, wet, or slippery foods and can even be used for shredding meats for those pulled-pork sandwiches everyone loves.
Pros:
- 3 quad-beveled stainless-steel blades
- Includes 3 sausage stuffers, 1 kibbe attachment
- Large, high volume feeder tray
- Comes with 2 presses for burgers and sliders
- Easy to disassemble and clean
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
- Can’t be used for vegetables, nuts or fruit
If you just can’t get enough of grilled burgers, sausages and meat-based sauces, you’re going to love this powerful, multi-purpose grinder and its attachments.
ChefWave Minca, 1800-watt 4-Blade Multi-Purpose Grinder: For Busy Households
Overview:
Type: Electric
Cutting Blades: 3
Material: Stainless-steel and aluminum
Weight: 21.1 pounds
Safety: ETL Certified
Warranty: 12-month warranty
With this baby, you’re about to learn what it feels like to be a true production chef. Not only does this Chefwave Minca grind meats, but it shreds and chops vegetables and even presses tomatoes for a super-healthy juice or maybe your favorite spaghetti sauce base. With 3 stainless-steel blades and 1800 watts of power, this unit can move through the toughest cuts of meat in seconds. In fact, the large, 3-pound capacity feeder tray makes it even quicker and easier to process volumes of food for when BBQ season is looming. Now, if you’re a fan of everything “sausage”, you’ll appreciate that the tubes they’ve included with this unit come in 3 different sizes for producing everyone’s favorite breakfast-style link all the way up to the jumbo Oktoberfest version. And if you’re like me and love a good mezze platter, the kibbe attachment makes producing perfect meat shells a snap. While the 3 blades are quick to process virtually any meat in a fine, medium, or coarse texture, it’s the vegetable slicer and juicer attachment that makes this heavy-duty grinder so multi-purpose. It’s like having 3 kitchen appliances in one compact machine.
Pros:
- 3 stainless-steel blades
- Includes 3 sausage stuffers, 1 kibbe attachment
- Extra-large feeder tray with 3-pound capacity
- Multi-purpose for slicing vegetables and juicing tomatoes
- Easy to disassemble and clean
Cons:
- Not dishwasher safe
If you need a grinder that can do more than just process meats, you’re going to want to check out this multi-purpose unit that also slices vegetables and juices.
You Might Be Surprised at How Easy It Is to Cook from Scratch
For many people, they think that cooking from scratch means buying pre-ground meat to make your own burger patties, meatballs or spaghetti sauces. Only partly true, because truly cooking from scratch means grinding your own cuts of meat, adding your own levels of fat, and producing a texture that is perfectly suited to your own favorite recipes. See the difference? What’s great about this, is that it’s so much simpler than you may ever have thought. Recent models of meat grinders do everything for you. They’re not only well-priced, but designed to be used by everyone from the seasoned pro to the novice cook. Whether you opt for a more powerful electric version for volume production or a simple, hand-cranked option for smaller grinds, there’s one to suit your culinary talents. And because they all detail their unit’s attachments and capabilities it makes it easy to shop around for one that meets your needs and suits your lifestyle
Replace Your Food Processor with a Multi-Purpose Meat Grinder
While the words “meat” and “grinder” may lead you to believe this appliance is capable of only one function, don’t be deceived. Many of today’s designs do double-duty when it comes to processing foods and they can as easily slice and dice vegetables, fruits and breads as grind perfect cuts of meat. And while your beloved food processor may be a whizz at chopping, dicing and pureeing foods, it will never deliver the precision grinds that come from a true meat grinder, nor the textures needed for perfect sausages, burgers, and sauces.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it easy to use?
Yes. However, each meat grinder will have its own tips and instructions to make the use of their product a seamless process. From the size of meat chunks, to semi-freezing for better results, to recipes that showcase the individual unit’s features. So, always read-up before you start to use.
What should I look for in a manual grinder?
Because of the need to physically crank the unit in order to grind the meat, you’ll want one with a larger handle for a more substantial grind with each turn. You’ll also want to look for ergonomic capabilities – is it comfortable to use for an extended period of time. And how does it securely affix to the tabletop? Suction or clamps? You want to know that whatever the option, it reliable and secures the unit to prevent movement as you work.
What should I look for in an electric grinder?
Beyond wattage that will indicate how powerful it is, you’ll want to look at the attachments. Do you need 2 or 3 sizes of sausage tube? Is a kebbe attachment important, or not at all? If you’re planning to process and freeze a volume of meats, a large-format food tray is a time saver. And if you need a multi-purpose design that grinds more than just meat, look for that feature to be identified. Never assume all are capable of processing non-meat items.
Why Can’t I Wash my Grinder in the Dishwasher?
Virtually every grinder comes with aluminum parts that will oxidize and turn black when run through a dishwasher. As a result, the care instructions for your grinder will typically specify that you wash your components by hand, using only hot, soapy water.
Is it Safe for Novice Cooks to Use?
Absolutely. Whether electric or manual, the grinder blades will always be recessed so there’s no danger of cutting fingers. And the electric models will typically have a dual-button control to ensure it only operates when you decide you’re ready. So no dangerous false-starts.
Are there any foods I can’t put through a meat grinder?
With some models, yes. Not all are capable of grinding vegetables or other non-meat items and they will clearly state this. One of the most versatile models is the Cuisinart attachment, that not only processes meats and vegetables, but can also tackle dry or fresh bread to make croutons and crumbs for toppings and dredging.
Conclusion
Whether you’re a seasoned culinarian or are brand-new to this more in-depth style of food prep, today’s meat / food grinders have never been simpler to use. And the models we selected showcase the wide variety of price points, features and capabilities available for you to choose from. If you’re not sure you’re ready to take on grinding fresh meat just yet, you may want to opt for the less-expensive manual design. They take a little more effort but will still nets you the exceptional flavors and textures that fresh ground delivers. For those looking to upgrade, the electric models are not only powerful times-savers, they offer features and attachment that produce consistently professional results. And if you’re just not into meats, many models are suited to processing fruits, vegetables, and more. We’ve short-listed a wide range of features and prep options that should give you a good head start on what to look for during your shopping journey.