Nancy2 wrote:
> Sheldon wrote:
> >"Peter" wrote:
> > > "Sheldon" wrote
> > > > "Peter" wrote:
> > > >> Received a cuisinart food processor for a wedding gift, a 7 cup model
> > > >> (came
> > > >> with a second mini food processor as well).
>
> > > >>http://www.cuisinart.com/catalog/pro...=30&item_id=59...
>
> > > >> I've only had it 3 days but so far made a nice cheese dip and used to it
> > > >> fine chop cabbage for chinese dumplings :-)
>
> > > >> Is it worth my time in effort to grind my own meat with it? I was
> > > >> thinking
> > > >> a coarser grind would be nicer compared to the usual store bought ground
> > > >> meats for many dishes. Does anyone here do this regularly and can comment
> > > >> or
> > > >> offer advice? I don't envision buying a proper meat grinder anytime
> > > >> soon.
>
> > > > A food processor is far better than mystery meat... but you really
> > > > ought to buy a meat grinder.
>
> > > > Sheldon
>
> > > Sheldon, I'll probably give this a go and if it does not satisfy my needs I
> > > may end up doing so. Suggestions for brand names and models? I don't want
> > > to sacrifice an early retirement on one but I would want one that lasts for
> > > life.
>
> > You can spend a lot more but I bought this Waring as a step up from my
> > slightly smaller Moulinex and it works great:http://www.chefscatalog.com/product/...sional-meat-gr...
>
> > I think if you shop around you can find it for less, I paid $160 two
> > years ago... hehttp://www.homeclick.com/web/catalog...x?pid=115252&c...
>
>
> You can buy a hand grinder - the kind like grandma used to clamp onto
> the edge of the kitchen table. They work great; they're easy to
> clean, and there's nothing that ever breaks, really.
>
> http://tinyurl.com/ypyfxv
All grinders are equally easy to clean.
Years ago people used to buy that type of grinder for their young kids
so they could help mommy cook... many, many of those kids amputated
their fingers. That's a toy r us sized grinder, of exceptionally poor
quality and extremely dangerous... and the better made version they
show is still quite crappy, just as dngerous, and costs almost as much
as a larger sized motorized modern grinder. Not all Lehman's products
are very good, and many, because they're old fashioned, are very
unsafe. A quality hand operated grinder (that actually works) can be
quite expensive for what it is, in modern times a hand grinder is more
of a conversation piece. Chop Rite makes what is considered the last
of the quality hand grinders... a home kitchen sized model (at least a
#12... a #22 is better) will run about $200, and it's still a hand
grinder. The kind that clamp to a table suck, they keep loosening and
they ruin tables, they wobble and that makes them even more unsafe
than they already are... the four point mount versions are much easier
to attach adn much more stable... you screw it to a sturdy board and
then clamp the board to a table with at least two C clamps. Some
folks who happen to have a Chop Rite grinder motorize it, but they are
very dangerous... all hand grinders are dangerous because the hopper
is so shallow and they have no meat tray... very easy to amputate
fingers... with hand cranked versions your fingers will be gone in
less than 1/3 a rotastion, you won't feel a thing until it's too late,
with a motorized version before you realize it'll probably take your
entire hand and you arm halfway to your elbow.... they do sell an
extention but by the time you buy the grinder, the motorizing kit, the
motor, and the safety extension you've paid more than the price of a
very powerful modern electric grinder, and then the drive belt
arrangement is extremely dangerous.
I advise anyone contemplating a meat grinder to buy a modern motorized
type, they're as safe as any motorized kitchen appliance and safer
than most, a stand mixer is much more dangerous... do NOT even think
about a hand crank type grinder.
Sheldon