What Are Standard Meat Grinder Sizes and How Is It Measured?

The "outlet opening" is what grinder plates are measured by; you can measure the outlet diameter or plate to find your hub size. Use the chart below to find the hub size of your grinder:

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Hub Size Outlet
Diameter #5 2-1/8" #8 2-1/2" #10 / #12 2-3/4" #22 3-1/4" #32 3-7/8"

What Size Grinder Is Right for Me?

The larger the size of the meat grinder, the greater the volume it can handle and the quicker (expressed in pounds/hour). If you are thinking about getting a manual hand crank grinder, you need to consider that larger grinder sizes require more power to turn the crank. However, larger grinders usually compensate for this by having a bit longer crank handle to provide more leverage.

If you are looking at electric grinders, you will notice that the larger the size number of the grinder, the more powerful the motor that comes with it. Bigger grinders need more power to push the larger volumes of meat through the machine.

So, whether you want a manual grinder or an electric meat grinder, keep in mind the larger the size number, the bigger the unit will be and greater investment.

What Are Grinder Plates and How Are They Used?

The grinding plate, also called a cutting plate, is a round carbon or stainless-steel plate with several holes in it that sits at the end of the meat grinder. As meat is forced through the holes of the grinding plate, a spinning blade cuts across the holes several times per second.

Grinding plates come in different standard number sizes (based on diameter size) to match the size grinder you have. Besides the standard number size, grinding plates also come with a variety of hole sizes for making fine, medium, or coarse (chunky) ground meat. The sizes are generally noted in millimeters or MM and sometimes are indicated on your current grinder plate. We recommend replacing your plates and cutting knife at the same time.

What Are Different Grinder Plates Hole Sizes For?

Grinder plates come with different sized holes to allow for smaller or larger sized chunks of meat to pass through. Grinder plates with smaller diameter holes, like 3MM (1/8"), 4.5MM (3/16"), or 6MM (1/4"), make a fine ground meat for making franks, bologna, or hamburger. Plates with larger holes, say 13MM (1/2") and larger, allow larger pieces of meat to pass through. These larger plates, sometimes called medium or coarse grinding plates, are used for making various types of sausage. Most grinders come with one or two grinding plates, but more plates can be purchased separately. The holes in the grinding plates are relatively sharp when new but tend to dull over time as they are used and should be replaced periodically. We recommend replacing your plates and cutting knife at the same time.

Hole Size Generally Used For 2.5MM (3/32") FINE GRIND - Bologna, Franks, Forcemeats, Hamburger & Jerky 3MM (1/8") FINE GRIND - Bologna, Franks, Forcemeats, Hamburger & Jerky 4MM (5/32") MEDIUM-FINE GRIND - Hamburger, Breakfast, Polish & Italian Sausage 4.5MM (3/16") MEDIUM-FINE GRIND - Hamburger, Breakfast, Polish & Italian Sausage 6MM (1/4") MEDIUM-COARSE GRIND - Salami, Summer Sausage, Bratwurst & Pepperoni 10MM (3/8") COARSE GRIND - First Grind, Chili Meat & Chorizo 13MM (1/2") VERY COARSE GRIND - First Grind, Chili & Stew Meat & Vegetables 20MM (3/4") VERY COARSE GRIND - First Grind or Chunking Meat 25MM (1") VERY COARSE GRIND - First Grind or Chunking or Sausage Stuffing

Are Stainless Steel Grinder Plates and Knives Better Than Carbon Steel?

Although stainless steel grinder plates and knives are more expensive than their carbon steel counterparts, they are more durable than carbon steel and typically retain their sharpness for up to three times as long. Knives and plates made of stainless steel also have the benefit of avoiding rusting. For further protection against rusting, carbon steel plates must be always kept dry and occasionally even covered with a thin layer of oil.

Should I Get a Manual or An Electric Meat Grinder?

Deciding whether to get a manual grinder or an electric meat grinder is largely based on the frequency and/or quantity you will be grinding. Will you be grinding a whole deer or making sausage on a regular basis? Or do you just want 30 pounds of homemade sausage occasionally? Look for a grinder made for the capacity of meat you need to grind.

Manual Grinders - A manual meat grinder is all you need if you will only need to grind occasionally or in small batches. If you only use a grinder to make a small batch, or only once a season for game meat, and you don't want to spend a lot of money, check out our manual meat grinders. Any of our manual models are a great value for anyone who doesn't need to use one for large quantities or on a regular basis. We carry them in stainless steel and plated cast iron at everyday low prices.

Another factor to consider about manual grinders is using them to stuff sausage. Making sausage using a manual meat grinder can be somewhat cumbersome. The meat must be fed into the grinder and the handle cranked at an even rate by one person, while the sausage casing is manipulated on the other end by a second person. One way to make the stuffing process easier without jumping up to an electric meat grinder is to purchase a sausage stuffer, which makes the stuffing job much easier and faster.

