Meat Grinder Recommendations?

[rossislider]

I've been wanting to pick up a meat grinder for a while to process my own game. I don't think I need anything professional grade or do I? Does anyone have any experience with grinders in the $100 range or do I need to go higher end if I want to do a good job and want it to hold up?

 

Thanks

[muledeerarea33?]

I'm

Wondering the same. I bought a harbor freight grinder a few years ago for around 80 bucks. It ain't worth 2 bucks!! The hand grinder I have that's 70 yrs old does a very good job but its by hand. I've been debating getting a kitchen aid mixer with the grinder attachment or buying a stand alone grinder from bass pro or cabelas.

[rkv09]

I bought this deni meat grinder, the 3500 from Amazon about two years ago for a 100 bucks and it has worked great for me. I make a lot of sauage, snack sticks and jerky so most of the animal I grind up save a few roast and backstraps. I have ran three deer, seven pigs (my buddies give em to me) and the hind quarter of an elk through it just fine. It grinds pretty fast, for being a little one and since its only me doing all the grinding the it works for me. I lost the cutting blades twice now, i clean and lose em, and I called up Deni and they sent me new one for 12 bucks I think, so even the customer service is pretty good.

[Couzer]

Go with LEM, they are a little pricey but after 1-2 trips not going to the butcher and it pays for itself. I had the .35 hp one and just upgraded to the .75 hp which works much smoother, not getting bogged down. Very very good investment!!! Just don't buy anything with plastic gears, you'll have to be easy with something like that and takes up to 10 x's longer to get the job done. My LEM spits it out faster than I I can get it in. My 2 cents

 

On a side note if someone has the kitchen aid attachment I was curious how it holds up.

[My Rights As An American]

I have the small cabelas grinder that I bout about 10 years ago for $100. put many deer, pigs and elk through it with little problems. Friend bought the brand that sportsman's warehouse carries and it broke in under one minute (I know because I am the one who broke it). Do not get anything with plastic gears. Well worth buying your own after the first animal you process yourself.

[Guest akaspecials]

I got one for my kitchen aide. It was crap for big jobs and I wouldn't recommend it. I just bought a LEM hand one and have processed one hog using it and it was okay. Haven't tried an elk yet. That'll be the real test.

[muledeerarea33?]

That's good to know about the kitchen aid. I've been curious about it. Anyone else have an opinion on it?

[rossislider]

I have heard the kitchen aid ones don't hold up but can't speak to them from personal experience. I'll have to check out the LEM brand.

Thanks

[Couzer]

/>I have heard the kitchen aid ones don't hold up but can't speak to them from personal experience. I'll have to check out the LEM brand.

Thanks

I believe LEM makes the grinders for Bass Pro and Cabelas, I would look into those as well

[twowindy]

Cody and I bought the 1HP grinder from cabelas,a bit pricey but well worth the money.They run about $500 bucks.

[SWDesertRat]

I did a little research when I was looking at grinders. I discovered that for what I do and what most folks do, 3/4 hp is plenty big enough. My buddies went in on a Cabelas 3/4 when it was on sale and one of them had a coupon so it knocked 200.00 off. The thing is a beast, and works great, I just dont like how much space it takes up for storage. So I started looking for alternatives. There are lots out there, Costco even has one. I settled one that attaches to the Kitchen Aid, not KA brand though, its called Chefs Choice, it comes with a coarse and fine grind and its all metal.

We already owned the Kitchen Aid Pro 550, which means its 550 watts, essentially almost 3/4 hp. Ive run two javelina through it, and the mixer didnt even balk at the frozen meat and fat I was putting through it. Best part is cleanup is a breeze, the whole grinder can go into the sink or dishwasher and it all fits in a big bowl in the cupboards. Easy set up, take down and storage and I bought it for about 100.00 on Amazon.

Oh and the lady was more excited about the grinder than I was because she can use it for dinner size jobs without too much hassle.

[tjhunt2]

I have a .35hp LEM, the smallest they make I believe, and I haven't had a bit of trouble. It's small and works quite well. I don't know how many hundreds of pounds I've put thru it and never had to replace the blade. Well, that's not true, my friend dropped it down the garbage despoil while cleaning it which chewed up the blade. Can't go wrong with LEM.

 

TJ

[bowhunter4life]

I also have the LEM 3/4 horse bought around 10 years ago. Thinking over the 1000 pounds of burger and sausage over the years.

[CouesWhitetail]

I have one of the larger Cabelas grinders and love it! 1 hp I believe. But 3/4 should be enough for most everyone.

[Xman2000]

+1 one for lem brand grinder really it all comes down to how fast to want to process your meat bigger the HP the faster it can get done I have the small one and the big one and both will do a complete elk last year with my small one I did 3 mule deer from the Kaibab and did almost 2 deer in summer sausage and brats was able to get it all done in one weekend