The Best Meat Grinders in 2021 – For Home Use, Electric and Manual

The best meat grinders are among the most exciting kitchen appliances you can buy. With one, you could be grinding your own meat for a thousand different tasting homemade burger patties, meatballs or winter warmer casseroles.

Many also now feature attachments that allow you to produce your own Middle Eastern kubbe or sausages…so you can put your sausage stuffer away.

But with ground meat so readily available, why should you grind your own?

Well, in this article, we’re going to look at some of the benefits of home-ground meat, and some of the different types of grinders you can choose from.

Next, focusing primarily on electric models, we go on to discuss what you should look for in a model that’s perfect for you and your home. We then go on to recommend what are, in our opinion, seven of the best meat grinders you can buy in 2021.

Reviews of the Best Meat Grinders

Considering all the factors we’ve looked at above, here is our list of the seven best meat grinders that we’re happy to recommend.

We have tried to choose models from a wide range of brands and to suit every budget. Think of the best grinders as an investment and choose the one most suited to your needs.

Types of Meat Grinders

The meat grinder was first invented by a German innovator, known as Karl Drais, in the 19th century.

Other inventions of his also included an early version of the typewriter and one of the earliest forms of mechanical bicycle. Just like the latter two, the humble meat grinder has come a long way since, with many different kinds of grinder now available. Let’s take a quick look at the different types.

Manual Meat Grinders

Manual meat grinders are the most basic of grinders and known for their simplicity. Many of the cast iron models resemble those produced by Karl Drais, with the basic design changing very little over the last 200 years.

Attached to a countertop with either clamps or bolts, metal cylinders enclose an auger and cutting blade, operated by a crank handle. Modern designs may use plastic housings with rubber feet or cups to secure them.

A manual meat grinder will require plenty of elbow grease and may not be suitable for the elderly or mobility impaired. They’re designed to grind smaller quantities and don’t require any power sockets—ideal for use when hunting or camping.

Electric Meat Grinders

When you get tired of all that physically demanding and tiresome manual cranking, an electric meat grinder seems like an obvious upgrade. If you want to grind large amounts of meat quicker and more frequently, an electric model is really the only choice.

Most freestanding grinders feature the same profile and similar functioning parts. A metal meat tray is located at the top of a metal tube, a hopper where meat is stored before being fed into the grinder. A large “screw” is the main workhorse of the grinder, which pushes food towards the blades and grinding discs.

An electric grinder will handle larger quantities of meat and chew through tougher cuts, which manual grinders may not cope with. They are easier to use and much quicker in production, even when stuffing sausages.

Electric models tend to be more expensive, but are more suited to those with arthritis or similar physical limitations.

Kitchen Machine Attachments

If you don’t like the idea of another appliance taking up valuable counter space, there are always attachments for existing kitchen machines.

Normally attached to freestanding kitchen mixers, like those made by KitchenAid or Cuisinart, you can sometimes get attachments for food processors too.

Offering all the convenience of electric meat grinders, their strength will depend on the motor of the attached device. They can add versatility to your mixer, allowing you to mix seasonings into the meat before you grind. However, the lack of a reverse gear on the motors of many domestic mixers means they’re prone to meat getting stuck in the tube.

Why Grind Meat Yourself?

With ground beef making up about 60 percent of all beef sales in the US, it represents the most common cut sold.

Does anybody really grind their own beef at home?

There are many reasons you should and not just beef, but any cut of meat. Let’s take a look at why you might want to grind your own.

Quality, Hygiene, and Ingredient Choice

When you buy your ground meats, do you really know what you’re getting?

Unless you visit a store where your butcher will grind your choice of cut, you’re probably buying it prepackaged. It’s very much pot luck what quality you receive, with a recent study finding 20 percent of ground meat tested was mislabeled.

Grinding your own will give you complete control over what goes in, be it beef, pork or venison. There’s no chance of unexpected horse meat as a filler. And you can choose from a wider variety of ingredients, even fresh kills from your hunting trips.

The standard of hygiene can also be much higher, with less chance of meat coming into contact with E.coli bacteria than at a factory containing other produce. Also, if you are gluten intolerant, sensitive to nuts or other allergens, you have greater control over the environment where your ground meat is produced.

Cost Saving

Larger backyard cookouts can get quite pricey when you consider the amount of beef you need. Buying a large piece of beef and grinding it yourself will significantly lower costs. You’re no longer paying anyone to do the grinding, or all the hidden costs like packaging, transportation and the store markup of the ground meat.

A 2015 article by Quartz referred to the hamburger as the “new steak,” as prices increased suddenly and significantly. If you’re going to pay steak prices, why not buy your own steak, or lesser cuts, at much lower prices?

It’s not just about the price, but also what meat you use. Any trimmings of prime steak that you may have otherwise discarded, or leftover cuts of roasts, could be ground for more money savings.

Complete Control Over Taste

You may assume the ground meat you buy at your local store was ground on the premises, but it will probably have been processed many miles away at a separate factory and can be several days old before even arriving at the store.

Maybe it’s been frozen for transportation or had preservatives added to keep it looking bright red for longer?

As soon as ground meat hits the air, oxidation will start to take place, often causing a brownish discoloration. Not only does this affect the food safety but also the flavor. Fresh meat will nearly always taste better, and freshness is essential for some ground products, like poultry or fish.

Grinding your own meat, you can leave it wrapped until needed to avoid overexposure to the air. You can also add seasonings as you grind, for your own distinct flavors, rather than relying on “mystery” seasonings of the store or producer.

Why not mix it up even more by adding extra proteins like venison or pork to your grind, for different taste combinations?

