Good meat grinder suggestions

[tja6435]

I have a Cabela’s No. 5 grinder, I’ve run a decent amount of pork and beef through it and probably 500# pork fat before I rendered it all down into lard. I have enough lard in jars to last my neighbors and myself at least 10 years

[trebor44]

I have a Cabela’s No. 5 grinder, I’ve run a decent amount of pork and beef through it and probably 500# pork fat before I rendered it all down into lard. I have enough lard in jars to last my neighbors and myself at least 10 years

I have the next one up (https://www.cabelas.com/product/home...0.uts?slotId=5) and over the past ten plus years it has ground a lot of beef, pork and chicken (sale bought). Needless to say it has more than paid for itself by not buying the overpriced cuts of meat. We like all forms of burger and making lean burger from steak is a real plus. The cutters and knowing how to feed the grinder are what makes the chore pleasant. I started out (as a child) with a hand grinder. My Dad and I processed deer and made lots of kielbasa and bratwurst before we hooked up a motor to it. The commercial units I have used are nice but my ROI on the Cabelas speaks for itself.

[JBinMN]

I have taken a hand grinder & removed the handle & used a battery operated DeWalt drill to turn things out & that works as well.

It was what motivated me to consider getting a "dedicated" grinder.

I was lucky in having a son who liked what I was doing (& did not like the hand or even battery operated hand grinder) so, he bought me a power LEM grinder for a Christmas present.

Get a LEM, get one that is 1/2 to 3/4 drive or more & I think you will be happy.


Or. whatever makes ya happy...


P.S. - I will add though, that if you are going to make sausages or sticks, you should get the "Foot Drive" accessory. Doing it without the foot drive is a PITA...
Been there & done it. Won't do it again...

[richhodg66]

I have a little Waring Pro, not sure the HP, I use it to butcher a couple of deer a year on average, so a lot more grinding than what you're talking about it.

I bought mine off a neighbor because he never used it. Before that, I used a hand crank one I bought from a yard sale, likely an antique, but works pretty well. Seems like you see them all the time cheap, might want to consider just getting one of those.

[EMC45]

I have a little Waring Pro, not sure the HP, I use it to butcher a couple of deer a year on average, so a lot more grinding than what you're talking about it.

I bought mine off a neighbor because he never used it. Before that, I used a hand crank one I bought from a yard sale, likely an antique, but works pretty well. Seems like you see them all the time cheap, might want to consider just getting one of those.

I too bought a handcrank one from a yardsale for 5 bucks. Worked fine. My father found out that I did my first deer ever with it and he got me a Waring Pro. It has 3 cutter plates and 2 stuffer tubes (one for sausage and one for slim jim sticks). It works like a champ. I hope to fire it up this year and grind up a deer or 2. in the past I used it for hamburger, and then would grind up all the silver skin and ligaments for my brother's dogs. It makes short of anything you put in it.