Best 6 Meat Grinders for Venison 2023 Top Picks

If you are a hunter, then you know the importance of having a good meat grinder for deer processing. Deer meat is relatively tough, and if you want to make delicious patties and burgers, you will need something that can grind that meat faithfully.

If you don’t know anything about meat grinders, it can be hard to know where to start. So we put together this comprehensive guide on the best meat grinders for deer of 2023.

We selected these meat grinders based on their durability, power, available accessories, and overall build quality so you can make an informed decision when shopping.

TOP 6 Meat Grinders for Venison of 2023

1. Aobosi Electric Meat Grinder

Starting off our list is a strong contender in the Aobosi Heavy-Duty Electric Meat Grinder. The Aobosi has an extremely powerful 2000W motor and comes with 3 different grinding plates, 3 sausage stuffer tubes, all wrapped up in a simple one-touch button design. The Aobosi can churn out up to 2 pounds of meat per minute for an astonishing 120 pounds per hour at continuous usage. A single session with the Aobosi can prep all your meat needs for two weeks straight.

The Aobosi features a durable detachable tray made from stainless steel along with a stainless steel wrapped body and gearbox. The powerful motor can generate a ton of torque that rips through chewy meat while keeping the flavor and texture. The 3 grinding plates are suitable for making burgers, sausages, kibbeh, and whatever other meat products you want. The gear switch contains 3 settings: on, off and a reverse function for fixing jams. The Aobosi also comes with a generous 1-year warranty on all the parts, lifetime customer service support, and a 30-day money-back guarantee. That is why it won our pick for the best meat grinder for venison.

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2. Sunmile SM-G31

Up next on our list is the Sunmile SM-G31. The Sunmile is an excellent budget option that offers good motor strength and grinding options with an affordable price tag. The Sunmile has a 250W rated and 800W max motor that is made using durable copper wires with high resistance that minimize the risk of burnouts. It has a simple On/Off switch for easy operation and comes with 3 distinct grinding plates for coarse, medium, and fine-grained meat, respectively. The Sunmile also comes with a single sausage stuffer attachment and a removable blade for cleaning.

The Sunmile is also very easy to take apart and clean. It has a screw-type locking knob that opens up the gearbox so you can easily remove the blades and plates for thorough cleaning. Since everything is stainless steel, all components are 100% machine washable. The Sunmile is also ETL certified, meaning that it meets nationally recognized standards for electrical engineering.

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3. STX Turboforce Cadet

In third place is the STX Turboforce Cadet. The Cadet made our list due to its sheer versatility. The STX comes with many accessories, including 4 grinding plates, 4 slicing drums, 3 interchangeable cutting blades, 2 meat claws, a burger press, and a kibbeh maker. The Cadet can function as a meat grinder, vegetable cutter, and sausage stuffer. This versatility is a great feature for someone who does a lot of work in the kitchen. The Cadet also has a powerful motor with a max level of 1200W and a 550 operational output.

The best feature of the Cadet is how versatile it is. The multiple accessories make it a truly all-in-one device that can play a role in most kitchen endeavors. It also comes with a very generous 3-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee, like all STX products. The only downside is that this meat grinder for der processing is medium-duty and not rated for bone, gristle, fruit, nuts, or animal tendons.

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4. Kitchener Electric Meat Grinder

Up in fourth place is the Kitchener Electric Meat Grinder. The Kitchener is an excellent general-purpose meat grinder that works well for chicken, pork, beef, elk, and of course, venison. The Kitchener features a tough 1/2HP induction motor with an average operating capacity of 370W, which can power through over 400 pounds of meat through a continual hour of grinding. The tray, grinder head, auger, and meat pan are crafted out of durable stainless steel that resists rusting and is 100% dishwasher safe.

The Kitchener also comes with 2 interchangeable steel grinding plates, 4 stuffing tubes, and a solid meat stomper for feeding meat into the grinding apparatus. The electric motor is also equipped with a patented circuit breaker that automatically shuts off to prevent motor burnouts.

All in all, Kitchener is one of the best all-purpose meat grinders you can buy for the money. Despite the powerful motor, the machine is very quiet, and it has a space-conscious design that will fit on your kitchen counter without being obtrusive.

