Best Meat Grinders: Buyer’s Guide and Reviews
If you’ve come to this site, chances are you are either looking to purchase a meat grinder or replace one. There are many grinders to choose from based on your budget, what you plan to do with it and how much meat you plan on grinding. With our research of meat grinders, we are confident we can direct you to the best purchase choice. Take a moment to check out the reviews, you should find a grinder that suits your needs. Our picks are based on each maker’s specifications and verified owner reviews, not hands-on testing.
STX International 3000 TF Turboforce
★★★★½4.5Handles regular batches without taking over the worktop.
3000W max (800-1200W under load) · 12 lbs · 3 years warranty
LEM Products #32 1.5HP
★★★★½4.7Rated up to 17 lbs a minute and grinds raw chicken bones. Built for volume.
1.5 HP · 64.8 lbs · 5 years warranty
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment
★★★★½4.7Turns a stand mixer you already own into a capable grinder.
N/A (mixer powered) · 2.5 lbs · 1 year warranty
Compare All Our Picks
| Product | Model | Best for | Power | Grinds soft bone | Per hour | Weight | Warranty | Amazon rating | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEM Products #32 1.5HP | Heavy duty | 1.5 HP | Yes | Up to 1,020 lbs | 64.8 lbs | 5 years | ★★★★½4.7 | Check priceRead review |
| STX International 3000 TF Turboforce | Home use | 3000W max (800-1200W under load) | No | 180-240 lbs | 12 lbs | 3 years | ★★★★½4.5 | Check priceRead review |
 | Weston Pro Series .75 HP | Commercial | 560W (3/4 HP) | Not stated | 240-360 lbs | 38.5 lbs | 5 years | ★★★★½4.6 | Check priceRead review |
| KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment | Stand mixer attachment | N/A (mixer powered) | No | Not stated | 2.5 lbs | 1 year | ★★★★½4.7 | Check priceRead review |
 | STX 4000 Turboforce II | Mid-range electric | 2000W max | Yes | 175-260 lbs | 13 lbs | 3 years | ★★★★★4.4 | Check priceRead review |
 | LEM Products #22 1HP | Large batches | 1.0 HP | Yes | Up to 780 lbs | 49.6 lbs | 5 years | ★★★★½4.7 | Check priceRead review |
 | LEM Products .75HP #12 | Regular home batches | 0.75 HP | Yes | Up to 660 lbs | 33.1 lbs | 5 years | ★★★★½4.7 | Check priceRead review |
Detailed Reviews
LEM Products #32 1.5HP: Best Heavy Duty Meat Grinder
If you need a heavy duty grinder, LEM rates the #32 1.5HP Big Bite at up to 17 pounds of meat a minute, more than 1,000 pounds an hour, and says it handles raw chicken bones. At 64.8 pounds it’s built for wild game and big batches. LEM’s Big Bite grinders average 4.7 out of 5 from more than 3,000 Amazon ratings, shared across sizes, and LEM backs them with a five-year factory warranty.
STX International 3000 TF Turboforce: Best for Home Use
This STX meat grinder comes with three stainless steel cutting blades and tempered steel grinding plates in 4 mm, 7 mm and 10 mm, plus a wagon wheel plate. STX says it will not grind bones, so it’s a grinder for boneless meat.
The standard size 12 grind ensures a larger and faster output which makes it an ideal grinder for large quantities. The STX-3000-TF also comes with three different sized sausage stuffing tubes so that making homemade sausages has never been easier.
This is a powerful electric meat grinder that is ideal for anyone who is looking to grind regularly and in medium to large quantities. One of the best meat grinders for the price.
Weston Pro Series: Best Commercial Meat Grinder
Weston rates this grinder at 4 to 6 pounds of meat a minute, 240 to 360 pounds an hour. If you need something that will produce day after day, then the Weston #8 grinder will do the job. The grinder is ideal for processing wild game, venison and other meats while also doubling as a sausage stuffer. It averages 4.6 out of 5 on Amazon, from a smaller sample of about 95 ratings, and Weston covers it with a 5-year warranty.
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment: Best Stand Mixer Attachment
This KitchenAid KSMMGA grinder attachment includes fine, medium and coarse grinding plates, a sausage stuffer plate, two sausage tubes and a food pusher, packed in its own storage case. If you have a KitchenAid mixer, this is a great alternative to purchasing a dedicated meat grinder.
This is a great addition to your mixer and perfect for small quantities of meat and sausage creations. It averages 4.7 out of 5 from nearly 11,000 Amazon ratings. KitchenAid suggests chilling the grinder in the fridge or freezer first for a cleaner grind.
STX 4000 Turboforce II
The Turboforce II is STX’s air-cooled #12 grinder, with what STX calls a patented quad air induction cooling system. These grinders are popular because of their great features and reasonable price. This model also looks nice because of the black and shiny chrome case.
