Meat Grinders Used in Charcuterie

• Power source (electric or manual)
• Speed of grinding
• Volume of grinding
• Size of the grinder
• Construction of the grinder

• Body and hopper. The body and hopper is generally one solid piece and houses all of the moving parts (excluding the motor).
• Worm (auger). The worm is inserted into the motor through the body. This is the screw-like part that draws meat down the hopper and through the body toward the knife.
• The knife is a cutting implement with four blades and looks like a propeller on a plane. The knife fits onto the end of the worm and spins at the same rate. As the meat passes down the body via the worm, it is first cut by the knife as it is forced through the plate.
• The plate is a thick, round piece of steel containing several holes. It fits onto the end of the body and holds the worm in position as it spins. The size of the holes on the plate determines how coarse or fine your ground meat will be.
• Locking ring. The locking ring holds the plate in place, securing all of the moving parts of your grinder.

Photo by David Pluimer

Meat grinder parts.

For the purposes of this article, I will discuss three types of meat grinders. The size of the grinder you choose will be largely determined by the amount of meat that you plan to grind. This will also determine the size of the grinder you choose.

Manual meat grinders

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Manual meat grinder.

Manual meat grinders cost less than electric meat grinders because they don’t contain any motorized parts. This is probably how your grandma or grandpa used to make sausage. Manual meat grinders must be clamped onto a hard surface like a table- or countertop. Manual meat grinders are lower in cost and maintenance than their electric workhorse big brothers, which is why they are a great starting point. Manual grinders can also be used anywhere because they do not require electricity.

KitchenAid mixer attachment grinder

If you happen to have a KitchenAid mixer, then you’ll notice that the front of the mixer has a place for attaching add-on equipment. One of the attachments you can purchase from KitchenAid for your mixer is a meat grinder, pictured here.

Photo by David Pluimer

KitchenAid attachment port and grinder attachment.

The KitchenAid grinder attachment is great for testing the waters of making sausage. The parts are all the same as on a manual grinder, but you get a nice upgrade from the laborious task of manually grinding by using the grinder attachment with your KitchenAid mixer. This is, however, not a good long-term solution. Your mixer was specifically designed as a mixer, not a meat grinder, and so excessive use as a grinder with the attachment can greatly shorten the lifespan of your KitchenAid mixer.

Electric meat grinders

Photo by David Pluimer

Electric meat grinder.

Budget and intended use are major determining factors when selecting a meat grinder. If you plan to use your meat grinder more than once a year or to grind more than ten pounds of meat at a time, then you should consider an electric grinder. This will save you time, energy, and blisters.

Sizing and choosing your grinder

The plate is a circular piece of steel covered in holes that fits on the end of the worm and determines how coarse or fine your ground meat will be.

Photo by David Pluimer

Sausage grinder plates of different sizes.

One other determining factor when choosing a grinder is the materials from which your grinder is made. Stainless steel is the industry standard because it is durable, easy to clean, and resistant to rust. However, you can save money by going with plastic or aluminum options.