The Best Meat Grinder: Shopping Guide and Recommendations (01/23)

Kenwood MG510 Meat Grinder Silver

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139.75 GBP

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74.99 GBP

Metaltex Meat Grinder, Aluminium, Silber, 10 x 14 x 26.5 cm

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21.99 GBP

Jazooli Heavy Duty Meat Mincer Grinder Manual Hand Operated Kitchen Chef Cook Butcher Beef Sausage Stuffer Mince Maker with Metal Table Counter Worktop Clamp

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15.99 GBP

Nestling® 2800 Watt Electric Meat Grinder, Stainless Steel Meat Mincer & Sausage Stuffer, 3 Different Cutting Plates, Sausage & Kubbe Kit Included, Home & Commercial Use(Black)

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45.99 GBP

Electric Meat Grinder and Duty Household Sausage Maker Meats Mincer Food Grinding Mincing Machine with Kibbe Attachment – Powerful Copper Motor

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50.99 GBP

Buying and evaluation criteria for meat grinders

The following is a list of the most important aspects that are crucial when buying a meat grinder.

The criteria that you can use to compare different mincers include:

Processing amount per minute
Material
Attachments
Size
Dishwasher safe

Processing amount per minute

The amount of meat a mincer can process per minute varies from unit to unit. Especially if you often have to process large quantities of meat, it is advantageous to buy a mincer with a high processing rate.

The processing rate is especially important if you plan to process a large amount of meat.

It is common for electric meat grinders to have a higher productivity, i.e. they can process more meat per minute than manual grinders.

This is because the electric drive takes over the processing in these mincers.

manual machines need a lot of muscle power to process the meat. Accordingly, it usually takes longer.

Material

When it comes to the material of a mincer, a distinction is made between plastic and metal. In the latter case, the metal used is usually stainless steel.

Meat grinders made of plastic are advantageous for less use and are not as resistant to larger quantities of meat as the

Metal version. Accordingly, they are more worthwhile if you want to produce smaller quantities for private use.

Meat grinders made of metal are therefore somewhat more robust and durable. Due to their stable material, they can be used for years. In addition, the processed end product often looks a little more attractive due to the solid material of the mincer.

Attachments

You can equip your mincer with many different attachments to create a variation of end products. Often many of these attachments are included with the purchase of a mincer, but you can also order them separately.

The most commonly used attachments are perforated discs in different sizes to determine the fineness of the product. There are also attachments for piping pastry, stuffing sausages and a gagging attachment.

Before buying a meat grinder, you should find out which device comes with which attachments and whether the brand has your desired attachments in its range.

Size

Mincers come in different sizes, usually 5, 8 or 10. These size numbers are a guideline based on the internal diameter of the mincer. The larger the number, the larger the amount it can process.

For private use, size 5 or 8 is quite sufficient.

With electric mincers, the motor becomes more powerful as the size increases and consumes more energy.

For private use, sizes 5 or 8 are usually quite sufficient. Even 10 is very large in relation to that. Anything over 10 is usually only used by large butchers or restaurants.

Dishwasher safe

When it comes to the best way to clean your mincer, make sure it is dishwasher safe.

If dishwasher safe is not stated in the instructions for use, it is better to clean your mincer by hand, otherwise permanent damage could occur.

Generally, only manual mincers are dishwasher safe, but even here you need to be careful. The reaction of your machine in the dishwasher depends on the material. If the mincer is made of cast iron, it may not shine as well afterwards. Appliances made of aluminium can discolour quickly.

Decision: What types of mincers are there and which one is right for me?

When deciding which mincer to buy, you should bear in mind that there are generally two alternatives:

Type	Advantages	Disadvantages
Manual mincer	Cheap, quiet, no electricity needed	Time and effort consuming, small quantities
Electric mincer	Time and effort saving, large quantities	Expensive, loud

The two types are described in more detail below to help you make your decision.

Manueller Fleischwolf

Manual mincer

One advantage of the manual mincer is its price. Since it does not have a motor, but is powered solely by your own physical strength, the device is cheaper than its electric counterpart. So if price is your main concern, the manual mincer is the right choice for you.

Besides the fact that it is cheaper, it is also much quieter. This is also due to the fact that it does not have an electric drive. This eliminates the noise. This is especially an advantage if you often have to work in a quiet environment.

Advantages

Inexpensive
Quieter
No electricity needed

Disadvantages

time-consuming
high effort
smaller quantities

In addition, the device does not require a power connection. This is an advantage if you do not have a reliable power supply. Because you operate the mincer by hand, you do not have to rely on a working power supply.

However, a manual mincer also requires a lot of effort. You have to press your ingredients through the device yourself, which can be very strenuous in the long run. Especially if you are physically weaker or have limited mobility for health reasons, the device could be rather disadvantageous.

Furthermore, a manual meat grinder is very time-consuming and, in comparison, only processes small amounts of meat.

Elektrischer Fleischwolf

Electric meat grinder

An electric meat grinder is a great advantage if you want to save time and energy. With its electric drive, it does most of the work while you sit back and relax.

