Under $200 you're choosing between a budget electric with a big head, a compact electric, a mixer attachment and a hand grinder. None is a deer grinder, but all of them make better burgers than store-bought ground beef.
- Best overall under $200STX Turboforce 3000 Meat Grinder (STX-3000-TF)About $180
- Best compactCuisinart Electric Meat Grinder (MG-100)About $130
- Best if you own a KitchenAidKitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA)$99.99 list
- Best manualLEM #10 Stainless Steel Clamp-On Hand Grinder (821)$189.99 list
Side by side
| Model | Price | Size | Motor | Output (maker) | Plates | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Cuisinart Electric Meat Grinder (MG-100) | About $130 | Compact | 300 W | 3 lb/min | Medium, coarse | 3 years (limited) |
| KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment (KSMMGA) | $99.99 list | Mixer hub | Your stand mixer | Not listed | Fine, medium, coarse | See KitchenAid |
| 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 |
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 and reverse for about $180. It was loud and slow on sinew in Smoked BBQ Source's test, but nothing else this cheap moves as much meat.
Pros
- #12 head
- Reverse
- Lots of attachments
Cons
- Loud
- Struggles with sinew
Cuisinart Electric Meat Grinder (MG-100)
- Price
- About $130
- Size
- Compact
- Motor
- 300 W
- Output (maker)
- 3 lb/min
- Plates
- Medium, coarse
- Warranty
- 3 years (limited)
300 watts and 3 pounds a minute (Cuisinart's figure) in a small body with reverse, for about $130.
Pros
- Small
- Reverse
- Three-year warranty
Cons
- Small batches only
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
$99.99 for an all-metal grinder that runs off your mixer. Freeze it before use.
Pros
- Cheapest option
- Metal
Cons
- Slow
- Needs a KitchenAid
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 #10 hand grinder for $189.99 list. No motor to burn out.
Pros
- No power needed
- Stainless
Cons
- Hand cranking
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.
When to spend more
If you'll grind more than 10 pounds at a time or process deer, the jump to a $240 LEM Mighty Bite or a $420 LEM #8 BigBite buys metal gears, standard plates and a motor that doesn't bog down.
