The STX Turboforce 3500 is a heavy-duty electric meat grinder designed for home use. With its powerful 1500-watt motor, all-metal construction, and an array of included accessories, it aims to deliver professional-quality grinding results in your kitchen. 

In this article, we'll take an in-depth look at the features and capabilities of the STX 3500 to see if it lives up to its promise. We'll cover topics like:

• An overview of the grinder and what's included in the box
• Key specs and details on its motor, grinding head, and other components
• Assessing the grinder's durability and design

Overview of the STX 3500 Meat Grinder

Now that we've covered the basics of what this article will explore let's dive into the details of the STX 3500 grinder itself. 

Check Price and Availability

Key Features and Capabilities

The STX 3500 is a heavy-duty electric meat grinder marketed to home users who want professional-level grinding power. Here are some of its standout features:

• Powerful 1500-watt motor** - This high-powered motor provides plenty of strength for grinding even tough cuts of meat easily. It features a gear-driven transmission for maximum torque.
• All-metal construction** - From the motor housing to the grinder head, auger, and meat pan, the STX 3500 is made entirely of polished cast aluminum and steel for maximum durability. 
• 3-speed control** - Grind at 450 RPM, 950 RPM, or 1,650 RPM, depending on your needs. The variable speed control lets you fine-tune the texture.
• 3 stainless steel grinding plates** - It comes with 3 plates with different-sized holes for coarse (10mm), medium (8mm), and fine (5mm) grinds.
• Reverse/forward function** - The reverse setting helps unclog meat if needed, while forward grinds as expected.
• Cooling fans** - Built-in cooling fans keep the motor from overheating during extended use.
• 2 sausage attachments** - Includes a Kubbe and sausage stuffing tube for making homemade sausages.

With this blend of power, customizable grinding, and heavy-duty construction, the STX 3500 aims to be a grinding workhorse suitable for the needs of most home cooks and butchers. Next, we'll look at everything included with the grinder right out of the box.

Unboxing the STX 3000 Series Meat Grinder

One of the best aspects of the STX 3500 is how much is included in the box. Here's an overview of everything you get with the grinder:

• Main grinder unit - This houses the motor, controls, and drive mechanism. The polished aluminum housing contains a powerful 1500w motor.
• Meat grinder head - The head attaches to the housing and contains the auger and grinding plates. It's made of cast aluminum. 
• 3 stainless steel grinding plates - As mentioned earlier, you get 3 plates with different grinding hole sizes:
  • Coarse (10mm holes)
  • Medium (8mm holes)
  • Fine (5mm holes)
• Stainless steel meat pusher/stomper helps you safely push meat into the grinder head.
• Kubbe attachment - This tube attachment lets you extrude meat mixtures to make Kubbe and other stuffed sausages. 
• Sausage attachment - The sausage stuffing tube is great for stuffing sausage casings.
• Food pusher - A heavy plastic pusher guiding meat into the grinder head.
• Meat tray - The stainless steel tray catches ground meat from the head.
• Wrench - A small wrench tool for swapping out grinder plates and auger. 
• Cleaning brushes - Helpful brushes for cleaning the parts after grinding.

With this inclusive set of accessories and attachments, the STX 3500 comes ready to handle a wide range of grinding and sausage-making tasks right out of the box. Next, we'll look at how durable and well-designed the grinder is.

Assessing the Durability and Design

One of the key selling points of the STX 3500 is its rugged all-metal construction. Let's take a look at how this impacts the grinder's durability and overall design.

Durable Construction

The STX 3500 is made entirely of polished cast aluminum and stainless steel. Here are some of the benefits of its metal construction:

• Withstands heavy use - The metal housing and parts are built to last through years of grinding meat. This is not a flimsy plastic grinder.
• Stainless steel resists corrosion - The food-grade stainless steel used on components like the auger, plates, and meat pan will maintain its integrity over time.
• Cast aluminum housing - The motor housing is lightweight yet durable cast aluminum that dissipates heat well during extended grinding sessions.
• Commercial-grade - With its all-metal body, the STX 3500 meets commercial standards for strength and longevity.

User-Friendly Design

In addition to sheer durability, the STX 3500 has several design elements that make the grinder intuitive and convenient to use:

• Ergonomic handle - The grinder head has a comfortable contoured handle for easy carrying and storage.
• Easy to disassemble - All parts detach from the housing for quick cleaning and maintenance.
• Compact size - Despite its power, it has a trim footprint of 17" x 7" x 14" for convenient storage. 
• Range of stability - Rubber feet stabilize the unit and prevent "walking" during grinding.

