How to Use a Meat Grinder

Meat grinders are convenient pieces of equipment that are most commonly used in settings like delis, butcher shops, and grocery stores. But they are also becoming more popular in restaurants as restaurant owners are finding that meat grinders can help cut food costs. Keep reading to learn why you should get a meat grinder for your business, how to assemble and use your grinder, and some helpful tips for maintaining your appliance.

Shop All Meat Grinders and Choppers

How to Use a Meat Grinder Video

Check out our meat grinder tutorial below:

How to Assemble a Meat Grinder

When assembling your meat grinder, be sure that all of the components are secured tightly. Additionally, some meat grinders may have slightly different configurations depending on the brand, but most meat grinders will follow this general order of assembly:

• Step 1.

  Before you assemble your meat grinder, you should wash, rinse, and sanitize all of the parts. After washing, let the pieces air dry.

• Step 2.

  Check to ensure that the power cord is disconnected before assembly.

• Step 3.

  Place the T link into the enclosure on the front of your meat grinder. Tighten the T link into place with the locking screw.

• Step 4.

  Insert the screw pushing bar into the T link. Rotate the bar and make sure it's all the way into the back.

• Step 5.

  Add the four-leaf blade onto the screw pushing bar with the flat side facing out.

• Step 6.

  Place the round knife on the end of the screw pushing bar. Make sure the edges of the knife are flush with the edges of the screw pushing bar.

• Step 7.

  Attach the four-leaf handle cap to the T link and tighten.

• Step 8.

  Add the stainless steel square plate or food pan to the top of the T link and you're ready to start grinding.

How to Use a Meat Grinder

Once you've assembled your meat grinder, you can begin using it. Here's how you can grind meat in 7 easy steps:

• Step 1.

  Remove skin, bones, and silver skin from your meat. Cut it into smaller chunks that will fit into the feeding hole.

• Step 2.

  Use the feeding bar to feed meat into the grinder.

• Step 3.

  Place a bowl or pan beneath the blades to catch the ground meat when it falls out.

• Step 4.

  When you're finished grinding meat, disconnect the power cord.

• Step 5.

  Wash, rinse, and sanitize all of the components. Then, let them air dry.

• Step 6.

  Thoroughly clean the machine body with a damp cleaning and sanitizing cloth.

• Step 7.

  Lubricate the oil seal of the gearbox through the screw hole. You should lubricate your meat grinder every six months or so.

Meat Grinder Tips

Meat grinders are a useful piece of equipment for your establishment, but there are some things that you can do to get the most out of your machine. Here are a few helpful tips:

• Keep your meat refrigerated until it's ready to use to prevent it from spoiling.
• Never use frozen meat in your grinder because it won't grind easily and it can even damage your blade.
• Before grinding your meat, submerge the T link, screw pushing bar, blade, and other components in ice water, or place them in the freezer. This helps your meat stay cold and prevents it from getting stuck.
• Don't overload your meat grinder because it can cause jams and can wear out your motor.
• Place a bowl of ice under your catch bowl to ensure that the ground meat stays cold.

How Can a Meat Grinder Help Your Restaurant?

Many restaurants have grown used to using store-bought ground meat, but there are many benefits to grinding your own meat. Here are a few reasons why you should consider investing in a meat grinder:

• Cost Savings: Grinding your own meat will end up saving your business money in the long run. It is much cheaper to buy, butcher, and grind large cuts of meat yourself than to buy pre-ground meat from a store.
• Control: When you grind the meat yourself you have more precise control over the ratio of lean and fatty meat, which means you get juicier burgers, sausages, and meatballs.
• Taste: Ground meat from the grocery store has been vacuum sealed and sprayed with preservatives to lengthen its lifespan. When you grind your own meat you get a fresher product that has a better taste.
• Attachments: There are many different attachments and add-ons you can get for your meat grinder to add to its functionality. For example, you can add a sausage stuffer so you can make your own sausage.
  

Meat grinders are an accessible piece of equipment that can help many types of foodservice establishments save money on their food costs. These products are simple to use, and with a few easy steps, you can begin grinding your own beef, pork, or chicken and curing your own meat. If you're looking for a visual representation and more tips on how to use your meat grinder, check out the video above.