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5. Maverick Mince Master

Up in fifth place is the Maverick Mince Master. The Mince Master is a powerful and easy to use electric meat grinder that features a 575W motor that can be used to grind meat, cheese, fruits, vegetables, and nuts. The Maverick has an effortless and streamlined design with a 3-button switch interface with an on/off switch, reverse switch, and turbo function for tougher meats. The Maverick also comes with 3 interchangeable grinding plates, one each for fine, coarse, and medium-grain meat. The Maverick also comes with a sausage cone, kibbeh maker, cookie maker die, and special wrench for disassembling and cleaning.

One of the best features of the Maverick is its streamlined design. The rounded shape is very space-conscious, and it does not have complicated switches or button layouts. The casing itself is made from durable ABS plastic, and the removable components are made from stainless steel and so are 100% dishwasher safe. It is also versatile and can grind more than just meat, making it a useful multi-functional tool to have in your kitchen.

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6. Tangkula Commercial Meat Grinder

Last but certainly not least on our list is the Tangkula Commercial Meat Grinder. The Tangkula is a veritable beast of a meat grinder engineered with a sturdy, precision steel casing and grinding case. The Tangkula has a potent 1100W motor that can grind nearly 500 pounds of meat in a single hour. Each piece is treated with a special coating to prevent corrosion and build-up of oils and fats from grinding. The Tangkula is tough enough to grind through smaller bones and has the power to work as a commercial-grade meat grinder as well as a meat grinder for personal use.

The Tangkula has a one-turn on/off switch and food pusher mechanism that makes extruding ground meat easier and prevents things from getting clogged. The motor has an air-cooled design that prevents overheating during operation and comes with 2 grinding plates, 2 interchangeable blades, a spiral cutting head, and an extra food pusher/sausage stuffer. Each component can be removed for deep cleaning.

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Meat Grinder Buying Guide

Before buying a meat grinder, make sure you familiarize yourself and look for the following considerations.

Power Source (Manual or Electric)

The first thing you should consider is what type of meat grinder you want. Meat grinders come with two main types of power sources: electric and manual. As the name implies, electric meat grinders have a small electric motor to cranks the wheels and grind meat. You place the venison in the top tray, push it through the opening, and the electric motor takes care of the rest. Electric meat grinders tend to be very powerful and easy to use as the motor provides all the necessary torque to turn the slicing blades. Advances in electric motor technology and competition between brands have also made electric meat grinders more affordable and user friendly. The one major downside of electric grinders is the motor can fail, and unless you know a thing or two about electrical engineering, you will have to get a pro to fix it.

Manual meat grinders, on the other hand, have a crank mechanism that is operated by hand. With manual meat grinders, you turn a physical handle to spin the gears and work the blades that churn the meat. Manual grinders are also called “crank-grinders” because of the presence of this crank mechanism. You place the meat in the top opening, push it down, and turn the handle to grind the cuts. Manual grinders are praised for their simplicity and low cost. The lack of sophisticated electrical components means that manual grinders are often reasonably inexpensive, at least compared to their electric cousins. Manual grinders are also relatively easy to maintain since they consist only of mechanical parts that can easily be clean in a dishwasher. The main drawback of manual grinders is their relative lack of power. They rely entirely on manual power, so they may lack the juice necessary to cut through things like bones and gristle.

Materials

The material is also an important consideration. If you are going to be consistently grinding meat throughout the year, you will want a grinder made of tough materials that can handle the perennial chore. The best meat grinders for deer and venison are made from heavy-duty materials like iron or stainless steel that can handle a lot of mechanical force and will not rust over time. In our opinion, stainless steel is the top choice of material for a meat grinder, with aluminum coming in a close second. These two materials are tough, resistant, and relatively easy to clean.

Most of the time, meat grinders have multiple parts that are made from different things. For example, with electric grinders, the grinding parts will be made from steel, but the unit that houses the motor might be made from durable ABS plastic. Alternatively, manual grinders might be made from metal but have a wooden handle. Make sure you understand what each part of the grinder is made from so you can clean and maintain it properly.