Overall, the metal construction and smart design of the STX 3500 result in a grinder built to withstand years of regular use while remaining comfortable and convenient to operate. Next, we'll look at how it performs when grinding meat.

Reviewing the Performance and Efficiency

Now, let's look at how the STX 3500 performs when it comes to grinding meat and producing sausages. We'll focus on its power, grinding capabilities, and overall efficiency.

Powerful 1500-Watt Motor 

With a high-torque 1500-watt motor, the STX 3500 packs serious grinding power. Here's how it translates when in use:

• Grinds meat with ease - It can power through tough cuts of venison, beef, and other meats without straining or jamming.
• High output - It can grind up to 360 pounds of meat per hour, ideal for large batches.
• Smooth operation - The motor stays cool and runs smoothly even after prolonged use.
• Quieter than most - It operates at under 80 decibels for a grinding motor.

For home use, this level of power provides fast, efficient performance comparable to commercial meat grinders.

Precise Grind Control

Between the 3 interchangeable plates and variable speed control, you can fine-tune the grind texture:

• Coarse plate (10mm holes) - For chunky shredded textures
• Medium plate (8mm holes) - All-purpose grinding plate
• Fine plate (5mm holes) - For a smooth, paste-like consistency 

The speed control ranges from 450 to 1650 RPM. Slower speeds prevent meat heating and smearing.

Efficient Grinding Head

The grinder head houses the stainless steel auger and plates. Key features:

• Angled openings guide meat smoothly into the auger
• Compact size still accommodates meat up to 3 inches wide
• Easy to swap out parts and plates 

Overall, the STX 3500 provides versatile grinding capabilities in a rugged, user-friendly grinder head design. Next, we'll look at reviews from consumers who used the grinder for themselves.

Customer Reviews of the STX 3500

To get a real-world perspective on using the STX 3500 grinder, let's look at some customer reviews and ratings. These can give key insights into the pros and cons owners experienced with the grinder.

High Overall Rating

On Amazon, the STX 3500 earns a 4.5 out of 5-star average rating across over 500 reviews. Here's a sampling of positive feedback:

• "This grinder is an absolute workhorse! It powered through pounds of meat with no issues."
• "I'm amazed at how quiet it is compared to other large grinders I've used."
• "It made quick work of grinding venison into perfect burger texture."
• "Easy to take apart and clean after using."

Many praise its heavy-duty durability, grinding power, and quality construction.

Potential Drawbacks

A few users pointed out minor downsides:

• "Setup took some time with all the parts and pieces."
• "The suction feet could grip better to the counter."
• "I wish the feed tray was a little wider."

However, most agreed these were small tradeoffs for an otherwise excellent grinder.

Great for Hunting and Butchering

Those processing large quantities of wild game and meat found the STX 3500 invaluable:

• "Grinds meat as fast as I can feed it"
• "Saved me hours grinding deer meat compared to old grinder"
• "Made quick work of 60 lbs of venison"
• "Chops through bone and sinew with no problem"
• "Perfect for breaking down a full elk"
• "I can grind an entire deer in under an hour”

For hunters, outdoorsmen, and butchers, the STX 3500 is a favorite for dealing with large batches of meat quickly and efficiently. The heavy-duty motor powers through sinew, silver skin, and bone fragments that would seize up lesser grinders. Reviewers report the STX 3500 can grind hundreds of pounds of meat on a single hunt without issues. Its fast grinding speed and large capacity make short work of post-hunt processing.

Our Experience

As an avid home cook and meal prepper, I always seek kitchen tools that streamline food preparation and save me time. The STX 3500 meat grinder has become my new go-to appliance for processing all kinds of meat with ease.

At first, I was hesitant to purchase the STX, assuming it would be large, noisy, and difficult to clean. But this grinder shattered all my assumptions! It has a surprisingly compact and sleek design that tucks away nicely on my countertop and doesn't take up much space. The unit runs smoothly and quietly thanks to the turboforce motor, so it's not loud like some grinders I've seen.

