Top 10 Best Manual Meat Grinders 2023

Buying sausages, burger patties, and other processed meat products from stores is a very convenient option. But you lose out on control over the ingredients. For starters, you don’t know what the quality and cut of the meats are. And you also have to deal with preservatives and additives. Grinding and preparing your meat sausages and patties is a far healthier option. And they will be a helluva lot tastier as well. The best manual meat grinder is a viable option for those looking to start preparing ground meat at home.

You will be spoilt for choice by the sheer range of meat grinders available online. There are options that fit all kinds of budgets out there. Check out our handy comparison table to get a good idea about the kind of numbers you will encounter when looking for the best quality manual meat grinder. For those who need in-depth reviews of some of the most popular meat grinders available online, check out the next section of our guide.

Best Manual Meat Grinder Comparison Table

Best Manual Meat Grinder Reviews

LEM Products #10 – Best Stainless Steel Manual Meat Grinder

With a smooth and shiny stainless steel finish, this is a great looking grinder from LEM. The clamp on this one is pretty efficient, which is an improvement on suction cups that are used in many other grinders. The wide clamp will fit on many different counter-tops with ease.

You get two standard steel plates for different quality of grinding, along with a set of three different stuffing tubes as well. The knife is also steel, and the whole machine is quite rust proof and safe to use.

There are some minor issues related to fit and finish on the machine, with some jagged edges and imperfectly milled parts. They could turn this machine into a perfect grinder if only they improved the Quality Control over at manufacturing. And thanks to the clamp, it sits pretty low and close to the edge, which can be an issue for collecting the ground meat.

Sportsman MHG #22 – Toughest Meat Grinder For All Cuts of Meat

Another vintage looking model with a wooden handle and cast iron build, the Sportsman is rugged and built tough for the job. It can handle even tougher beef chunks and pork butts with aplomb. There are no weak suction cups to deal with here: this machine using bolts to be securely anchored to your counter-top. They are well worth the effort involved, and provide a permanent and secure anchoring spot for your grinder. The attachments include two plates, as well as a sausage funnel, along with three different tubes. It can grind up to 4lbs of meat per minute, which is more than what most machines in our list can handle.

The overall fit and finish between all the different parts look pretty rough and lack polish. Gaps and holes also detract from the overall build quality of the metal parts. Grinding can take a lot of energy with this machine. It may also tend to rust. Cleaning will take time, as this grinder cannot be put in the dishwasher.

Weston Realtree – Best Electroplated Metal Meat Grinder

This is a classic looking grinder from Weston, with a metal body and a wooden handle to boot. It is a dedicated meat grinder, with two different plates for coarse or fine grinding. The electroplating ensures that all surfaces are safe to handle food items. The machine is just the right size and can be easily mounted on a counter-top, either permanently or temporarily using suction cups. It can handle beef chuck as well as pork with ease.

As with most grinders, remember not to cram in too much as it can get clogged. Also, try to remove all connective tissue to ensure smooth operation.

As for the cons, there are a couple of issues that we encountered with this Weston grinder. The suction cup legs do not anchor the machine securely and can result in some wobbling. And for a brand new machine, the knife does feel a tad blunt in our opinion.

Bellemain Manual Meat Grinder – Best Plastic Grinder With Steel Blades

With a combination of durable stainless steel blades and tough plastic body, the Bellemain grinder tries to bring the best of both worlds. The machine is dishwasher friendly and incredibly easy to clean and maintain. The large single suction base provides more stability than multiple cups.

You will need to prep your meat pieces before using this machine. Cut all meats to pieces smaller than 1 inch in size for best results.

The machine cannot handle heavy duty tasks involving tough cuts of red meat. The machine can get jammed or clogged when used with red meat or anything involving fats. Also, they only provide one option for your ground meat texture: there are no fine/coarse options. The suction base also requires a smooth surface for best results; it will not work well on tiled surfaces.

Useful. Manual Meat Grinder – Best Affordable Manual Grinder

This one can handle both types of meat as well as pasta and spaghetti. If you want to go full homemade Italian dinners, this is a fantastic option. The three attachments can do mincing, grinding as well as pasta making. There is an enclosed funnel, which is perfect for making sausages. It can also handle beans, nuts, and veggies when you want them crushed for pesto or coarse salad. It’s FDA Approved certification assures the reliability of this machine.

