How helpful is a Meat Grinder?

Yes, cookbookchick, it is a different manufacturer, although I didn't notice it! I was just searching Kitchen Aid meat grinder, and a metal one came up by Chef's Choice. I'm happy to know though, that the KA attachment is so well-recommended. Thanks everyone!

Yes, you are correct, pierino. But I was wondering about LLStone's question about choosing between the $50 plastic grinder and the $150 stainless one. Perhaps a different manufacturer? LLStone, can you tell us what you are seeing?

(Is there a metal food grinder made by KA? I just looked on their website and I don't see one.)

I also have the plastic one.

I have the plastic one.

I'm looking at the KA attachment, and I am wondering if the KA attachment that you all are talking about is the plastic one (approx $50) or the stainless one (approx $150). Please let me know and thanks.

Additional reasons to get the KA grinder ... ground cooked ham makes great ham salad and adds great flavor to meatloaves. Ground cooked chicken and turkey also make great homemade salads with the simple addition of mayo.Veggies can be run through the grinder too. I'll run celery and dill pickles and onions through mine when I want to flavor the ham,chicken and turkey salads . I've even run boiled eggs through for egg salad.Can you tell I'm a fan???

Love my kitchen Aid grinder. I don't use it often, but it is only small attachments, so it works for me. Especially for awesome burgers. I can pick and choose my meats.

Love my kitchen Aid grinder. I don't use it often, but it is only small attachments, so it works for me. Especially for awesome burgers. I can pick and choose my meats.

Love my kitchen Aid grinder. I don't use it often, but it is only small attachments, so it works for me. Especially for awesome burgers. I can pick and choose my meats.

I also have the KitchenAid attachment, which I have used to effect a few times for large batches. I've also gone to the food processor (what a horrid name.) Lately I've come to using my really sharp nine inch chef's knife to both give me the cut of meat I want, plus some upper-body exercise. Results are remarkably similar.

I absolutely love my KAid meat grinder and I can't imagine my love without it. I got mine from my mother in law (she got it from her mom), so it's a really old one. the thing is, that attachments you can buy now are made differently (plastic or something) and this is why people complain and say that it doesn't work very well. so if I were you, I would look for the original one on eBay, or similar. it really does make a difference. The other benefit of having it - you can attach a sausage attachment to it. I just made my first sausages last one.

A timely question for me. Been doing my own research and since I don't own a KitchenAid, I have bee looking at stand alone. Models.. Has any one had experience with the Waring Pro Meat Grinder?

I too own KA grinder, I love it and use it a lot. But it is not an absolute must for everyone. Before you invest, you should consider how often you cook or use ground meat, and how happy you are with you butcher. I know many good cooks who do not own one and are perfectly happy cooking without it.

Thank you all for your help! The Kitchen Aid is the way to go -- happy cooking!

Thank you all for your help! The Kitchen Aid is the way to go -- happy cooking!

Been using my Kitchen Aid meat grinder for over 20 years with no problem. Love it and it works beautifully.

You can also easily use a food processer, if you have one. Helps if you cube the meat and freeze it briefly!

I use the KA meat grinder attachment to grind meat. I cut the meat into oblong pieces that will easily fit in the feeding tube. Works fine! I also have the pasta roller and cutters - I love them! So much easier to have both hands free rather than having to hand-crank. I would recommend using semolina flour for dusting. I use Bob's Red Mill. It seems to make the pasta less sticky and easier to feed through the machine.

I've found both the Kitchen Aid meat grinder and pasta attachments work very well

The meat grinder for the KitchAid really works. I've been grinding my own now for more than 20 years with the same attachment. It's a good investment, takes up little space.

Thank you both! Regarding the Kitchen Aid attachment, does it really work? I've seen mixed reviews of Kitchen Aid attachments (such as the pasta roller), so I've been reluctant to go the way of the attachment. Thanks again for your help!

I'll add to Monita's advice; I have the grinder attachment for the KitchenAid. One serious and practical reason to own one is that you will know that your ground meat comes from one single piece of cow or chicken. Supermarket ground meats can come from literally hundreds of different animals. That's how e-coli poisoning spreads. You will have a safer kitchen by using one. You cut up the meat and do it yourself.

If you own a kitchen aid mixer you can easily get a meat grinder attachment. Otherwise, I'd rely on your butcher unless you are an avid sausage maker