For those who love to cook savory meals, a meat grinder is something that you can get a kick out of. Knowing the right equipment to buy is crucial in order for you to save money and get the most out of the meat grinder that you have in your home. Also, having a meat grinder will give you the freedom to choose the meat that you want to include on your ground meats.
A KitchenAid mixer with an added meat grinder cost much more than a standalone grinder. Unless you plan to use the mixer itself for other foods alongside the grinder. A standalone grinder is the much cheaper and better option.
Know what is the best choice of meat grinder for you. In this article, I will talk about the difference between a KitchenAid meat grinder and a standalone one. I will also talk about the pros and cons of each, also if the KitchenAid metal attachment is better than a plastic one, if the attachment is safe for dishwashers, and if buying a meat grinder worth it.
KitchenAid Meat Grinder vs. Stand-Alone Meat Grinder
Choosing between the two can be a big dilemma. With this said, you need to know the different pros and cons of each one. In the following sections, I will talk about the disadvantages and advantages of each KitchenAid meat grinder and a standalone one.
Read more: What You Should Know Before Grinding Sausage Meat
KitchenAid Mixer
KitchenAid stand mixers are very indispensable and can whip any egg whites, mix the batter, and knead dough without a hitch. With the KitchenAid food grinder attachment, it can do more such as grinding meat, fruits, and vegetables, as well as bread and hard cheeses. All you need to do is attach the whole plastic mechanism and start your grinding.
With that said, owning a KitchenAid Mixer with a meat grinder feature has its disadvantages and advantages.
Pros
The KitchenAid Mixer has an attachment that you can use to grind meat. The attachments are available in plastic and metal. However, if you do have the older model, you will get a plastic attachment. The metal attachment is sturdier than the plastic one, and you would have to pay extra if you don’t already have one that comes with your KitchenAid.
When it comes to the quality of meat that you grind, it produces leaner meat and can grind chicken bones. Aside from that, it is easy to use and easy to clean once you are done. For about two and a half pounds of meat, it will take ten minutes to grind. The KitchenAid Mixer will give you the basic food grinding capabilities that you need at home.
Cons
The KitchenAid has a smaller blade than a standalone meat grinder. The attachment that is made out of plastic will not be as durable as the metal one. If you want to have a metal attachment, you would have to pay an extra $40 for it. Also, when you put the grinder at a fast speed, the meat doesn’t come out as good. The fat usually tends to emulsify. So, if you want leaner meat, the KitchenAid is perfect for you to use.
In my opinion, if you just need a meat grinder, it is best to buy the standalone one. However, if you need the other functions of a KitchenAid, it is best to use it rather than the standalone one. It’s kind of like you are hitting two birds in one stone when buying the KitchenAid.
Stand Alone Meat Grinder
There are two types of meat grinder that you can buy in the market, one manual and one electric. A standalone meat grinder is perfect. You want to create a meaty homemade dish on any day. If you want to serve burgers, meatballs, or Sloppy Joe’s, this is the equipment that you will need at home. Here are the pros and cons of a standalone meat grinder.
Pros
Standalone meat grinders have longer blades than the KitchenAid one. The main selling point of electric stand alone grinder is they are easy to use. It also has a faster process when it comes to grinding. You can grind about 170 pounds of meat per hour, which is large enough to feed a small army. With its motor, you can create a more extensive range of food and tough meat such as deer or elk.
Cons
The standalone meat grinders tend to have a higher price point than the KitchenAid one. Also, there are some models that are noisier than the others. With this said, it can create enough noise to disturb your neighbors, especially in an Apartment.
Best Stand Alone Meat Grinder
You can’t go wrong with a BBday electric meat grinder. After an easy assemble this grinder is very simple to use. The build is superior to other brands that feel cheap.
The BBday grinder motor is powerful enough to grind any meat and it includes everything you need to grind meats and even make homemade sausage.
Check out this quality meat grinder on Amazon here.
KitchenAid Meat Grinder Plastic vs. Metal Attachment
The plastic attachments come with the older version of KitchenAid mixers. The metal attachment was recently released, and if you don’t have one yet, you can purchase it for around $40.
Besides being more sturdy than the plastic. Metal attachments can be chilled in a freezer prior to use. Which you should do before grinding meat. The colder temperatures help keep the meat running through the grinder more smoothly.
The reason being is that metal cools slightly faster than plastic. Although the difference is subtle.
Here is the verdict…
If you happen to find a good deal on a plastic attachment. Under $25 then I say go for it, plastic works just as good. But if you are going to buy one anyway, a metal attachment isn’t much more money.
Which Attachment Brand Is Best?
There are many brands that make these attachments, including KitchenAid itself. But they’re cheaper options which are just as good.
I would recommend KITOART and their metal food grinder attachments. They are half the price of the KitchenAid brand versions and hold up just as well.
You can see this specific one on Amazon here.
Is KitchenAid Meat Grinder Dishwasher Safe?
Yes, the grinder body, ring, food pusher are all dishwasher safe. However, always make sure to rinse them before putting them in your dishwasher so that you can remove any meat that is stuck in the middle of the blades or body.
Cleaning Tip: You can run slices of regular sandwich bread through your grinder to clean it. The bread acts like a brush removing any extra meat stuck in the blades.
Is It Worth Buying a Meat Grinder?
In my opinion, it is definitely worth buying a meat grinder, especially when you like making savory meats. It also provides you the freedom to use any meat that you want.
You can mix and match pork fat to beef cuts for your meatballs, Sloppy Joes, or burgers. Having one would really depend on the dishes that you make. Of course, you have to take a look at the different factors before buying one, such as your budget and how often you would need it.