Does the household need an electric meat grinder? Many consumers do not even have any doubts about the positive answer to this question. Perhaps only vegetarians can remain indifferent to this device. At the same time, unlike a manual meat grinder, which required the use of remarkable force when obtaining minced meat, an electric device does not need to involve men in this process.
Today, using modern models, you can not only easily enjoy fragrant tasty cutlets, but also, using special attachments, cook homemade sausage, chop potatoes for potato pancakes, chop vegetables, etc.
However, modern manufacturers offer such a wide range of electric meat grinders that an unprepared buyer can simply get confused by the variety of models. How to choose a good appliance for your home? Forit is necessary to familiarize yourself with its main characteristics.
Device
All electric meat grinders differ from manual ones only in that they have an engine in their design. It allows the shaft to rotate without any human intervention. A gearbox is used to transmit power in the device. Thanks to the gear, the screw is attached to the shaft. Next come the knives, followed by the grate. The clamping nut completes this whole construction.
Products are initially placed in the tray. Through the meat receiver they get inside the device. For safety and convenience, the design is equipped with a pusher. Passing through the troughs of the auger, the meat is directed to the knives, with which it is crushed. The finished stuffing comes out through the net.
Subtleties of choice
The best electric meat grinders are universal devices, which are equipped with various attachments that can significantly expand the functional features of the device. In addition to meat dishes, they provide housewives with the opportunity to cook homemade vermicelli and cookies, squeeze juice, cut vegetables or fruits into cubes, and much more.
Judging by the reviews, good electric meat grinders have a lot of advantages, the list of which includes:
- high performance;
- compact;
- multifunctionality;
- no need to attach to the table and other items;
- clear and easy to use;
- work safety.
Based on current practice, manybuyers are guided only by the price of the device. However, such an approach is fundamentally wrong. Even spending a little money, it is quite possible to purchase a model that will fully meet the consumer's request. That is why before you buy a good electric meat grinder for your home, you will need to choose the most optimal model, while taking into account a number of important parameters.
Power
Which electric meat grinder is better? Consumer reviews indicate that one of the most important parameters of the device is its power. Its meaning can be very different. What numbers should the buyer focus on? The answer in this case is quite simple. The best electric meat grinders are those that will allow the hostess to process the amount of meat she needs. It does not make sense to purchase a device that has a sufficiently high power level, based on the fact that it will be used only on holidays. On the one hand, the device is able to perform its work very quickly. However, at the same time, it will turn out to be too energy-consuming.
All meat grinders offered by modern manufacturers are conditionally divided into three classes. These include devices of high and medium, as well as low power. This parameter, in turn, directly affects the productivity, indicating the amount (in kilograms) of meat that can be processed in one minute.
High power devices include 1200-1400 watt meat grinders. As a rule, thisexpensive devices that can grind more than 2 kg of meat into minced meat in just a minute. And these are quite impressive volumes. In addition, such aggregates easily grind solid meat. Their functionality is also wide enough.
Meat grinders of medium power include appliances with 800-1200 watts. This is the so-called golden mean. This is the best electric meat grinder for those housewives who are not going to work with it every day. The average productivity of devices of the described class is within 1.5 kg of the processed product per minute. And this figure is quite good. Such meat grinders may well process sinewy meat, which contains cartilage. One has only to keep in mind that such a device will work a little longer than models that belong to the first class.
There are also meat grinders with low power. The values of this parameter for devices of the third class are in the range from 400 to 800 W. These units allow you to get about 1 kg of meat within a minute. Many buyers are attracted by their fairly affordable cost. However, it should be borne in mind that such devices do not cope with the processing of tough meat as well as those that have high power. However, you should not assume that the best electric meat grinders are only those that belong to the first or second class, because even a 400 W device can process about 1 kg of meat in just one minute.
When choosing a meat grinder, its energy consumption should also be taken into account. This settingis directly related to power. So, with a first-class meat grinder, it is unlikely that it will be possible to save electricity. That is why, before purchasing a device, it is worth considering further costs that will arise during its operation.
Max power
Sometimes, various solid ingredients are processed using a meat grinder. It can be veins and bones, frozen or hard meat. How will the device work with such products? This will be indicated by a parameter such as maximum power. In this mode, the engine of the unit is able to work for one minute. Then it will start to overheat.
