Including a meat grinder in your arsenal of kitchen appliances will mean that you know the quality and the freshness of the meat you are serving yourself and your family and also how much fat is included in the meat. Using electric grinders assures you of knowing exactly what is going into your burger, sausage or ground turkey.
Most electric grinders range in power from 150 watts to 500 watts. There are some 1000 watt models but they are less common. A 300 to 450 watt grinder is used the most frequently, and with a 300 watt you can grind about two pounds of meat every minute. It is best to feed your grinders meat strips of around one inch thick or less to keep them running trouble free. You will want your grinder to be reliable and durable so be on the lookout for those made with plastic gears. All-metal gears will serve you well and will last a long time as long as you take care of the machine properly. Also look for a reverse switch, as this will assure you that you can unclog the grinder if any meat gets stuck. Check warranties too and make sure you purchase one with at least a one year warranty as some of them come with only a few months warranty.
Most electric meat grinders include three plates; these plates each have different sized holes for different coarseness of your ground meat. Some will also include funnels for sausage and if you like your sausage in different sizes, look for a grinder than includes at least two funnels.
If you are a deer hunter and are looking for an electric meat grinder, a medium duty one will serve you well. Consider the head size, bowl opening size and pan size and be sure that you purchase one with metal gears. The top brand names for electric meat grinders are Hobart, Waring, Cabelas, KitchenAid, Krup, Oster, Villaware, Rival, Biro, Torrey and Universal.
The Waring Pro MG-800 electric meat grinder is easy to use, easy to clean and is durable. It is made of sturdy stainless steel housing and has a 450 watt motor with a limited five year warranty. It includes three cutting plates, two sausage attachments and a reverse switch. The VillaWare electric meat grinder has a plastic housing but it does include a die-cast metal head and spiral. It is 320 watts and includes a one year warranty. It includes two cutting plates, one sausage attachment and a recipe and instructions booklet. VillaWare also carries the V5267 Elite that has a powerful 550 watt motor and two cutting plates. All three electric meat grinders get very good reviews from users.
It is easy to check out these and other models of electric meat grinders online where a quick comparison will help you decide which model is right for you.