Meat is traditionally enjoyed in the form of slices and cuts, as it was the easiest method to prepare meat back when it was first invented as a food. Over time, however, people began experimenting with different ways to enjoy meat, through drying, curing, and so on. Eventually, some decided that meat would be best enjoyed when ground up and molded into different shapes. This resulted in the birth of many modern forms of meat, such as meatballs, sausages, and burger patties.
If you want to enjoy meat in a different way, or want to make sausages or patties at home, then you’ll want a meat grinder. While the term sounds somewhat grotesque, it’s a great way to spice up family meals and make food more enjoyable or everyone.
What is a Meat Grinder?
A meat grinder is a household kitchen appliance that grinds up meat into smaller and more edible shapes. Meat grinders are used in the production of various forms of meat, including hotdogs, sausages, burger patties, and so on.
Why do you need a Meat Grinder?
Here are some reasons as to why you’d want a personal meat grinder at home.
They give you more ways to enjoy meat
When was the last time you had a slice of meat at home? Probably a few days ago at most. While there’s no problem with enjoying steaks, chicken breasts, and so on, meat grinders give you more options for your meals. So, if you aren’t a fan of having your typical beef stew, you can turn the meat into patties for a more diner-like meal instead.
It saves you money
Meat isn’t cheap, and processed meat even more so. But what if you did the processing yourself? With a meat grinder, you could make your own sausages and patties, saving you the extra money you’d have to spend on raw patties and sausages over simple meat cuts. And if that wasn’t enough, you also get to add a little flavor and personal touch to your sausages and patties, which is something you couldn’t do with mall-bought products.
Things to consider when buying a Meat Grinder
Meat grinders are a little tricky to choose from. Here’s how to find the best one.
Power Source
Meat grinders don’t run on magic. There are two ways that meat grinders run and grind your meat - either through electricity or manpower. Both options are viable, so let’s go through the ups and downs of each method.
Hand crank meat grinders are the cheaper of the two options. They rely only on manpower, and anybody can operate them to grind up meat. What’s great about these grinders is that not only are they cheap to buy, but they’re cheap to own, too - you won’t spend a dime using them as you don’t plug them into any outlets in the house. However, it can be tiring for some people to use the meat grinder, so this may not be ideal for everybody.
Powered meat grinders are plugged into your outlets and run on their own. You can turn them on and off and they’ll do all the work for you. Unfortunately, electric meat grinders are often more expensive than their hand-crank counterparts. Be sure you have enough money to buy one before even considering an electric model.
Durability
When it comes to meat grinders, durability is king. You’re breaking down tough organic material, and this requires high-quality materials to operate properly in the long-term. Meat grinders aren’t cheap, and the last thing you’d want is for your grinder to suddenly stop working.
Ideally, you’ll want to sacrifice affordability for durability if you can. This does mean that you’ll be spending more, but with the right meat grinder, you’ll be using it for years without any sort of issue.
Meat Grinder price range
The cheapest meat grinders come in at around $20 per unit. Note that almost all of these units are hand cranks - you’ll have to put in the work to use them. These simple meat grinders can cost well over $50 depending on the brand. For electric models, you’re looking at around $200 - $300 per unit.
How we choose the best Meat Grinders
Our meat grinders are chosen based on size, shape, and durability, among others.
FAQs
What is a meat grinder used for?
Meat grinders are primarily used to grind up different types of meat. However, they can also be used to grind bones, vegetables, and even cookie dough.
Are meat grinders dangerous?
Large, industrial meat grinders can be dangerous to both operate and maintain, but small and personal meat grinders are safe enough for use at home. It is important, however, to be wary whenever using a meat grinder.