On Thu, 22 Apr 2010 15:25:41 +0100, "Ophelia" >
wrote:

>
>
>"brooklyn1" > wrote in message
.. .
>> "Nancy Young" wrote:
>>>
>>>An electric one, not that it matters for my question.
>>>
>>>There are parts that need to be kept oiled or they will rust.
>>>With my previous grinder I made the mistake of using vegetable
>>>oil. I knew it was wrong but I had to do something.
>>>
>>>So, before I use it to make burgers later, how do you clean
>>>the parts and is mineral oil a good option to keep the carbon
>>>steel parts from rusting?
>>>
>>>Any other tips? The ones I should have been paying attention
>>>to all these years on rfc?
>>
>> Nothing wrong with vegetable oil on the carbon steel plate/blade. I
>> don't bother oiling those parts, just be sure all parts are dry/clean
>> before reassembling/storing. The easiest way to clear meat, wet/oily
>> ingredients from the plate and other parts is at the end to pass
>> through a hunk of dry bread/a few saltines (often that can be used in
>> a recipe anyway - meataballes, meataloaf). Then simply hand wash all
>> parts in ordinary dishwashing liquid... never place aluminum in
>> dishwasher. For the obsessive compulsives every hardware store sells
>> small diameter wire brushes of stainless steel/brass for passing
>> through grinder plate holes... but a short soak in hot soapy water and
>> a good rinse has always worked well for me. There are special food
>> safe silicone greases for long term storage but if you use your
>> grinder regularly those parts won't rust in the typical home kitchen.
>> I have extra carbon steel plates/blades sitting in my pantry
>> unused/unoiled for many years and not a speck of rust... I have a
>> second grinder that hasn't been used in a few years and no rust. Of
>> course a lot depends on your climate and the humidity in your home.
>
>I have two grinders, one I manage just in the way you suggest, the other in
>the way I described. The former seems better quality and doesn't cut the
>hands as you clean it.

Many grinders contain sharp edges/burrs inside the housing (flash from
the casting), they are easy to file/scrape smooth. Nowadays many
manufacturers, especially in the orient, have awful/non existant QC...
those sharp edges should have been removed at the factory... they also
do not regulary maintain their tooling so defects are more severe.
Anytime you buy any new tool examine it carefully for sharp
edges/defects and remove same immediately lest you damage yourself,
often seriously. Molded plastics can have more dangerous defects than
cast metal... at least a metal splinter will show in an x-ray,
plastics will not.... it's bad enough to get that sliver in your hand,
you do not want it in your food. Clean up that grinder immediately,
if you can't have someone do it who can. If for whatever reason you
can't have that grinder properly serviced destroy it so no one else
can use it and toss it in the trash.