Wattage

Wattage refers essentially to how powerful the motor of the grinder is. As such, wattage only applies to electric motors. All other things being equal, the higher the wattage, the more powerful the motor, and the more meat it will be able to grind per unit of time. So if you plan on grinding tough materials like bone or gristle, you should probably invest in a grinder that has a high wattage. Most higher-end meat grinders have a wattage between 300-800. In our opinion, 800+ watts are very high and unnecessary unless you plan to use the grinder for heavy-duty commercial purposes. ~500W-600W is probably the strongest you will need to grind in your own home.

Accessories

In our opinion, one of the best additional features to look for is grinders that come with extra grinding plates. The grinding plates are the part that the meat is pushed through to make the chuck. Interchangeable grinding plates let you adjust the thickness and texture of the meat.  For example, if you want to make good venison burgers that you can mold easier, then you probably need a grinding plate for more delicate meat. Most grinding plates come with at least two plates, one that is ¼” and the other that is ⅛.” Others may come with a third plate that is between those two grains. Venison is tough, so you should probably use a fine-grained plate so it will mix and mold better. In most cases, you can grind it once on a coarser setting then again on a more refined setting.

Other additional features to look out for are sausage stuffing tubes. These cylindrical tubes allow you to push the meat into sausage casings quickly, so you get an even and thick sausage. Lastly, while unnecessary, it is a good idea to look for grinders with interchangeable cutting blades. Changing to a smaller, finer blade makes it easier to get finely ground meat as it chops the cuts into smaller bits before they are pushed through the grinding plate.

Ease of Cleaning

Ideally, it would be best if you were cleaning your meat grinder after every use. If you do not regularly clean your grinder, then fats and fluids can build up and make your grinder less effective. As such, look for a grinder that can be disassembled into its constituent parts for easy in-depth cleaning. This is why we recommend looking for stainless steel grinders. Stainless steel can be put through the dishwasher without fear of rusting. No matter what kind of grinder you get, make sure to clean it regularly, or else it will be less effective. Dirty meat grinders also smell atrocious, and nobody wants to deal with the stench of rotting meat.

FAQ

Should I get a manual or electric grinder?

It depends on the quantity of meat you want to grind. If you stick to smaller amounts, then a manual grinder should be ok. But if you want to grind large amounts day after day, then an electric grinder would probably be a better choice. That being said, some enthusiasts prefer the feel and cut of a manual grinder to an electric one and vice versa.

How do I clean a meat grinder?

To clean a meat grinder, it is essential to take apart each piece of the cutting apparatus and thoroughly clean it. The grinding plates and blades are two of the most important things to clean.

What kind of meat grinder is best for venison (deer)?

Venison is fairly tough meat that has a lot of sinew in it. As such, the best deer meat grinders tend to be electric grinders that have a high wattage and fine grinding plates. Ensure that the grinder you pick also has a reverse mode; that way, you can clear the apparatus of any tough meat that gets stuck in there.

Can I grind bone with my meat grinder?

In general, you should avoid grinding bone unless your meat grinder is rated explicitly for it. Grinding bone could prove to be too taxing on the blades and motor, which can cause damage to its parts.

Do I need to sharpen my grinder blades?

Yes, you should try to sharpen your grinder blades at least once a year. Many grinder blades market themselves as “self-sharpening,” meaning that they stay honed from use. 

How much does a meat grinder cost?

It depends on the specific make and model you get, but most mid-grade meat grinders cost $150-$400. Some larger industrial models can cost thousands of dollars, but you most likely will not have any use for these models. In general, manual meat grinders are less expensive than electric grinders because they lack sophisticated electrical components.

What is the best meat grinder brand?

Ultimately, the answer to this question depends on your specific needs and preferences, but some excellent brands to buy include STX, KitchenAid, Gourmia, and LEM Products. All of these companies have excellent track records making high-quality meat grinders and other kitchen appliances. 

Is it cheaper to grind your own meat?

All other things being equal, yes, grinding your meat is cheaper than buying pre-ground meat from the store. Based on our estimations, you can save about 40 cents per equivalent quantity of meat by grinding your own meat rather than buying pre-ground meat. Also, you can control the fat quantity or the meat that you grind on your own.

Conclusions

Grinding meat is a fun exercise in training your culinary skills. With the right meat grinder, you can make perfect venison patties for awesome deer burgers. Even if you do not hunt your meat, having a meat grinder in your kitchen is a useful tool. The best meat grinder for venison is tough, has decisive grinding action, and is made from durable, long-lasting materials.