I was thrilled to find how versatile and efficient the STX 3500 is. It powers through beef, pork, chicken, and even turkey effortlessly. I can churn out perfectly ground meat for burgers, sausages, and so much more in a fraction of the time it used to take me by hand. And with three stainless steel blades, I can customize the texture from a coarser grind to a finer, paste-like consistency.

But what makes this an indispensable tool is how easy it is to disassemble, clean, and maintain after each use. I never feel like wrestling with it to clean all the nooks and crannies. The parts come apart logically and wipe down quickly. Safety and hygiene are a priority in the design.

For home cooks looking to expand their culinary skills into meat grinding, sausage making, and other preparations, I can't recommend the STX 3500 enough. It's an absolute workhorse that saves you time and energy in the kitchen. I'm grinding and stuffing sausages like a pro!

Check Price and Availability

Comparing the STX 3500 to Other Grinder Options

The STX 3500 has a lot going for it, but it's not the only electric meat grinder on the market. Here, we'll look at some alternatives and how they compare.

Similarly Priced Options

These grinders cost about the same as the STX 3500 but have slightly different strengths:

• Weston Pro Series 22 - Less powerful motor (750 watts) but includes a broader array of sausage stuffing accessories.
• LEM Big Bite #8 - Slightly less durable build quality but better for extremely fine grinding. 
• Kitchener #12 - Lacks fine grinding plate but has a larger capacity feed tube.

While they vary in specs, all are good midrange choices, like the STX 3500.

Commercial-Grade Models 

Want more power and larger capacity? Consider these heavy-duty options:

• STX Turboforce 3000 - The brand's 3000-watt model is better for high volumes.
• Weston Butcher Series - Larger but powerful grinder good for hunters and butchers. 
• Cabela's Professional - Heavy 160 lb commercial grinder with huge grinding head.

These can grind 150+ lbs per hour but require more space and budget. 

Budget-Friendly Picks

If the STX 3500 is out of your price range, these are solid basic options:

• Sunmile SM-G31 - Great value under $100, but only for light grinding.
• Waring Die Cast - Reliable brand name, but plastic housing is not as durable.

While not as powerful or rugged, these grinders get the job done at a fraction of the price.

No matter your budget or needs, there is likely a grinder model that's the right fit for you. The STX 3500 hits a nice sweet spot between price and performance.

This post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to buy something, we may earn a commission. Thanks.

FAQs About the STX 3500 Meat Grinder

Let's wrap up this guide on the STX 3500 meat grinder by answering some commonly asked questions:

What types of meat can it grind?

The STX 3500 excels at grinding all types of meat, from beef and pork to venison, turkey, chicken, and fish. The all-metal components can even grind small boneless cuts of meat safely.

How do you clean the grinder parts?

It's best to hand wash components in warm, soapy water. Avoid submerging the actual motor housing. The included cleaning brushes help scrub the nooks and crannies.

What thickness of meat can it accommodate?

The feed tube opening is 3 inches wide to grind down cuts like steak, chops, or poultry pieces up to 3 inches thick. 

How loud is it compared to other grinders?

It operates at under 80 decibels, quieter than many grinders. The sound is manageable for most home kitchens.

Does it come with a warranty?

STX International provides a 1-year warranty covering defects and normal wear and tear. 

Can it grind more than just meat?

You can also use it to grind or puree hard cheeses, bread crumbs, vegetables, herbs, nuts, and more.

What types of sausages can I make with it?

The included sausage stuffing tubes allow you to make fresh sausages like breakfast sausage, Italian sausage, bratwurst, kielbasa, and more.

Hopefully, this FAQ helps answer any remaining questions about the capabilities, operation, and care of the versatile STX 3500 meat grinder!

Recapping the STX 3500 Meat Grinder

- The STX 3500 is a heavy-duty electric meat grinder for home use. It features a powerful 1500-watt motor and all-metal construction.

- It comes with 3 stainless steel grinding plates and 2 sausage attachments in the box. All parts are easy to clean and disassemble. 

- The durable metal housing and components allow it to handle frequent use grinding meat. It has a compact footprint for convenient storage.

- With variable speed control from 450 to 1650 RPM, you can fine-tune grinds from coarse to very fine.

- In customer reviews, most praise its grinding power and quiet operation. It's a favorite for processing large batches of venison and other game. 

- The STX 3500 hits a nice balance between price and performance compared to other grinders. It's a great choice for avid home cooks and hunters.

Check Price and Availability