ISO Cheap meat grinder recommendations

I am thinking about buying a meat grinder (I still have my mom's hand-cranked one from the 50s), but I don't want to spend a lot of money on it. I just won't use it enough to justify spending $500+ on a decent model. Are there any out there in the $100-$150 range, that are adequate? Are cheap meat grinders like cheap pasta makers, and just not worth bothering with? Should I look for a used professional model instead? Next to reliabilty, ease of cleaning would be a top priority for me. Any advice would be appreciated. Thanks.

I'm assuming from your post that you want an electric model? I was going to suggest a hunter's catalogue like Cabela's for a manual one, though they do have this interesting widget to connect your manual one to a power drill and thus make it electric (though I suppose you need hands like Vishnu to then successfully grind meat.)

Seriously, though, they list quite a few electric grinders in your price range, though I can't speak to the quality of any of them.

Do you have a kitchenaid stand mixer? Their meat grinder attachment might have all the power and versatility you need, and costs less than $50.

Do give us an update: I'm curious about grinding my own meat, but neither own a kitchenaid nor want to put serious money into a grinder.

The suggestion about looking at hunting/outdoors stores was right on. I bought mine at Cabela's for about $100 and as far as I can tell it works just fine. I don't do any heavy duty stuff, but it handles goose breasts and venison as I would expect.

gleam wrote:Do you have a kitchenaid stand mixer? Their meat grinder attachment might have all the power and versatility you need, and costs less than $50.

Ditto.
A great buy for the price.

johnny wrote:

gleam wrote:Do you have a kitchenaid stand mixer? Their meat grinder attachment might have all the power and versatility you need, and costs less than $50.

Ditto.
A great buy for the price.

Let me "third" this suggestion and add that I've actually been surprised by how durable and reliable the one I own is. I even store it in the freezer and it's held up very well. It was 50 of the best dollars I've ever spent on kitchen equipment, on a use/cost basis.

=R=

Unfortunately, I don't own a KitchenAid. Actually, I also need a new mixer, so maybe I can apply the money I would spend on a grinder towards the purchase of a KitchenAid with the attachment.

Amazon has the KitchenAid Pro Series Mixers for $299. KitchenAid is offering a $50 rebate on the mixer, which brings the price to only $249. They are also offering a 25% mail-in rebate on all attachments. That may be the way I will go.

A grinder that I am curious about is the one made by "Back to Basics". It is only $65 at etronics. It has an 800 watt (1hp) reversable motor, and comes with 3 disks. Those specs compare to models that cost several hundred dollars. So what's wrong with it? It comes with a 2 year warranty, so it might be worth taking a chance. Has anybody bought any of the Back to Basics appliances?

Cabela's has a Hoffman Estates location. I noticed in their sales flier that their $100 machine was on sale for $50. Might be a after thanksgiving/weekend sale thing.

they also have sausage stuffers.

d4v3 wrote:Amazon has the KitchenAid Pro Series Mixers for $299. KitchenAid is offering a $50 rebate on the mixer, which brings the price to only $249. They are also offering a 25% mail-in rebate on all attachments. That may be the way I will go.

An excellent deal IMO.
The Kitchenaid is built like a tank and will last longer than any of us.

johnny wrote:The Kitchenaid is built like a tank and will last longer than any of us.

Mine fell off the counter several years ago (I left it unattended while kneading bread dough) and the only damage done was to my tile floor. I don't know if they're still as well-built as they once were, though.

=R=

My Kitchenaid mixer, purchased in 1984, also worked it's way onto the floor in the process of kneading bread unattended, and survived the fall with absolutely no damage.

I read somewhere that some inner parts previously made of metal are now made of plastic.

ronnie_suburban wrote:Mine fell off the counter several years ago (I left it unattended while kneading bread dough) and the only damage done was to my tile floor. I don't know if they're still as well-built as they once were, though.

=R=

I saw how they were made on a television show once. It's pretty remarkable.

I've got that exact mixer. It's enormous, enormously powerful, enormously loud, and that's a fantastic deal on it.

I believe, also, that that line uses all metal innards. I'm not sure either way on whether the other models do.

d4v3 wrote:Amazon has the KitchenAid Pro Series Mixers for $299. KitchenAid is offering a $50 rebate on the mixer, which brings the price to only $249. They are also offering a 25% mail-in rebate on all attachments. That may be the way I will go.

Dave,

My KA pro is 17-18 years old and in very good condition.* When I was in bread baking mode I used the machine extensively. I also have the meat grinder which works well, aside from the fact the ground meat extrudes from an awkward height.

I've been quite pleased with mine and recommend the KA Pro.

Enjoy,
Gary

*Though mine has never hit the floor.

OK, I'm convinced. I don't think I can pass this one up. With the 25% rebate, the grinder attachment is only $34. I guess Santa is bringimg me a new Kitchen Aid mixer .