Use narrow cuts of meat for best results. The length doesn’t matter, but the width does.

But since it is primarily made from plastic, the durability is not comparable to metal grinders out there. There is also a tendency for the meat to get jammed, especially with tougher cuts of beef. The plastic can get ground into the meat as well.

Gideon Meat Grinder – Best Plastic Meat Grinder With Classic Design

If you are a fan of traditional meat grinder designs, the Gideon is a great option. Despite its old school looks, it uses a combination of modern plastic and durable steel for the best of both worlds. It comes with two screens for fine and coarsely ground meat.

Other than meat, it can also grind vegetable and fruits as well. The blades are kept away from your hands and fingers, ensuring maximum safety. The whole grinder is dishwasher safe and can be put into the machine for easy cleaning.

Please do not fill the feeding cup with meat as shown in the images of the grinder. It will only get clogged. The safest way to operate is to slowly add small pieces of meat, not all at one go.

The main trouble with this machine is the performance of the suction cups. They are one of the weakest we have encountered during our testing process. The blades also have a tendency to get jammed up when working on tough cuts of meat. Despite all that marketing bravado, this grinder cannot handle tough cuts of red meat at all. And there are also issues related to its overall build quality.

Pictek Meat Grinder – Meat Grinder With Dismountable Blade

Unlike most other grinders, Pictek has a unique dismountable blade that is so much easier to clean. Most blades can get hopelessly clogged with connective tissue and fats during the grinding process. This unique feature allows you to clean those with ease. The finger protector is a well-designed feature, that can help safely handle meats during the grinding. ABS plastic and food-grade steel ensure a long life for this machine.

Despite that particular blade, this machine still presents challenges to easy cleaning. The blades are set together too close, and dislodging pieces of tough meat and fats stuck in between them is no easy task. And no, this machine is not very good at handling pork or beef chuck either.

ALISKID Meat Grinder – Best Plastic Grinder For Pasta And Noodles

For those who don’t want a heavy duty grinder, this affordable plastic grinder from ALISKID is more than adequate. It can handle softer cuts with ease. And since it is made from food grade plastic materials, there is no need to worry about rusting either. Cleaning is also a breeze, as all the parts can be disassembled with ease. It is also a very versatile machine, as it can be used with veggies, nuts, beans and even for making noodles or pasta.

But as this is plastic, durability is always a concern. Also, it is not very good at handling tougher meats. There is even a chance of the plastic bits getting ground up in the process. The suction cups at the foot also don’t do an outstanding job, especially on surfaces that are not super-smooth.

YOFIT Meat Grinder – Best Compact Meat Grinder and Pasta Maker

The fully enclosed blades ensure optimum safety in this meat grinder from YOFIT. Made from BPA free ABS plastics and stainless steel, the machine is quite durable. It also has a very eye-catching design with two tone colors. Being a very compact machine, it’s quite travel-friendly. If you want fresh ground meat outdoors during camping or hunting trips, this might be an attractive option. It can also be used to make pasta or sausages.

Since it is rather small, you can only make smaller quantities of ground meat. Though durable, it cannot handle heavy duty tasks, and cannot be used on a daily basis. And it gets very easily clogged if you use tougher cuts like pork butt.

SOLOOP Meat Grinder – Best Modern Looking Meat Grinder

The SOLOOP doesn’t look like a traditional meat grinder, and that is not a bad thing at all. This has a unique industrial design, with a compact and tall profile that sits unobtrusively on your counter-top. It can be used for meat, fats, fish, veggies, and fruits. It is made from ABS plastic and food grade stainless steel and is perfectly suited for any modern kitchen. The suction mechanism at the base is quite easy to set up.

The pieces need to be under 2 inches in size for best results. Also, remove bones and sinews for a more comfortable grinding experience.

There is not much to complain about this grinder. Sure it cannot handle heavy duty grinding, but if you wanted that, you wouldn’t be looking at affordable plastic meat grinders in the first place. It cannot handle larger and tougher pieces of meat, and that is about the only gripe we can have against this machine.

