Meat Grinders for Sale

There are many considerations as to which Electric Meat Grinders are best and what the differences are.

If you are looking for electric meat grinders for sale, there are a few points you need to consider before making a purchase.

Probably the most important factor in your decision is just how much meat you are likely to want to process. An electric meat grinder can be used to grind meat for hamburgers, meatloaf, sausages, meatballs, and to process vegetables for soups, sauces, spreads and more. If you’re only going to grind store-bought meat to make hamburgers and sausages for home use, you will probably only need one of the small electric meat grinders.  Farmers and hunters often process larger quantities of meat at a time, and they should consider one of the medium-sized electric meat grinders for sale. A restaurant, deli or commercial butcher will need a large machine that can handle large quantities in a short time while offering consistency and good quality.

Electric meat grinders take all the hard work out of grinding meat, allowing you to control what you are eating. Not only can you make your own delicious recipes, you can also control the amount of fat, salt and other additives in your food.

Most meat grinders for sale nowadays have a similar design. A hopper, or tube, with a meat tray that fits over it, is where you feed the meat or other food into the machine. Meat should be slightly chilled and cut into cubes or slices about 1 inch thick. The meat is pulled into the machine by an auger or worm screw that forces it through the cutting and grinding plates. Grinding plates are usually supplied in three sizes: fine (with holes that are 3/16 “ in diameter), medium (1/4”) and coarse (1/2”). Most electric meat grinders will have a sausage stuffing attachment, a ‘stomper’ to push the meat into the hopper, and sometimes a bowl to ‘catch’ the meat when it comes through the grinding head.

When you are looking at meat grinders for sale, look at the capacity the machine is designed for. The quickest way to gauge this is by the size of the grinding head. This is the area that the meat is pushed through to grind it, and the bigger the size of the head, the more meat the grinder can process in a shorter time. Grinder head sizes are expressed as numbers, where #5 is the smallest, and #46 is about the biggest grinder head you’ll find.

Small Electric Meat Grinders

Small electric meat grinders generally have a #5 size grinding head. These are ideal for domestic use, and are light and easy to move around.

The Waring Pro MG-800 Professional has a strong 450W motor that can process larger quantities than most small electric meat grinders. It is a rugged machine, durable and easy to clean, and is popular with the hunting and farming market because it is able to handle slightly larger loads. It can also grind poultry and game bird bones, useful if you are making homemade pet food.

The Rival 2275-WW has a #5 head, and although it only has a 200W motor, it is said to be able to handle the bigger capacity requirements of hunters with ease. This is a white machine, easy to clean and quite robust.

The Weston 82-1010-W differs from most other small meat grinders for sale in that it has a size #8 head. Even with a 200W motor, this means that this machine has a bigger capacity than most. This is a very neat machine, with a storage compartment for the attachments that include 3 cutting plates and a sausage stuffer. There are two other models in this range; the 82-1020-W that comes with a tomato strainer kit, and the 82-1030-W with a shredder and slicer kit for easy vegetable processing.

Villaware’s V5266 Elite Pro Grinder is perfect for normal home use. It will not handle any bones, but it will easily grind meat for hamburgers and sausages. This machine generally gets good reviews, but be aware that the plastic coupling may affect the longevity of the machine.

Medium Electric Meat Grinders

A size #12 head is standard on the medium range of electric meat grinders for sale. These machines have a larger capacity, but also a larger sticker price. Most of these machines can process between 3 and 6 pounds of meat per minute, and are ideal for small delis, restaurants, hunters and farmers. These are heavier machines, and some have handles to help with portability. Many models have additional attachments like tenderisers and vegetable shredders.

One exception on the higher ticket price is the Northern Tool Electronic Meat Grinder, priced in the range of the smaller meat grinders for sale, but with a huge 1000 Watt motor that can handle 176 pounds of meat per hour. As with most of the bigger machines, this grinder has a reverse switch to help clear blockages. This meat grinder has a storage compartment for the attachments, and a handy cord storage area. In addition, a ‘pulse’ option on the ON switch makes filling sausage casings much easier.

The Eastman Outdoors Meat Grinder is a 1 HP electric meat grinder that handles 540 to 600 pounds per hour, making it ideal for semi-commercial use. Its stainless steel construction makes it robust and easy to clean, but at 60 pounds in weight, this is not the most portable of meat grinders.

Another 1 HP machine is Weston’s 08-2201-W SS, with a 750 Watt motor that can process 12 pounds of meat per minute. A sturdy handle makes this machine easier than most this size to move around.

With a ¾ HP motor, Anvil’s No 12 Meat Grinder has a compact body that makes it a good counter-top machine. This grinder can handle up to 220 pounds of meat an hour, and is available with the larger #22 head for even larger capacity.

Large Electric Meat Grinders

The large meat grinders for sale, with between a #22 and #46 head, are designed for commercial meat production where large quantities are required in a short period of time. For use in butcheries, delis, hotels and large catering operations, these are big machines unlikely to be suitable for a home kitchen. Often available with a variety of attachments, they usually have two cutting plates to ensure consistency throughout the process. Most of the large units have a detachable hopper and grinder head for cleaning purposes.

Hobarts is well known for their commercial Meat Grinder. The 4146 model has a 5HP motor and a huge #46 size head. With a capacity of 60 – 65 pounds per minute on the first cutting through a coarse plate, and 45 – 50 pounds per minute on the second, fine cutting, this machine is designed to handle large quantities. Easy to clean, with a magnetic starter, the Hobarts 4146 is a popular choice with commercial meat producers.

Omcan-FMA’s A32 model is an attractive counter-top meat grinder, with a size #32 grinding head. This machine offers good consistency, ideal for delis and butchers.

Cleaning your electric meat grinder properly is not only important for health and hygiene, it is vital for the long-term maintenance of the machine. Although most of the electric meat grinders for sale today are constructed of stainless steel, many have cutting and grinding plates made from carbon steel, which requires special care. Follow the manufacturer’s instruction, but be aware that carbon steel plates will last longer if they are washed and dried by hand – even if they are dishwasher friendly. You will have to oil and wrap them before storing them.

One helpful method of cleaning out the small bits of meat and grease that can build up in an electric meat grinder is to run a few slices of bread or crackers through the grinder before taking it apart to clean it. This soaks up any scraps that may have gotten into the hard to reach areas. For stainless steel or steel plates, place them in a zip lock bag with a handful of rice to absorb any excess moisture. If your meat grinder is left on the kitchen counter, it will be exposed to steam and moisture from kettles and steaming pots. Rather store it in a dry cupboard to extend the life of the machine.

When choosing from the many available meat grinders for sale, remember to consider how much meat or vegetables you are likely to process. The bigger the capacity, the bigger the price - and the heavier the machine. Most of the meat grinders for sale come with recipe suggestions to make delicious sausages and other processed meat products – made even tastier because you control exactly what goes into them.