During normal operation, the power value that was described above is used. It's called nominal. But it should be borne in mind that any meat grinder cannot be operated for more than 10-15 minutes continuously.
Reverse
Judging by the reviews, in good electric meat grinders this parameter should be required. A motor with a reverser is capable of rotating in the opposite direction. And this allows the hostess to save a lot of time in those cases when the veins from the pieces of meat are wound on the auger. At the same time, the engine stops rotating and you have to turn off the device, disassemble it and clean it, and then reassemble it. Only then will it be possible to continue working.
All this can be avoided with reverse motors. To continue working when the device stops, it is enough to activate the corresponding mode, which sets the gears in motion in the opposite direction. The result isindependent exit lived from the loading hole. The hostess will only have to get them and calmly continue the work begun.
It should be borne in mind that the motors of expensive meat grinders may not have reverse. The thing is, it's just not needed. A powerful device easily grinds all the cores, and there are simply no problems with its operation.
Overload protection
What should be the best electric meat grinder models? It is very good if the device is equipped with a motor protection system. By the way, about 90% of all meat grinders offered on the market have it. In such devices there is a fuse that can protect the engine from huge overloads and heating. This can happen, for example, when a bone gets stuck in the auger. In this case, the motor, as they say, wedges, and it stops rotating. This causes the appearance of large overloads. The protection system then stops the operation of the device. The fuse is also capable of shutting down the engine in case of overheating.
This system is implemented by the manufacturer in different ways. It all depends on the specific model of the device. The most common method is blocking, which uses a fuse sleeve. If the engine heats up or a bone gets inside the device, the protective element simply bursts.
Somewhat less often, manufacturers use special plates that serve as circuit breakers. During normal operation of the device, these elements are in a closed state. If the rotation was stopped, then an increased flow of electrons is directed to the plates. He makesopen them. As a result, the circuit is opened and the power is turned off. After that, the circuit returns to its original position, and the device is able to continue working again.
The protection system is sometimes equipped with a special heat element. It serves to measure the temperature and turn off the engine when the permissible values are exceeded.
Judging by the reviews, a good electric meat grinder for the home is necessarily equipped with protection, which is why the presence of a heat element is not a key condition when choosing a device.
It is worth noting that when purchasing cheap models without a protective system, they may well work only until the first auger jams and the engine overheats.
Continuous operation time
How to choose the best electric meat grinder? Feedback from users of such devices suggests that when choosing a model, it is necessary to clarify how long the device can operate continuously. This parameter is estimated by manufacturers during the development of the device. After the time specified in the passport, the motor needs a rest so that there is no reduction in its resource.
The cheapest and at the same time “weak” meat grinders can work continuously for no more than one minute. Such a recommendation, for example, is given to the Moulinex ME 209 model. During this time, the engine of the device will heat up quite strongly, it will need to take 10 to 15 minutes to cool down. It is worth noting that in a minute of its work such a meat grinder will process 1.7 kg of meat. This performance, as a rule, is quite enough for homemade preparations.
The most powerful systems are allowed to operate up to 50 minutes. However, as a rule, professional units used for harvesting a large amount of minced meat are capable of this.
Body material
How to choose a good electric meat grinder? To do this, you need to consider its external execution. And their modern manufacturers offer several:
- Plastic. The body of inexpensive models is made from this material. The plastic used in the production of meat grinders is a durable material. The ability to give it the desired color allows you to produce quite stylish models. The disadvantage of plastic lies in the fact that it is quite easy to damage. That is why those who decide to purchase such a device will have to handle it very carefully. Sometimes the plastic case has metal inserts. This improves the appearance of the appliance and makes it easier to care for.
- Metal. Devices made of this material are usually sold at a higher price. They are very durable and fairly heat resistant. Their advantage is that in case of a short circuit, the case will not start to burn and emit a bad smell, as happens when using plastic.
Based on the above, the best models of electric meat grinders have metal cases. However, judging by user reviews, if the device is not made of this material, then there is nothing bad. Sometimes you can find very good and quite expensive models that are made of plastic. They serve for years without losing the aesthetics of their appearance andcausing no problems to owners.
