Manual Meat Grinder

Manual Meat Grinder with a Suction Base

When you buy ground meat at the store, you don't really know which cuts went into it or how much fat. And an electric grinder is loud, bulky and a pain to clean for one dinner. A manual meat grinder lets you grind exactly what you want, in the amount you need, right on the counter.

This is a compact hand crank meat grinder. Instead of a clamp, it has a suction base with a rotary switch: turn it clockwise to lock it to the counter and counterclockwise to release it. You drop small pieces of boneless meat into the hopper, turn the metal crank and choose one of two metal plates, fine or coarse. Fresh ground meat, your cut, your fat ratio, no electricity.

What it's good for

It's made for small batches: meatballs, burgers for a couple of people, dumpling and bun fillings, and ground chicken or turkey. It also grinds nuts, which is handy for baking or for making smooth nut mixes for little kids.

• Coarse plate: burgers, meatballs, chunky ground chicken
• Fine plate: dumpling fillings, smooth meat mixtures, ground nuts

Two versions

The First Generation has a smaller capacity, good for single portions and nuts. The Second Generation is bigger, better for family meals and making fillings for several people.

Tips for the best texture

1. Chill the meat for 15 to 30 minutes first. Cold fat cuts cleanly instead of smearing.
2. Trim off sinew and cut the meat into small strips or cubes.
3. Lock the base on a clean, smooth, dry counter.
4. Feed a little at a time while turning the crank. Never push meat in with your fingers.
5. For a finer texture, run it through a second time.

It's made for boneless meat, nuts and soft foods only. Bones will damage the plates.

Size and materials

The body is plastic with a metal crank and two metal plates about 5.3 cm (2.1 in) across. It stands about 18 cm (7 in) tall, with an 11 cm (4.3 in) base, so it fits in a regular kitchen cabinet.

Cleaning

Take it apart after every use and wash everything that touched raw meat in hot, soapy water. Dry the metal parts well so they don't rust. A slice of bread run through at the end pushes out the last bits of meat. More on that in our guide to cleaning meat machines.

Shipping: ships from China. Delivery to the US takes about 10 to 20 business days. To the rest of the world, up to 45 business days.

Pick the version that fits your household and add it to your cart. Homemade meatballs taste better when you chose what went into them.