I need a Good Meat Grinder That Is Not Too Expensive

[Meathead]

I hate the Kitchen Aid meat grinder attachment. It just doesn't have the muscle to push silverskin and connective tissue through the plates (yes, I try to remove it, but when it comes to grinding pork butt there is no escaping it). Does anyone have a recommendation? I'll even switch to hand crank if it works better.

[klflowers]

I use the Kitchen Aid with no problems, but I don't grind a lot of meat. But you know your peeps will be along any minute with grinders I have never even heard of, and I will start thinking I need one of them just cause that's what these people to to others lol.

[ComfortablyNumb]

What's expensive? And it depends on how much you'll be using it. LEM and Weston are both good brands that you can't go wrong with. This is the one I use, it isn't cheap, but I can grind a whole hog without it batting an eye and putting out as fast as I can put in.

[Meathead]

ComfortablyNumb YIKES! That's a beauty. But I don't make that much sausage to justify it, and I'd like to find one that I can recomment to readers who, like me, only occasionally make sausage. Is there anything of consequence for under $150? The Kitchen Aid is about $80, and I hate it with a passion. I wonder if a hand grinder will be better thinking I might be able to apply more torque than the KA motor.

[Troutman]

I use this model LEM. It does the trick, I think it's about $170....

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...KIKX0DER&psc=1

[barelfly]

Meathead I have this, it’s good and has a .5hp. motor. And it’s on sale at your price point!

https://www.cabelas.com/product/CABE...ER/2277622.uts

[surfdog]

Just curious Meathead but which KA are you using?
I have a 7-qt Pro Line which has a 1.3 HP DC motor. It goes through everything I've tossed at it. It's essentially the same as their commercial line with a different cord and without the NSF certification.

[johnec00]

3 or 4 years ago, my daughter bought a refurbished LEM #8 grinder probably an older model version of this:

https://www.amazon.com/LEM-Products-...sr=1-3-catcorr

She paid something like $60.

It does not get heavy use, but it is totally acceptable for our use. Two weekends ago we made sausage, we ground 2 butts through a 1/4" plate without any trimming of silver skin, then, for binder, about a half a picnic twice through a 1/8" plate, again without trimming. Meat was nearly frozen, and ground cleanly without problem.

The knife that came with it was not particularly effective, so I upgraded to this: https://www.lemproducts.com/product/...grinder-plates

The knife is well worth the additional $20.

[Timbo54]

I have the Smoke House Chef attachment for my KA 5-Qt Pro. All of the pieces are dishwasher safe (SS). I use it almost weekly to grind pork or beef. My only complaint is it sits pretty high on the counter which could be a problem for some.

[58limited]

I don't know what you consider expensive but if you want something cheaper for small batches go with a vintage hand cranked grinder. I never made sausage before, never really planned to, but I wanted to custom make ground beef blends for hamburgers. I've had bad experiences with new stuff so I went vintage (just like my 1950s kitchen) and I made a low-ball offer on ebay for an old but big motorized grinder and I've made over 100 lbs sausage and processed 4 deer since November. I actually haven't done the hamburger meat yet, having too much fun with sausage making. I wrote about it here:

https://pitmaster.amazingribs.com/fo...ther-equipment

[CaptainMike]

I traded up to the all metal KA meat grinder attachment and it makes quick work out of whatever I've thrown at it, bigger chunks, silverskin, gristle, handles it all with out bogging down the motor. I won't buy a new grinder, but the sausage stuffer component of it kind of sucks (basically takes 2 people unless you're fortunate enough to have a 3rd arm) so I might trade up to a stand alone stuffer. https://www.amazon.com/KitchenAid-KS...SIN=B07GK7XKJK

[HouseHomey]

I know this doesn’t answer your question but perhaps it’s time to invest in a new KitchenAid.

I use the KitchenAid meat grinder with the regular classic model mixer and I absolutely love my KitchenAid. I don’t make a ton but I do grind a lot of meat and grind my /piork for sausage.

in the interim the single best thing you can do to help your KitchenAid is do half inch by half inch strips as long as you can make them. By just dropping them in there and letting it catch you’ll never need the pusher which just creates a vacuum. I don’t even freeze mine if you’re grinding properly you don’t need your stuff in the refrigerator or freezer. I am uncertain of the model you are using other than it sounds like it’s old.

In fact I prefer the plastic parts because they don’t heat up. I love my KitchenAid grinder. Admittedly it is not for thousands of pounds of meat. Hope this helps a little bit in the interim but that cut on your prepped meat is really the trick and it doesn’t need to be frozen

[RichieB]

I dont do a lot of grinding. 20 years ago, different story. 😁 I have the plastic attachment for the KA. I do freeze the meat and cutting tools. For ground beef mainly chuck, 2 cycles at course and then fine with freeze at each stage. It solved the fall apart when making patties. I've done bacon, pork and brisket. Again not large volume. I know some of you do pounds at a time so a more powerful unit is needed.

I know this adds no value to Meathead ask.

[Macktechie]

This would be a great topic for next review. Meat grinders for under 200. I have been wanting one for around that price range.

[lemayp]

I watched LEM's site and picked up a big bite #8 refurbished for about $180. Probably more than I'll ever need. They've got a couple of the lower cost models refurbished for sale right now.