Auger material
Judging by user reviews, when choosing a meat grinder, most of all, you should pay attention to the material of the screw, not the body. After all, this is the main part of the device, with which all products come into contact, and where the meat comes from for processing into knives. That is why the best electric meat grinders have metal screws. Sometimes in the kit, the manufacturer additionally provides these parts made of plastic. They are used for vegetables and fruits.
In addition to the augers, knives also come into direct contact with the products. They are made of stainless steel, which will allow sharpening these elements no more than 1-2 times a year. Of course, this does not apply to those who work with the device every day and grind meat with bones and veins on it. In this case, you will have to sharpen the knives more often. If this part becomes unusable, it should be replaced with a similar one from the same manufacturer. The best electric meat grinders are equipped with self-sharpening knives.
Gear material
The main task that these elements perform is to transfer force from the power drive to the shaft of the device. What are the gears that are inserted into the meat grinder? They are in the form of toothed rings. Good electric meat grinders - with metal gears. When using such a material, these parts last much longer than those made of plastic. Such endurance can be explained by the strength of the metal. But the occurrence of excessive force acting on the plastic gear will certainly lead to its breakage.
Dishwasher safe
What should be the best electric meat grinders? It should be borne in mind that most models on the market are not dishwasher safe. Otherwise, the units will lose their luster, and plaque and rust will begin to appear on their metal parts. After that, it becomes quite difficult to return the device to its beautiful original appearance.
Which is the best electric meat grinder for the home? Those housewives who intend to use dishwashers need to purchase appliances whose parts are made of stainless steel or plastic. Only then can they be washed automatically without the risk of damage. And this will greatly simplify the maintenance process of the meat grinder.
Nozzles
How to choose a good electric meat grinder? In addition to the technical characteristics and the material used in the manufacture of the device, it is necessary to familiarize yourself with the nozzles included in its configuration. They significantly expand the functionality of the unit, allowing it to be used as a juicer, shredder, etc.
Electric meat grinder kit may contain attachments such as:
- For minced meat and kebbe, chopping and slicing biscuits, cooking sausages and slicing vegetables.
- To get juice from oranges. This screw attachment allows you to turn the meat grinder into a juicer.
- Molds and discs for stuffing. Usually,they can be seen in the kit of any unit.
Model Overview
So, we already know how to choose a sufficiently functional and productive electric meat grinder. This will somewhat simplify the task of acquiring the optimal device from the wide range provided by modern manufacturers. Consider the most popular models that are most in demand by buyers. And the rating below will help us in this. Which electric meat grinder is better?
Bosch WFW 45020
This model is in first place in the rating. According to reviews - a good electric meat grinder, very popular among consumers. The device is of high quality and good performance. When using it, you can easily process meat with veins.
The performance of this model is 2.7 kg of meat for a minute. Its rated power is 500 watts, and the maximum is 1600 watts. The design includes a reverse motor. The body of the meat grinder is made of plastic, but it looks like it is metal. Parts of the appliance are dishwasher safe.
Kitfort KT-2101
This model continues the rating of good electric meat grinders. According to reviews, it is one of the best and has gained considerable popularity among consumers. Its rated power is 300 W, and the maximum is 1.5 kW. However, the performance of the device is not so high. Within a minute, it processes 1.2 kg of meat. The device is equipped with a reverse system and has a protectivesystem from overloads. The package includes two discs for minced meat, as well as a nozzle for kebbe sausages.
The case of the device is made of plastic, which allows the manufacturer to set a low price for it.
Panasonic MK-G1800PWTQ
This is a rather expensive, but very reliable model. Its power is 330 W (with a maximum of 1.8 kW). Within a minute, this meat grinder is capable of producing 1.6 kg of minced meat. The case of the device is made of metal and plastic. The kit provides for the presence of two discs for minced meat.
The device has self-sharpening knives that can maintain high efficiency in long-term use. It is worth noting that these meat grinders are produced in Japan. That is why buyers note their high quality. The meat grinder is assembled easily, has no gaps and backlashes. It is equipped with an efficient motor that can easily handle any vein.
