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Best Meat Grinder

shamus275

shamus275

Well-Known Member
SH Member
Joined
Nov 1, 2019
Messages
651
Looking for suggestions on a new meat grinder. I’ve been using my Cabela’s Deluxe model 500w grinder going on 9 seasons, the wife unit said “buy a new one” so it’s time to retire it. I can bone out a deer pretty quick but grinding is taking forever so let’s hear what ya’ll are using at home!
 
Try searching, seems there has been a very recent discussion about this.
 
I think anything Weston or LEM you can't go wrong it's basically Ford vs. Chevy in my view, except a lot less moving parts. Maybe some other brands to look into but those are the big two in the home processing space. My assumption is one of them makes the Cabela's branded ones, but maybe not.

From there it's just how much capacity/power do you want to pay for.

I have a .75 hp LEM and I can grind through a 20 lb batch in about 10 minutes, no problem. I really can't see needing anything faster per se. What you might get going up to 1 hp or more is the ability to grind meat that isn't as chilled? When I had a hand grinder I had to babysit the meat to get it perfectly partially frozen or I got fat smear. Then I went to a KitchenAid attachment, and it was pretty much the same. With my .75 hp LEM, I can get away with well-chilled meat but it's not as particular about needing that partially frozen consistency. That alone cuts down on the hassle a lot and makes the extra $$ I forked out worth it in my view.
 
I was wondering the same as I crammed 5lbs of freezer packages labeled "misc." down my cabelas #5 grinder this weekend.
 
LEM is on the list although all the ones I’ve researched you to buy the actual grinder attachments separately which is dumb because I’m looking at a $300 grinder and now I have to pay another $129 to actually get the parts and not just the motor.
 
Has anyone here tried LEM's double grind? And does it work with the fill tube that fills the storage bags?
 
I have been using an Anvil for years. Haven’t found anything it won’t grind
 
Do you have the knife and plates sharpened ? I have been using a old electric grinder my grandparents got. I just send the blades to a sharpener once a year and it continues to spit ground meat out effortlessly and efficiently. Huge huge difference for sure and I don’t freeze to grind.
 
RamBam said:
Do you have the knife and plates sharpened ? I have been using a old electric grinder my grandparents got. I just send the blades to a sharpener once a year and it continues to spit ground meat out effortlessly and efficiently. Huge huge difference for sure and I don’t freeze to grind.
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I’ve put new blades in before. It’s not a “This doesn’t grind good enough” thing, it’s a “This takes forever” thing. I’m just looking for something bigger with more power to get the job done faster. In the past I’ve had help and put the kids or the wife to work but with sports and a new baby in the house Dad is left to do it all from start to finish. I’m about efficiency and anywhere I can save time is always a good thing.
 
Meat is a great option, I got for Xmas last year the cabelas commercial carnivore 1/2 hp. The thing is an absolute animal. I can't keep up with the thing. Its got a Colorado elk and 3 white tail under its belt already. Plus a few batches of home made pork sausage.

I would hesitate to buy this one again, but truthfully I will probably be handing this down to my grandkids. It is built extremely well and it can with tons of sausage making attachments
 
We use a 1960's Hobart 220v. Careful though, it will grind fingers and arms like butter....
 
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Not a recent thread I guess, time flies, but here is the thread on here I remember:

Nutterbuster Grinds His Meat

Oh yes he does... Just got my new toy today...LEM #12 Big Bite. 3/4hp, all stainless steel...beautiful. I took it for a quick test run and ground up 5lbs of meat in maybe a minute. It'll eat strips as fast as you can shovel them in there. I'd estimate I could probably do a whole deer in under...
saddlehunter.com
 
five said:
Not a recent thread I guess, time flies, but here is the thread on here I remember:

Nutterbuster Grinds His Meat

Oh yes he does... Just got my new toy today...LEM #12 Big Bite. 3/4hp, all stainless steel...beautiful. I took it for a quick test run and ground up 5lbs of meat in maybe a minute. It'll eat strips as fast as you can shovel them in there. I'd estimate I could probably do a whole deer in under...
saddlehunter.com
Click to expand...
I’m actually looking at the “Big Bite” and “Little Bite” along with the Cabela’s Carnivore mentioned above.
 
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