TOP 10 Best Meat Grinders 2025

Meat grinder buying guide

Although not the most common piece of kitchen equipment, meat grinders are extremely useful for a variety of cooking tasks. As a result, users place a high value on it. Before you buy a meat grinder, you should educate yourself on the key features to look for and how they work, which is the goal of this buying guide.

What is a meat grinder?

A meat grinder, also known as a meat mincer, is a piece of kitchen equipment used to cut meat into uniform-sized pieces. It can also be used to grind foods such as fish, vegetables, and other ingredients for the dish being prepared.

With these machines, you can grind any type of meat for sausages, meatballs, and patties, as well as vegetables for burgers, bread for breadcrumbs, and even cheese, nuts, and beans. You must cut these foods into small pieces to fit into the tube.

Before the popularity of meat grinders, chefs used mincing knives to cut their beef to their desired strips. Now, these have been replaced by modern meat grinders that can evenly process many pounds of meat in less time. Meat grinders make grinding meat much easier and produce finer minced meat to cook your favorite dishes.

How does a meat grinder work?

The basic operation of a meat grinder is the mechanical grinding of food particles bit by bit. A meat grinder works by forcing meat through a small metal plate with several tiny holes. As a result, the meat is long and thinly threaded.

Larger plates would force the meat through more quickly, resulting in larger grinds, whereas smaller plates would have the opposite effect. By varying the size of the meat plates, you can achieve results ranging from very fine to very thick.

Classification of meat grinders

Meat grinders are divided into two types based on their power mode. The following are the two types of meat grinders.

Manual meat grinders

These meat grinders must be operated by the human hand. It has a hand-turned lever and may only be able to handle about 3 lbs of meat per minute. Because of the human factor, they have a low capacity and are primarily intended for use on tables and countertops.

Their limited capacity makes them unsuitable for commercial operations. Instead, they are perfect for home use and small-scale food operations.

Electric meat grinders

Electric grinders, as the name implies, require electricity to function. Electric models use powerful motors to propel the meat toward the metal plate that grinds it.

They produce more output due to their powerful motors and are ideal for busy butcher shops, meat counters, and meat processing plants. With so many accessories usable, they can help you get the job done quickly and easily.

Electric meat grinders come in both large and small sizes. You can choose between compact countertop models and ultra-powerful floor-mounted models. They cost more than their manual counterparts.

Features to watch out for when buying a meat grinder

Meat grinders have important features that help it work efficiently. In your quest for the perfect meat grinder, you must not miss the following features:

Grinding head size (or simply size)

This is undoubtedly one of the most important features of a meat grinder. The head size of your device would greatly affect your cooking operations and is largely determined by the type and scale of your cooking operations. 

If you intend to use it at home, a size 5 is recommended. However, if you intend to use it for large-scale commercial operations, you should not go smaller than size 8.

Motor capacity

This is a critical feature to look for if you intend to purchase an electric meat grinder. The capacity of any electric model is determined by the motor's power. 

Powerful motors allow the pieces to move much faster through the metal plates, and the more powerful the motor, the more meat it can grind per hour.

Most modern electric meat grinders have motors ranging in power from 300 to 800 watts. It is recommended that you purchase an electric meat grinder with a motor that has at least 400 watts of power. If you desire to use it for commercial purposes, you could go higher, though it will be more expensive.

Material type

The material of a machine contributes to its functionality and durability. Stainless steel is the go-to material for meat grinders as they have unquestioned durability. 

When shopping for a new meat grinder, it is best to go with one made of stainless steel, plastic, or polystyrene. If stainless steel models are out of your price range, you can opt for an aluminum model. It's not as long-lasting, but it's just as effective.

Speed settings

When buying electric meat grinders, keep an eye out for their speed settings.

The speed of the blades affects how your minces come out. More speed settings offer you more grinding options.

Grinding accessories

Many buyers frequently overlook one crucial feature of meat grinders: the accessories. All units include multiple add-ons to help you achieve the desired mince texture.

To get your money's worth, make sure the meat grinder you buy has plenty of spare metal plates, a variety of blade sizes, and even a sausage-making compartment. These accessories provide you with greater flexibility, so don't pass up this opportunity.

Care and maintenance of a meat grinder

It goes without saying that meat grinders are not cheap. If you want your device to last a long time, you must perform regular maintenance checks and take safety precautions. Below are some safety tips to follow.

Keep your meat cool

Always ensure that your meat is cool before putting it into the meat grinder. Warm meat will result in fat leaking out. Additionally, it would smear and come out in an undesired pasty form.

Chop the meat

Before using the meat grinder, cut the meat into large pieces. Large chunks of meat should not be forced into the meat grinder because they will overload it. Also, do not attempt to grind tough bones. Only soft chicken bones should be ground.

Sharpen your blades 

Make sure you sharpen the blades about twice a year to prevent dull blades and smearing.

Clean the machine

Disassemble the components of your meat grinder and wash them with warm soapy water after each use. This should be done after each use to prevent bacterial infestation.

Read the manual 

Always read the manual of your unit to avoid uncertainties. It is especially important to check the processing power (pounds per minute) of your grinder before use to avoid overworking or overloading it.