For most people who grind regularly, a #8 electric grinder with a half-horsepower motor is the sweet spot: fast enough for a deer, small enough to store. If you only grind a pound or two at a time, a mixer attachment or a compact grinder is plenty. We compared 10 grinders from $100 to $730.
- Best overallLEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779)About $420
- Best for deerLEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780)$599.99 list
- Best under $200STX Turboforce 3000 Meat Grinder (STX-3000-TF)About $180
- Best for KitchenAid ownersKitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA)$99.99 list
- Best for sausageWeston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W)$479.99
- Best manualLEM #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-On Hand Grinder (821)$189.99 list
The top picks side by side
| Model | Price | Size | Motor | Output (maker) | Plates | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| LEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779) | About $420 | #8 | 0.5 HP | 7 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing | 5 years |
| LEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780) | $599.99 list | #12 | 0.75 HP | 11 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing | 5 years |
| STX Turboforce 3000 Meat Grinder (STX-3000-TF) | About $180 | #12 | 800–1,200 W running | 3–4 lb/min | 4, 7 and 10 mm, plus more | 3 years |
| KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA) | $99.99 list | Mixer hub | Your stand mixer | Not listed | Fine, medium, coarse | See KitchenAid |
| Weston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W) | $479.99 | #8 | 0.75 HP (560 W) | 4–6 lb/min | 4.5 mm, 7 mm | 5 years |
| LEM #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-On Hand Grinder (821) | $189.99 list | #10 | Hand crank | Not listed | 3/16 in, 3/8 in | 1 year |
LEM #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP (1779)
- Price
- About $420
- Size
- #8
- Motor
- 0.5 HP
- Output (maker)
- 7 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing
- Warranty
- 5 years
Seven pounds a minute (LEM's rating), a rifled head that pulls meat in, and a five-year warranty. In Smoked BBQ Source's test a BigBite ground 4 lb of brisket in about three minutes and didn't slow on sinew. It's about $420 and 29 lb.
Pros
- Fast and quiet in testing
- Stainless head and plates
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- About $420
- Heavy
LEM #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (1780)
- Price
- $599.99 list
- Size
- #12
- Motor
- 0.75 HP
- Output (maker)
- 11 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing
- Warranty
- 5 years
The same design scaled up: 0.75 HP, #12 plates and a rated 11 pounds a minute. Worth it if you grind 25 pounds or more at a time.
Pros
- Rated 11 lb/min
- #12 plates
- Five-year warranty
Cons
- $599.99 list
- 33 lb
STX Turboforce 3000 Meat Grinder (STX-3000-TF)
- Price
- About $180
- Size
- #12
- Motor
- 800–1,200 W running
- Output (maker)
- 3–4 lb/min
- Plates
- 4, 7 and 10 mm, plus more
- Warranty
- 3 years
A #12 head, three speeds, reverse and a box of attachments for about $180. It took more than twice as long as the BigBite in testing and clogged on sinew, so trim carefully.
Pros
- Big head for the price
- Reverse clears jams
- Lots of attachments
Cons
- Loud
- Slows on sinew
- Non-standard plates
KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA)
- Price
- $99.99 list
- Size
- Mixer hub
- Motor
- Your stand mixer
- Output (maker)
- Not listed
- Plates
- Fine, medium, coarse
- Warranty
- See KitchenAid
An all-metal attachment that chills in the freezer. Fine for a few pounds of burger at a time; slow and prone to smearing beyond that.
Pros
- $99.99 list
- Uses your mixer
- Freezer-chillable metal
Cons
- Slow
- Smears warm fat
Weston Pro Series #8 Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP (10-0801-W)
- Price
- $479.99
- Size
- #8
- Motor
- 0.75 HP (560 W)
- Output (maker)
- 4–6 lb/min
- Plates
- 4.5 mm, 7 mm
- Warranty
- 5 years
A ¾ HP #8 with a four-funnel stuffing kit and a built-in knife sharpener. Rated more conservatively than LEM, at 4 to 6 pounds a minute.
Pros
- 0.75 HP
- Full stuffing kit
- Knife sharpener
Cons
- $479.99
- Slower rated output than LEM #8
LEM #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-On Hand Grinder (821)
- Price
- $189.99 list
- Size
- #10
- Motor
- Hand crank
- Output (maker)
- Not listed
- Plates
- 3/16 in, 3/8 in
- Warranty
- 1 year
A stainless clamp-on #10 that never needs an outlet. Great for small batches and cabins; hard work for a whole deer.
Pros
- No power needed
- Stainless
- Standard plates
Cons
- Hand cranking
- Clamp fits tables up to 1½ in
Timed results come from Smoked BBQ Source, which ground a 4 lb brisket once and a 6 lb pork butt twice on each grinder. Output ratings are the makers' own claims. We haven't run these tests ourselves, and we say whose figures are whose.
How to choose a grinder
- Size is the plate, not the motor. A #8 suits most homes; a #12 or #22 is for big seasons. See grinder sizes explained.
- Ignore "peak" watts. Budget grinders often quote a locked-motor figure far above what they draw while grinding. Rated horsepower and gear material tell you more.
- Metal gears and a stainless head survive frozen edges and sinew; plastic gears are the usual failure point on cheap grinders.
- Standard plates mean a dull knife is a cheap fix. Some budget brands use their own sizes.
Mississippi State University Extension says to chill meat to about 32°F and keep it at 40°F or below while you grind. Cold fat cuts cleanly instead of smearing, and bacteria grow slowly.
Questions
What's the best meat grinder for home use?
For regular grinding, a half-horsepower #8 like the LEM #8 BigBite. For a few pounds at a time, the KitchenAid metal attachment or the Cuisinart MG-100.
Are expensive grinders worth it?
Up to the #8 class, yes: you get metal gears, standard plates and a motor that doesn't stall on sinew. Beyond that you're paying for capacity you may not need.
Sources
- Smoked BBQ Source: The best meat grinders, timed brisket and pork-butt tests
- LEM: #8 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.5 HP
- LEM: #12 BigBite Meat Grinder, 0.75 HP
- STX Turboforce 3000 specifications (compiled from STX)
- KitchenAid: Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA)
- Smoky Mountain Knife Works: Weston Pro Series #8 (10-0801-W)
- LEM: #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-On Hand Grinder
- Mississippi State University Extension: Making Sausage at Home