The specifications for this model are very similar to the STX 3000 MF. It comes with 5 grinding plates and 3 blades, plus other accessories for sausage stuffing.
Unlike the Turboforce 3000, STX says this one handles soft bones such as chicken, rabbit and quail, and it adds a foot pedal. STX rates it at 220 to 260 pounds an hour in one place and 175 to 225 in another. It averages 4.4 out of 5 from about 2,400 Amazon ratings, and like other STX grinders it carries a 3-year warranty.
LEM Products .75HP Big Bite
Powerful 0.75 HP electric meat grinder with all-metal construction. Stainless steel grinder head and attachments. 3 plates for coarse to fine grinding. Large capacity and meat stomper. Great for wild game.
LEM Products Big Bite #5 (.35HP)
The LEM .35HP grinder is the little brother to the .75 and 1 HP models and can grind about 4 pounds of meat a minute, or 240 pounds an hour. LEM says it is not for bones.
It comes with three plates, a knife, a stomper and stuffing tubes, it’s easy to take apart for cleaning, and it carries LEM’s five-year factory warranty.
A Few Things to Consider When Choosing a Meat Grinder
Meat grinders are a great way of ensuring you have control over what goes into your ground meat and sausages. The design concept behind the grinder has changed little since the first-hand grinders made their appearance in the nineteenth century. Before rushing out and buying the first grinder you find, it’s worth your while to develop some criteria so that you end up with the best meat grinder for the job.
Quantities of Ground Meat
The amount of meat you plan to grind is an important consideration when choosing a grinder. If you are going to be a casual user, making the occasional batch of home-made burgers, the model you choose should likely be a simple hand grinder or one of the less expensive electric grinders. On the other hand, if you are going to regularly make your own sausages, process blends of ground meats, and possibly grind your own pet food, you will need a large and powerful grinder to process large quantities of meat. Electric grinders come in a range of sizes and also feature a range of different-sized motors and features.
Stand Mixers
If you already have a stand mixer and aren’t planning on grinding large quantities of meat, you might find that purchasing a grinding attachment to use with the stand mixer is your best option. These are great for casual grinders or if you occasionally like to make your own sausages. You can also blend meats and other ingredients to develop your own unique recipes.
Budget
This is an important consideration when choosing a model because prices can range from less than $100 to high-priced commercial models. It is advisable to set a budget and stick to it after you have determined what type of grinder you need. It is easy to be wooed by the many varied functions and features of expensive models. At the end of the day though, a meat grinder is for grinding meat and a basic model will do the job if you aren’t prepared to pay high-end prices.
Finding the Best Meat Grinder: Buying Guide
There are many different types and models of meat grinders available to purchase and because they are all somewhat similar, it can sometimes be difficult to decide which meat grinder to buy. The many benefits associated with grinding your own meat, include having total control over the thickness of the grind as well as control over any additives you might choose to add.
Different Types of Meat Grinders
- Manual grinders
- Electric grinders
- Grinder attachments for food processors
Each type has its own benefits and you should select the best meat grinder that suits your individual circumstances and budget.
Heavy Duty Grinders
If you intend to grind meat on a regular basis, the heavy-duty meat grinder is for you. It is ideal for grinding large quantities of meat. However, these grinders cost more than a manual grinder or a mixer grinder attachment.
On the other hand, if you are going to regularly make your own sausages, process blends of ground meats, and possibly grind your own pet food, you will need a large and powerful grinder to process large quantities of meat. Meat grinders come in a range of sizes and also feature a range of different-sized motors, grinder plates for different grinds, and the ability to make sausages, something that you can explore and experiment with.
For anyone who has to observe a strict diet or just wants a great tasting burger, grinding your own meat provides a sure way of controlling the type of meat you consume.
Manual Grinders
If you don’t intend to grind huge quantities of meat and only tend to grind meat occasionally, a manual grinder will likely be your best bet. Also, if you plan to grind meat in an area where there is no electricity available, the manual grinder is a must.
Many cheap metal hand grinders are coated cast iron or steel, and rust after a few uses is a common owner complaint, so read the reviews before you buy. Our LHS manual meat grinder review covers one option.
Grinder Attachments for Stand Mixers
Stand mixers generally offer a food grinder attachment such as the KitchenAid meat grinder attachment as part of the optional attachments that are available for the mixer. The most expensive part of this arrangement is the motor, but because you already have it as part of the stand mixer, the grinding attachment is all you will need to purchase. You also have the advantage of grinding other foods besides meat and creating your own mixtures right in the bowl of your stand mixer, as well as making your own sausages with an attachment.
The older plastic-bodied KitchenAid FGA attachment is also still sold: KitchenAid FGA food grinder attachment.
Browse by Category
Heavy Duty
If you are grinding large quantities of meat, these are the grinders for you.
Home Use
Great for home use or light duty meat grinding.
Commercial
For business use or when you need to grind large quantities of meat.
Buying Guide
How to narrow down the options and choose the right grinder.