How to Choose the Best Meat Grinder for You

Hopefully we’ve now convinced you of the benefits of grinding your own meat and the advantages of an electric grinder.

But before you rush out to buy the latest model on offer, let’s take a look at the most important factors when choosing the best electric meat grinder.

How Much Meat do You Intend to Grind?

Perhaps the most important question is how much meat and how frequently do you intend to grind? Have you chosen an electric grinder because you want to handle larger capacities, or is it due to a mobility issue?

Smaller grinders, typically the sub $100 models, will grind less at any one time. If you are only grinding meats for your family and the occasional get-together, most of the smaller domestic countertops will suffice and be less expensive.

However, if you are catering for larger numbers, or you’re a frequent hunter, you will need a more commercial style option. These will generally be more expensive, a lot heavier and have motors that can grind tougher cuts. For larger batches, look for a #12 or #22 size grinding head.

Motor Power and Performance

We briefly mentioned the grinder size above, but what do all these numbers preceded with a # symbol mean? This number refers to the size of the grinder and is determined by measuring the grinding plates used.

The following table shows the industry standard sizes.

Smaller grinders will have a smaller feeder tube with limited capacities. They will also have less power than the larger ones.

The motor power will typically be measured in horsepower or wattage. Tougher cuts of meat can place stress on the motor, and a higher peak performance or wattage will mean a heavier duty grinder. A larger motor will also allow for processing more at higher speeds.

If you’re looking for a grinder to make raw pet food, you need to look at a heavy duty meat grinder only, that can grind through bones too.

Some #12 grinders can grind chicken bones, but you’re generally better off going for a #22 or #32 grinder, like those offered by LEM or Weston.

Materials and Durability

The best meat grinders will have stainless steel cutting blades and grinding discs. These are more expensive than carbon steel but are more sturdy. On average they will stay sharper for almost three times longer and are less likely to rust or corrode.

Ground meat and other ingredients, like vegetables or fruits, can contain a large amount of water. You may need to coat the blades with a thin coating of oil to prevent rusting. An all-metal construction of the housing should be made of a material which is both durable and easy to keep clean.

Less expensive electric meat grinders often use plastic gears, which can easily strip over time.

So try to choose a grinder with all-metal gears and check whether the motor is supplied permanently lubricated. Running a motor for longer periods can create heat and friction, which may damage the gears if unlubricated.

Stability

Many of the larger electric grinders will be heavy enough to add their own stability when in operation. However, smaller domestic models with a plastic or aluminum construction may be much lighter and need securing.

Does the grinder come with non-slip rubber feet or another anchoring method? The last thing you want is the grinder “walking” across your counter-top as you grind your meat.

Some of the more expensive, almost commercial meat grinders will weigh 50 pounds or over. If you’re frequently going to grind large quantities, they will probably have a dedicated spot on your counter. This type may be stable, but can be a chore to lift if you do want to store it away.

Ease of Cleaning

As with any food production appliance, the ability to keep it clean is of utmost importance. Can the parts be easily disassembled for cleaning? Is there any other special maintenance needed?

Stainless steel parts will typically be fine to put through a dishwasher for a thorough sanitization, but check the specs first.

When cleaning the outside of the motor, it’s important that no water gets inside—electricity and water are never a good mix. Always make sure all parts are dry, and invest in a cover to protect your investment.

Sometimes a motor will be supplied with a permanent lubrication system, but others may need oiling from time to time. Check what type of lubrication it needs and whether you can perform it at home, or if you need a specialized engineer.

Features and Attachments

What extra features does the machine have? Many will now offer a choice of speeds, including a reverse gear. When the auger gets clogged with meat, the reverse gear can help clear it without the need to stop the machine and take it apart.

Is the blade fully covered for safety, and does the grinder feature a quick stop and reset button?

The best electric meat grinders will usually feature some kind of circuit breaker and/or an electric overload cut-out feature. And the hopper tray should have a guard to prevent hands from getting too close to the blades.

Different sized grinding plates will give you more control of the thickness of the grind. Sausage attachments, noodle shapers or kubbe attachments can be useful for the more adventurous home chef. Some may come with a foot pedal or offer it as an optional extra, to add to the ease and comfort of operation.

Cost

The price of electric meat grinders can vary wildly, from around 50 bucks to more heavy-duty models running into hundreds of dollars. Consider how often you’re going to use the machine and how large you want it to be. Try to set a budget and stick to it.

Don’t always let a higher price put you off the purchase if you have a few more dollars to spare though.

A good quality meat grinder can save you large amounts of money over time. Not having to replace it every year or repair it, as with some low-end models, will save you even more money and time in the long run.

Warranty

It’s important with any kitchen appliance that uses electric and moving parts, to consider the warranty offered. There should be sufficient protection against any mechanical faults—it’s just an expensive ornament if the motor fails.

Most basic models will feature a one-year warranty, which should cover critical components, like the motor, cutting plates, hopper, and screw.

Heavy-duty grinders will typically include a three or five-year warranty for the more powerful motor. Check if the manufacturer offers any options for extending your warranty.

Conclusion

We hope you’ve found our guide to the best meat grinders useful. They can add to your versatility in the kitchen and do so much more than just stuff sausages.

We’ve tried to cover options for all budgets, just don’t assume the more expensive ones are always the best. It’s not just about the power of the motor, but also consider the features you will make more use of. Is the meat grinder easy to operate, suitable for your countertop, and will it grind the amounts of produce you require?

Don’t mince your words (forgive the pun), but if you have any feedback or questions we are waiting to hear from you in the comments below.