Best Manual Meat Grinder Buying Guide

Manual meat grinders are a great option for small families and home cooks who want to dabble with making their burger patties and sausages. They are not suitable if you want to handle a lot of meat on a regular basis. If you grind meat on a regular basis, stand alone electric models are the better choice. Manual meat grinders have the following advantages:

• They tend to be very affordable
• Best when dealing with small amounts of meat
• Portable, with clamps or suction cups for stable anchoring
• Delivers fresh meat products
• Ideal for diets, and health conscious individuals
• Gives the freedom to choose cuts of meat, and ingredients

Anchoring Mechanism: Clamps vs. Suction Cups vs. Bolts

All manual meat grinders need some anchoring device to sit on your kitchen counter-top securely. The effectiveness of this particular mechanism is crucial for the proper working of a meat grinder. Instability of any kind can render the machine virtually unusable. Most popular grinders use either one of three different systems:

• Suction Cups: Usually found on most cheap and budget models, their affordability, and ease of setup are their main strengths. You don’t need to make any structural alterations to your counter-top to use these. But they do not work well on rough or uneven surfaces. And they are the most prone to wobbling and instability.
• Clamps: Clamps offer more stability than suction based grinders. But they are not as easy to install. And they may require some structural alterations on your counter-top, as they do not work well on all surfaces. The width of the opening of the clamps is crucial. The wider the opening, the more surfaces it can be clamped on. Some grinders have clamps with narrow openings that are incompatible with some counter-tops that have thicker edges.
• Bolts: They offer the maximum stability at the cost of portability. This is a semi-permanent anchoring system where you screw the machine onto your countertop using screws. This will require modifications to your kitchen surface. But the cons are well worth the superior stability this system provides.

Materials Used: Plastic vs. Metal

Older meat grinders are always invariably made using steel, iron, or other metals. But more compact modern meat grinders for domestic use can be found with both plastics as well as metal bodies. They both have their pros and cons:

• Plastic: these grinders are usually made from tough ABS plastics, which provide durability while being lightweight as well. They are graded BPA-free and rated food-grade for maximum safety. Plastics have the advantage of being colorful, with the option of transparency for improved visibility of the grinding process. Plastic grinders have a modular design and can be taken apart for easy cleaning. But they cannot compete with metal grinders regarding durability or grinding efficiency.

• Metal: These could be anything from stainless steel to electroplated cast iron models. They offer the best performance, especially when dealing with tough cuts of meat. They do not jam or clog as often as plastic grinders and are the best options for burgers and sausages. Metallic grinders are heavier and tend to suffer from rusting troubles. They are also harder to clean and maintain.

Ideal Features & Attachments

Manual meat grinders should ideally have at some or all of the below-mentioned features. Depending on the budget, some of the attachments may or may not be present. If you are on a budget, at least ensure that all the safety features are available.

• Grinder Plates: these determine how coarse or fine the ground meat is after you pass it through the grinder. The most common grinder models come with two plates, one rated fine and other coarse grinds.
• Fully covered blades: an essential safety feature that ensures that your fingers or hands to not come anywhere near those sharp blades. This is a pretty much essential feature if you want to keep your fingers intact. It also helps if the grinder comes with a meat pusher to feed the pieces into it.
• Sausage Accessories: these optional attachments include sausage tubes and in some cases, a handy funnel as well. Though not as efficient or neat as a dedicated sausage stuffer, these accessories are nevertheless useful for home cooks who want to make their sausages.
• Pasta and noodle plates: These are just plates that enhance the versatility of your meat grinder. Don’t bother about them if meat grinding is your only concern. Otherwise, they can be quite useful if you want to have some DIY pasta dinners!

• Ergonomic handle: Since a manual grinder exerts a lot of strain on your hands, a well-designed handle is essential to avoid unnecessary stress and fatigue. Wooden handles are often the best option, usually found on classic metal based grinders.

Conclusion

These days, we are getting more and more concerned about our diet, especially non-vegans. If you want to ensure that you consume nothing but the freshest possible meat and meat products, the time is ripe to take the initiative. The best manual meat grinder puts you in control of the quality of meat, as well as the ingredients that go into your sausages, burger patties and meatloaf. If you are on a budget, a cheap plastic grinder may suffice. But if you like your ground beef or pork, you may need to focus on metallic grinders. Regardless of your choice, a manual meat grinder is a fantastic addition to any home kitchen.