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Simply Recipes / Chloe Jeong
Fans of artisanal sausage, grass-fed ground beef, and steak tartare might believe the only way to enjoy these delicacies is to procure them from the local butcher shop, gourmet grocery store, or farmer’s market. But you can make them of all and more at home with a meat grinder.
Either via a manual crank or an electric motor, these gadgets employ a hopper, auger, and blades to turn meat (and fish) from larger cuts into a fine or coarse grind. Many also have the capability to extrude ground meat into casings for sausages or kibbeh.
We researched the features that carnivores crave including power, throughput, blades, accessories, and cleanup. We’ve also provided options for grillmasters looking to cook the best burger and hunters who want to turn their trophy into dinner.
Sink your teeth into the freshest meal possible with the best meat grinders.
Best Overall: STX International Turboforce Classic 3000 Series Electric Meat Grinder & Sausage Stuffer
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 16 x 7.5 x 14 inches | Weight: 14 pounds
A hefty motor, sleek design, and thoughtful accessories make this appliance our pick for the best meat grinder for heavy-duty home use.
The 3000-watt motor has a #12 polished aluminum food grade grinding head with a meat hopper, three 304-grade stainless steel cutting blades, three grinding plates (fine, coarse, and medium), a sausage stuffing plate, three sizes of sausage stuffing tubes, a kibbeh-making attachment, and an ergonomic meat pusher/stuffer that uses the palm of your hand. The manufacturer has even included two combination meat shredder/holder claws as well as a burger press and wax transfer sheets to make perfectly shaped patties.
The high-volume meat hopper holds more than three pounds of meat; that coupled with an auger with AVI (Advanced Variable Intake) Technology and large hopper opening mean you can deftly grind larger cuts of meat up to a maximum of 240 pounds of meat per hour. There are three speeds along with a stop and reset switch, and all six parts of the grinder assembly are easily cleaned by hand. The TurbotForce is everything you could want in a home meat grinder.
Best Manual: Huanyu Manual Meat Grinder
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 10.6 x 7.7 x 6.9 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds
Don’t let the fact that this grinder is operated by hand fool you: it’s extremely powerful, not to mention a gleamingly handsome-looking appliance on your kitchen counter. It’s constructed with both 304 and 3cr13 stainless steel, meaning it’s durable and rust-resistant for decades to come.
Install the 4.5-millimeter or 8-millimeter round meat plate and cross knife to fine grind and crush different types of meats, or use the nozzle to stuff pork, chicken, beef, or duck sausage. The machine touts a strong suction cup on the base as well as a stainless-steel table clamp so it stays put during operation, which is quiet and smooth.
The grinder comes with a plastic funnel and pushrod to add ingredients, and a cleaning brush to remove small particles. All parts easily disassemble so cleanup is a breeze, either by hand or in the dishwasher.
Related: The Best Grills
Best Electric: Aobosi 3-in-1 Meat Mincer and Sausage Stuffer
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 12.2 x 6.7 x 15 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds
When selecting a meat grinder that runs on electricity rather than by hand-cranking, a powerful motor is important. This model comes with a 1200-watt pure copper motor that’s fast and easy to use, and an auger that slowly grinds the meat in a spiral to lock in texture and flavor.
Included are three different stainless steel cutting blades (fine, medium, and coarse), a sausage kit, and an attachment to make kibbeh, the hollow sausages filled with stuffings popular in Mediterranean cuisine.
The grinder is equipped with a dual safety switch that only starts the machine when both switches are in the on position, and a safety circuit breaker that shuts it off if it overheats; it also has a reverse button to remove stuck food. All parts are removable for easy cleaning by hand.
Best for Burgers: BBday Electric Meat Grinder
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 16.5 x 9.9 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 7.4 pounds
If you are really into making your own juicy burgers to throw on the grill and load up with your favorite toppings, you’ll want a grinder that can process beef or turkey to the perfect patty-worthy consistency. This one comes with three meat plates: one for meatballs, another for meat paste, and a third specifically designed for burgers.
The 1200-watt all-copper motor is strong yet quiet, capable of producing 3 pounds of minced meat per minute—perfect for a backyard barbecue or cookout—and a reverse button helps remove unstuck food if you add too much or the meat is a bit thick or tough.
When you want to expand beyond burgers, it also has a set of three kibbeh and sausage attachments as well as a food pusher. All parts disassemble and hand-washing is recommended.
Related: The Best Charcoal Grills
Best for Game: LEM 12 Big Bite Electric Meat Grinder
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 24.4 x 17 x 18.1 inches | Weight: 55.1 pounds
If you are a hunter looking to process deer, elk, moose, or bear, you’ll want a grinder that can handle a lot of meat in a short amount of time. This model from LEM products has 0.75 horsepower, capable of grinding approximately 11 pounds of meat every minute.
The appliance has a durable stainless steel motor housing, knife, head, and auger, all-metal gears and roller bearings, a heavy-duty handle to move it easily, a 110-volt permanently lubricated motor to reduce noise, a built-in circuit breaker for safety, and an attractive brushed steel finish.
The stainless steel meat pan is built for big batches, and the coarse and fine stainless steel plates, three stuffing tubes and meat stomper can be stored in a convenient drawer underneath the grinder head. Exclusive Big Bite technology means the auger can grab the meat and draw it in the grinding head quickly without clogs.
Best Stand Mixer Attachment: KitchenAid KSMMGA Metal Food Grinder Attachment
Dimensions (LxWxH) : 8.8 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds
If you are fortunate enough to have a stand mixer, you are already more than halfway to owning a meat grinder. This stainless steel add-on from KitchenAid attaches to the power hub, using your mixer’s motor to process meat, vegetables, and more.
Included are fine, medium, and coarse grinding plates and two sausage stuffer tubes, as well as an amply-sized food tray, to process more ingredients in a flash. The attachment can be pre-chilled in the fridge or freezer to maintain a cold grinding temperature, which will assure that you obtain a clean grind when prepping the meat.
The attachment and tools store in their own convenient case. Some parts are dishwasher safe, while others need to be washed by hand.
Related: The Best KitchenAid Mixers
Final Verdict
Whether you're making sausage, kibbeh, or burgers, the STX International Turboforce 3000 Series Electric Meat Grinde (view at Amazon) will make quick work of the task at hand. If you already have a KitchenAid stand mixer, pick up the Food Grinder Attachment (view at Amazon) for the perfect grind.
Why Trust Simply Recipes?
Kelly Magyarics is a freelance journalist with more than 15 years of experience covering beverages, food, lifestyle, and travel for a variety of digital and print publications. Growing up, she often helped her father, an avid hunter, process venison into sausages, burgers, and ground meat in their home kitchen.
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