Whoa! What a deal! The Other Dr. Gale has often evinced a wistful sigh in the presence of this machine, but we always pulled up short at the $600 price tag.

Man, I scooped this up so fast, made my head swim. Merry Christmas, TODG! : )

Tnx folks, LTH comes through AGAIN!

Geo
PS. Might be tight on the rebate--the machine has a delivery date of 2-21 Jan, but the postmark must be by 30 Jan on the rebate form, which has to include the sticker from the machine's box.

Hmmm, mine shipped right away. Perhaps I got the last one in pewter. Except for black, most of the other colors are more expensive, but the whitish one (which they call meringue), is actually $30 cheaper. That is $219 after the rebate, and it is in stock.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Y ... 336&sr=1-5

Huh. The grinder + sausage stuffer shipped overnight. But "not yet shipped" is the note on the machine itself.

Dang, I shoulda looked at the other colors; I just presumed (falsely, it seems) that pewter was the only one available.

Geo

Geo wrote:Huh. The grinder + sausage stuffer shipped overnight. But "not yet shipped" is the note on the machine itself.

Dang, I shoulda looked at the other colors; I just presumed (falsely, it seems) that pewter was the only one available.

Geo

Thankfully, Amazon makes it very easy to cancel individual parts of an order, as long as they haven't been prepared for shipment yet. So cancel it, get the Meringue, and have it in time for Christmas.

Tnx Ed, good idea. I'll give it a try.

Geo

Geo wrote:Dang, I shoulda looked at the other colors; I just presumed (falsely, it seems) that pewter was the only one available.

For some reason, Amazon put the Dark Pewter one under a different stock number from the other colors. I just discovered it myself. The black one (licorice) is also $299. I would do just like Gleam suggests and cancel the item. It is really easy. In fact, I am considering changing my order also. I just can't decide whether having a black mixer is worth an extra $30. Maybe I will get the less expensive white one, then decorate it with skateboard stickers. I think a Kitchen Aid mixer with a flaming skull would work.

Mine:

johnny wrote:Mine:

Very cool . That's what I'm talking about. I like the raised decal. Since my order hadn't yet shipped, I was able to change it.

They didn't list the 'white' as available this afternoon, but the 'black' will ship *tomorrow*, which is very extremely kühl! Esp. as compared to the pewter which wouldn't arrive 'til mid-Jan.


Soooo, I didn't save the $30, but I *did* get it scheduled for a good delivery date. Tnx for the good advice (again) y'awl!

Geo

I was surprised my new Kitchen Aid arrived today. I just ordered it on Tuesday, and used free super-saver shipping. It is a thing of beauty. The Meringue color is actually slightly off-white (cool gray). I had no idea it was so massive. I guess my (almost) Free Senseo Coffee maker is headed for the basement to make room(no great loss). I can't wait to play with my new toy this weekend . Thanks everybody for talking me into it. There is no buyer's remorse here.

By the way, Amazon has both the Meringue (off white) and Licorice (black) models on sale today for $264.99 before the $50 mail-in rebate. If anybody else is interested, here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Y ... 336&sr=1-5

d4v3 wrote:I was surprised my new Kitchen Aid arrived today. I just ordered it on Tuesday, and used free super-saver shipping. It is a thing of beauty. The Meringue color is actually slightly off-white (cool gray). I had no idea it was so massive. I guess my (almost) Free Senseo Coffee maker is headed for the basement to make room(no great loss). I can't wait to play with my new toy this weekend . Thanks everybody for talking me into it. There is no buyer's remorse here.

By the way, Amazon has both the Meringue (off white) and Licorice (black) models on sale today for $264.99 before the $50 mail-in rebate. If anybody else is interested, here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Y ... 336&sr=1-5

I can't think of a more useful purchase for a meat maven such as yourself

Enjoy it in good health!

=R=

Yeah, my MIL in Long Island reported yesterday noon that my mixer had just arrived. Again, a Tuesday order. I had it sent to NY instead of KC, since it's going to end up in Montreal anyway. No need to haul it halfway 'cross the country myself; let UPS do that!

Can't wait til TODG opens it up! Hear that baby rev Vrrrroooom! Vroooomm!

Geo

d4v3 wrote:By the way, Amazon has both the Meringue (off white) and Licorice (black) models on sale today for $264.99 before the $50 mail-in rebate. If anybody else is interested, here is the link:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0002Y ... 336&sr=1-5

If both of you ordered it on Tuesday, you should still be able to get the price you paid adjusted down to match this new price. Just send a customer service message via Amazon, and they should give you the difference back on your credit card.

Only, of course, if it's worth the $5

gleam wrote:If both of you ordered it on Tuesday, you should still be able to get the price you paid adjusted down to match this new price. Just send a customer service message via Amazon, and they should give you the difference back on your credit card.

Only, of course, if it's worth the $5

Actually, It would save Geo $35 on the black model. That would be worth making a call for. Thanks for the info. I didn't know Amazon would do that.