It also processes larger quantities in less time than would be possible with a manual mincer. That, too, is thanks to the electric motor. This meat grinder is therefore particularly advantageous if you often want to process larger quantities of meat or fish for several people.

Advantages

Saves time and effort
larger quantities

Disadvantages

More expensive
Louder

In contrast to the manual mincer, however, this one is a little more expensive. This is because it has a higher output and the electric drive adds to the price.

In addition, the electric mincer is louder than the manual one. Due to its mechanical drive, the electric mincer produces much more noise than the manual one.

Guide: Frequently asked questions about meat grinders answered in detail

In the following guide, we answer all your basic questions about meat grinders. After you have read the guide, hopefully all your questions have been answered and your purchase decision will be easier.

What is a meat grinder?

A meat grinder is a kitchen appliance that is used to process meat and other products into a uniform mass. The mincer is known for processing meat, but can also be used for other foods, e.g. vegetables or fish.

Fleischwolf-1 — The meat grinder helps to process coarse pieces of meat into fine and uniform mince
(Image source: HOerwin56 / Pixabay)

A meat grinder consists of several individual parts. Usually, you can remove the knives (pre-cutting knives and mincing knives) and the perforated disc. This has to be done, for example, when cleaning.

What can I do with a meat grinder?

With the help of a meat grinder, you can chop, grind and blend food. Mostly beef, pork or veal is used for this. The meat is minced in the grinder by manual cranking or an electric drive and finely pressed together so that a uniform mass (mince) is produced.

With the help of various attachments, the appliance can also help to make pastries and pasta. The process is the same, except that the dough is pressed through the mincer and shaped through the opening of the respective attachment.

What do I have to bear in mind when using a mincer?

Here are a few things you need to keep in mind when using a meat grinder to be able to use it smoothly:

Cleaning: To ensure that the mincer is always clean and no residue sticks to the inside, you must always clean it very thoroughly.
Accessories: There are many different attachments for the mincer. Before buying, you should think about what you want to use the appliance for and therefore only buy the attachments you need. Often some attachments are already included in the purchase.
Price: Even cheap mincers often do well in comparisons. You don’t necessarily have to buy the most expensive product, especially if you won’t be using the mincer too often. Make sure that only the accessories you really need are included, otherwise you will pay a higher price even though you don’t necessarily need everything.

How much does a meat grinder cost?

The price of a meat grinder depends, among other things, on whether you choose a manual or an electric meat grinder. The attachments that are included in the purchase also affect the price.

Type	Price range
Manual meat grinder	18-120€
Electric meat grinder	80-200€

Manual mincers start at prices from €18, but can also reach prices of over €100 and usually include a few perforated discs in different sizes.

In contrast, electric meat grinders start at prices of 80 euros. These can also cost 200 euros, depending on the quality. Here, too, several attachments are usually included.

If you don’t want to spend that much money, you can also buy cheaper devices on auction platforms.

What are the alternatives to a meat grinder?

Instead of buying a meat grinder, you can also buy a meat grinder attachment for an existing food processor. However, this requires that your food processor is from a brand that makes such an attachment or is compatible with another attachment.

Another alternative is to process your meat with a very sharp knife until a similar result is achieved as with a meat grinder. With this option, the result will most likely not be as fine as with an actual meat grinder.

How do I use a meat grinder?

To use a meat grinder you need to follow the steps below:

Preparation: Coarsely chop the ingredients and put them into the funnel that comes with the mincer.
Fill the mincer: The product is chopped and pressed together by the auger. This auger is operated by hand in the case of manual units and by the electric drive in the case of electric units.
Result: The mass is pressed out of the mincer through various cutting blades and then through the attached perforated disc.

Fleischwolf-2 — With a manual meat grinder, you operate the crank by hand and turn it until the finished ground meat is forced out through the perforated slides.
(Image source: Patricio Hurtado / Pixarbay)

Accordingly, using a meat grinder is not very difficult and the process is the same for all models. Also make sure to clean the mincer well afterwards.

What can I prepare with the mincer?

Basically, any meat can be used for the mincer. The meat chosen should depend on the end product. You can also use the device to make popular types of sausage such as liverwurst, salami or mettwurst.

The following table will give you a brief overview of which types of meat you can use to prepare which dishes.

Type of meat	typical use
Beef	minced meat, meatballs, Köttbullar, Cevapcici
Pork	vegetable fillings, salami, liver sausage
Veal	meat sauces (e.g. Bolognese), Königsberger Klopse
Chicken	Asian dishes, Indian dishes

How do I clean my mincer?

Cleaning the mincer depends on both the material and the type of appliance. Manual mincers are often dishwasher safe and therefore not very complicated to clean. Electric devices cannot usually be put in the dishwasher.

Fleischwolf-3 — Different types of meat can be used for the mincer. Beef, for example, is ideal for making meatballs.
(Image source: Changyoung Koh / unsplash)

To clean the mincer thoroughly by hand, it must first be dismantled into its individual parts. These individual parts should then be thoroughly cleaned with hot water and washing-up liquid and then rinsed again under running water. This fine cleaning should usually be enough to establish good hygiene.