If you already own a KitchenAid stand mixer, the metal grinder attachment is a $100 way to grind your own meat. A dedicated #8 electric costs about $420. Here's where the line falls.
Side by side
| KitchenAid Metal Grinder | LEM #8 BigBite | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $99.99 list | About $420 |
| Power | Your mixer's motor | 0.5 HP |
| Rated output | Not listed | 7 lb/min |
| Best for | A few pounds of burger | Burgers, sausage, deer |
| Storage | Small box | 29 lb machine |
In testing
Smoked BBQ Source found the KitchenAid attachment's grind quality average, with a tendency to smear fat and clog, and didn't time it. A LEM BigBite ground 4 lb of brisket in about three minutes.
Making the attachment work
Freeze the attachment for an hour, cut meat into 1-inch cubes, chill it until firm at the edges and grind in small batches. Stop when the meat starts to look shiny and smeared.
Which should you buy?
You own a KitchenAid and grind a few pounds at a time.
You make sausage in 10-pound batches or process game.
Questions
Will it hurt my mixer?
Grinding for long stretches works the mixer hard. Keep batches small and let it rest.
Is the plastic attachment OK?
The metal version is better because you can chill it in the freezer.
