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, such as our best over all pick the STX International Turboforce 3000 Series Electric Meat Grinder. We researched the features that carnivores crave including power, throughput, blades, accessories, and cleanup. We’ve also provided options for grill masters 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. 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. Price at time of publish: $160 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 16 x 7.5 x 14 inches | Weight: 14 pounds 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.  Price at time of publish: $129 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 10.6 x 7.7 x 6.9 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.  Price at time of publish: $100 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 12.2 x 6.7 x 15 inches | Weight: 7.1 pounds 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.  Price at time of publish: $63 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 16.5 x 9.9 x 8.3 inches | Weight: 7.4 pounds 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. Price at time of publish: $530 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 24.4 x 17 x 18.1 inches | Weight: 55.1 pounds 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.  Price at time of publish: $100 Dimensions (LxWxH) : 8.8 x 5.5 x 8.4 inches | Weight: 2.5 pounds

What to Look for in a Meat Grinder

Power

Meat grinders fall within two major categories: manual and electric. Manual grinders don’t require any power whatsoever, beyond the arm strength you’ll use to turn the crank. Manual grinders are small and lightweight, so they’re easy to store in a kitchen of any size. They can effectively grind meat, but if you’re dealing with a larger quantity of meat, you may find these tools less than efficient.  Electric grinders plug into outlets and use their power to grind the meat without any need for cranking. They’re impressive and effective tools, but they tend to be far pricier and noisier than their manual equivalents.

Accessories

Some meat grinders come with a range of cutting blades, which allow you to customize the thickness and texture of your ground meat. Other useful accessories might include a funnel and pushrod for fitting the meat into the nozzle, a cleaning brush, and a safety circuit breaker to automatically turn electric grinders off if they overheat.

Maintenance

Cleaning a meat grinder can be a time-consuming and meticulous project, but because meat particles spoil quickly, it’s essential to keep these devices as tidy as possible between uses. Whether you’re using a manual grinder or an electric model, the cleaning process entails taking the grinder apart, cleaning each piece individually with dish soap and water (and soaking the pieces if there are areas of stubborn grease), and laying them out to dry before reassembling the machine. Also, running a piece of bread through the grinder before taking it apart to wash can help absorb some of the smaller bits of meat, making the washing far simpler and more thorough. 

Can a meat grinder grind bones?

Most electric grinders are capable of grinding bones. Specifically, these devices can grind “soft” animal bones, like the ones found in chicken, duck, turkey, and rabbit. If you’re dealing with bones from a larger animal (like a cow, pig, sheep, or goat), then you risk jamming up or even breaking your grinder.

Which cuts of meat are best for grinding?

One of the most common ways to use freshly ground meat involves making hamburgers, so it stands to reason that chuck steak counts among the best cuts of meat to pass through a grinder. Other beef cuts like sirloin also work well in a grinder, but there’s no need to feel limited to beef, as you can grind anything from pork to lamb to chicken to game meat. 

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.  Read Next: The Best Carbon Steel Pans