The LEM #22 BigBite is for families who process elk, a hog or four deer a season. LEM rates it at 13 pounds a minute from a 1 HP (750 W) motor, and #22 plates move meat faster at the same push. It weighs 50 lb and costs $729.99 list, so buy it only if you'll use the capacity.
Key specs
| LEM #22 BigBite | |
|---|---|
| Price | $729.99 list |
| Size | #22 |
| Motor | 1 HP (750 W) |
| Output (maker) | 13 lb/min |
| Plates | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing |
| Weight | 50 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Notable | #22 plates, near-commercial capacity |
How it grinds
LEM claims 13 pounds a minute, or about 780 pounds an hour. KaTom puts #22 plates at 9 to 12 pounds a minute in commercial use, which is the class this grinder sits in.
Build
Stainless steel head, auger, knife and plates, with fine (4.5 mm), coarse (10 mm) and stuffing plates. At 50 lb it needs a sturdy table and someone to help move it.
Price and warranty
$729.99 regular price; we saw it at $583.99 on sale at a farm store. Five-year warranty.
After grinding
Ground meat keeps one to two days in the fridge, so freeze what you won't cook. Pressed flat in vacuum bags, it freezes and thaws fast; our sister site has a guide to vacuum sealing meat. Grinding for jerky? Ground jerky has to reach 160°F; see ground beef jerky on The Dehydrator Report.
This review is based on LEM's published specifications and on independent tests where they exist; we name whose test each finding comes from. We haven't run our own timed tests on this model yet and will add hands-on notes when we do.
Questions
#12 or #22?
Most hunters are better served by the #12. The #22 makes sense when the grinder is the bottleneck on a big processing day.
Does it need a special outlet?
No. It runs on a standard 110-volt household outlet.