Electric Meat Grinders - For folks who grind meat frequently or in large batches, an electric meat grinder is a definite advantage. The electric motor saves a lot of manual labor and allows meat to be ground quickly and easily by just one person. Remember that meat must be kept cold during the grinding process, so the time it takes to do a grinding job is very important. If you need to grind 100 pounds of meat by hand, it could take you a very long time and a lot of muscle. Using an electric model to grind 100 pounds of meat takes less than an hour and will save your body a lot of pain. Electric grinding machines do cost a bit more than manual ones but paying the extra money may be well worth it for you.

Electric grinders are also easier when it comes to stuffing sausage. Since there is no handle to crank, the even grinding rate is taken care of by the electric motor, which helps to stuff sausages casings evenly.

At Meat Processing Products we only carry quality manual and electric meat grinders, so no matter which type you choose to buy, you can rest assured that you will be receiving a top-quality product.

Can I Stuff Sausage with A Meat Grinder?

Any meat grinder, whether manual or electric, can be fitted with sausage stuffing tubes and used to stuff sausage into casing. Many grinders come with a set of stuffing tubes, but they can also be purchased separately and are rather inexpensive. Just be sure that they match the standard size of your grinder so that they attach properly.

Making sausage using a manual meat grinder can be somewhat cumbersome. The meat must be fed into the grinder and the handle cranked at an even rate by one person, while the sausage casing is manipulated on the other end by a second person.

It is easier to stuff sausage with an electric grinder. Since there is no handle to crank, the even grinding rate is taken care of by the electric motor, which helps to stuff sausage casings evenly. Even easier than stuffing with a meat grinder is to stuff sausage with a sausage stuffer, especially if you will be stuffing larger quantities of sausage.

Can I Grind Bones in A Meat Grinder?

Most meat grinders aren't designed to grind bones and it is a rare manufacturer who says that their grinders will do bones, even their heavy-duty commercial models. As you would expect, they need to say this because bones can be very hard on motors and can break the internal gears (especially the cheaper model grinders with plastic gears) or overheat the grinder motor. A manufacturer's warranty might be voided if the grinder is used to grind bones.

However, we have found in our experience that most grinders are indeed capable of grinding smaller animal bones and soft bones, like chicken, rabbit, etc. Obviously, the larger and more powerful grinder you get, the more durable it will be and the better for grinding soft bones. If you really need to grind bones, say for making your own pet food, we suggest the highest wattage all-metal grinder you can afford.

We have found that the Weston #22 or #32 Butcher Series or Pro Series electric grinders go through soft bones like butter because they have all-metal gears and are very powerful.

We do not recommend grinding beef, deer, pork, or other larger animal bones that are more dense, hard, and thick as these may damage your grinder.

Can I Make My Own Dog or Cat Food with A Meat Grinder?

Making your own pet food is an excellent use of a meat grinder. There is a lot of information on the internet regarding putting your pet on an all-raw food diet with pet food you make at home with a meat grinder. Advocates say that your pet will be much healthier if it eats food with a good mixture of ground meat, organs, and bones (see grinding bones above).

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What Other Foods Can I Process with A Meat Grinder?

Grinders, whether they're manual or electric, can be used for all sorts of foods. Although they're called "meat" grinders, they can be used to grind anything including nuts, fruits, and vegetables, and even cheese.

Options Description Nut Butter Put peanuts or almonds through a meat grinder to make your own wholesome nut butter Fruit Sorbet Run frozen strawberries, bananas, mango's, or any other frozen fruit in your meat grinder for an amazing frozen fruit sorbet treat Make Baby Food Make your own baby food peas, carrots, or any other fruit, vegetable, or cooked meat Meat Pate Pass cooked meat through your grinder for excellent meat pate dishes Breadcrumbs Use dry or toasted bread Cheese Crumbles Make your own Parmesan crumble or other dry hard cheese crumble Endless Possibilities Stews, spreads, chili, humus, and as many ideas as you can imagine

Do Meat Grinders Require Any Maintenance?

Whether manual or electric, we recommend stainless steel grinders if you can afford them because they are maintenance free and dishwasher safe. Electric grinders nowadays are 100% maintenance free and require no special cleaning care or lubrication. If you have a cast iron meat grinder, the dishwasher is out of the question.

Washing the pieces by hand will help reduce the chances of rust. Cast iron grinders need to be protected from rusting by keeping them away from moisture. After cleaning, always be sure to dry all the parts thoroughly. You may wish to coat the grinder with mineral oil or cooking oil to protect it from rusting. Store the grinder broken down into its separate components and store in zip top bags.

You can surround the iron pieces with dry rice in the bags and the rice will absorb the moisture in the air. You may have a stainless-steel meat grinder, but your grinding knife and/or plates may be made of carbon steel and not stainless steel. These carbon steel parts need to maintain in the same way as the cast iron mentioned above.

Meat Grinder Beginner&#;s Guide

Meat grinders are not the most common piece of equipment you might find in a kitchen, despite the fact that they are incredibly useful for a huge variety of common food preparation tasks. This scarcity means that most people have absolutely no idea what to look for in a quality, reliable meat grinder, or how to even tell one unit apart from another. This guide is here to clear the air on meat grinders, answering your questions and giving you some helpful advice so that you can purchase an amazing new appliance with confidence.

Choose a Power Source

The first place to start on your journey to find the best home meat grinder is the power supply, as this is going to influence a lot of the other factors as well as eliminate certain features and models from your list of potential candidates completely. Home meat grinders are either going to be manual (i.e. you have to use your hands to turn a crank) or electric (where all you have to do is flip a switch to get them going), with each having their own distinct pluses and minuses. (LINK TO MANUAL VERSUS ELECTRIC ARTICLE).

Without bogging you down too much on the nitty gritty, choosing between the two comes down to deciding whether or not you want to save money and space or save time and effort. Manual grinders are cheaper and smaller, but require you to do all the work. Similarly, electric grinders are bigger and more expensive, but make grinding meat an effortless and simple process. Once you choose between the two, you can start looking at the specific details and specifications of each model.

Focus on Durability

As with any other kitchen appliance, you always want to make sure that you choose a model is going to last you as long as possible and be able to withstand the amount of usage you plan to put it through. In terms of manual meat grinders, you are usually going to see molded plastic bodies, as they are less expensive to produce but still durable and able to keep the body together. Electric models may also include plastic bodies, though there will be some with metal frames that are typically going to be stronger. For the ultimate level of strength, look for a grinder with a cast aluminum body, as this is a commercial grade metal that is designed to withstand lots of heavy usage.

Stainless Steel All the Way

The next most important aspect of any meat grinder is its cutting blade, as this is the component that is responsible for actually cutting up the meat and allowing you to create your ground meats and vegetables. You should always look for a model that has stainless steel cutting blades, as these are going to be very reliable and strong, as well as capable of maintaining a solid level of sharpness over time. Stainless steel is also rust resistant, which is very important in terms of cleanliness and sanitation, since rust can be hard to clean or possibly contaminate your food.

Prioritize Ease of Use

This one is more about your own personal comfort level rather than the specific performance of the grinder, yet it&#;s something that most people tend to forget about or overlook. It&#;s very important that you choose a meat grinder that is easy for you to use and operate, especially if you plan on using it with any kind of noticeable frequency. Ease of use becomes even more important when you start looking at manual meat grinders, since they require exponentially more effort to operate compared to electric models. Think about how the output is positioned in relation to the handle (or power switch on electric models) as well as the size and location of the feed tube, since these will impact how easy or difficult it is to actually use the grinder. If it&#;s difficult to use or position in your kitchen, then you&#;re less likely to use and are going to end up wasting your time and money.

Remember the Importance of Cleaning

Nobody likes to clean up after a few hours in the kitchen, but proper sanitation and cleanliness is seriously important when you&#;re working with food, and meat grinders are one of the appliances that require the most care and attention during clean up. Since you are going to be working with raw meat, leaving any behind on the grinder can lead to a buildup of mold or bacteria that could be transferred to your food during the next use, making you very sick. Stainless steel is again a great choice because it&#;s very easy to clean, especially if the blades and plates are removable. Some models may be dishwasher safe as well, which can make cleanup even easier.

Check for Accessories

Everyone loves getting a few extra goodies with a purchase, and kitchen appliances often have some of the most fascinating and useful accessories around. When you&#;re looking at a meat grinder, the first accessories you&#;re going to want is additional grinding plates, as these will allow you to adjust the coarseness of the meat you grind. Some models will only feature two plates (for coarse or fine grains) so anything more than that is really going the extra mile.

It&#;s also very common for meat grinders to come with sausage making attachments, which will allow you to grind the meat and feed it into a casing of your choice. Some models may give you attachments with different diameters for different sized sausages, so check the number and sizes of these tools when you can. Other accessories may include a kubbe attachment or a pasta maker attachment, as well as an auger, food pusher, or additional cutting blades.

Consider your Available Space

It&#;s always important to think about the amount of free space you have in your kitchen to make sure that you can actually fit a new meat grinder in there comfortably. For some, this may simply be about the available counter space, as you can easily store a grinder out in the open if you plan on using it frequently. If you want to keep it out of sight when not in use, then you&#;ll need to make sure you have room in your cabinets or pantry for it. Manual grinders are going to be significantly smaller than electric models, so they make a great choice if space is at a premium in your kitchen.

Making the Final Call

When it comes down to it, choosing the best meat grinder should really be about finding a tool that will make your life easier. Whether that&#;s because you want a simple, small device to help you make a few hamburger patties and the occasional pot of pasta, or a powerful appliance that will give you an advantage for your bulk food preparation, is completely up to you. Either way, the choice should be easier if you follow the steps and guidelines listed above.

 

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