Modern meat grinders are divided into two types: mechanical and electrical. And although the former work on "manual traction" and are considered morally obsolete, they are still willing to buy. All because they are made of cast iron or cast aluminum, are conveniently disassembled and serve forever. And most importantly - their cost is much lower than for electric models. But more modern meat grinders are not only attractive appearance, but also pleasing with an abundance of functions. And it's much easier to work for them: just press the button and the electric drive will do everything by itself. So what to choose - reliability or speed?
Contents:
- The best producers of meat grinders
- The principle of operation and the device of the mincer
- Types of mincers
- Selection parameters
- Which meat grinder to choose
- The cost of meat mincers
The best producers of meat grinders - which firms to choose
If you decide to purchase an electric meat grinder, not going deep into its features and functionality, search in stores for the technique of popular brands. Good models are offered by the company:
- Bosch
- Moulinex
- Philips
- Gorenje
The best meat grinders of famous brands can be found in our rating of the best electric meat mincers, and we recommend you pay attention to the products of domestic plants "Uralochka" or "Kazan".
However, the reputation of the manufacturer is by no means the main criterion for choosing a meat grinder( although it does matter).To purchase was successful, you first need to study the design features and familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the models you like.
Principle of operation and arrangement of the mincer
Regardless of the type of drive, all grinders have a fairly simple auger design. Their main elements:
- body;
- handle or electric actuator, starting from the button;
- auger shaft
- knives;
- grating;
- clamp or suction cups for fastening to the table or simply non-slip feet.
The principle of operation of such a mechanism is also simple. The products are manually fed into the upper horn of the hull, where they are picked up and pushed inside by turning the auger. Thick blades crush the meat, pressing it to the corrugated walls, and simultaneously transfer it to rotating knives. This is where the mincemeat is ground, which is then pressed through the grate into the bowl.
The electric meat grinder completely eliminates physical work( except for feeding meat into the tray), but grinds the products in the same way. The only thing that rotate the handle and make efforts to scroll the auger is not necessary - all this will make the engine and gearbox. There are no other major differences in the design, but there are additional possibilities due to the variety of complete attachments.
Species of mincers
We have told enough about mechanical manual models, so we will not dwell on them. Consider the types of electric meat grinders. They are divided into 3 types, depending on the capacity and performance. These same characteristics determine the purpose of the instruments.
For home use
The most simple and low-power electric meat grinders are functionally similar to mechanical, but the speed of grinding is much higher, plus there is no need for manual labor. With other power units, they are related by a stable housing, which does not require attaching to the table. Pros:
- Good processing speed of products;
- Do not require physical effort;
- Easy to use;
- Can cope with the preparation of minced meat, crushing fruit and vegetables;
- Durable, if not overload the motor and withstand the cycle time.
Cons:
- Minimum of additional functions;
- The need to give the engine time to rest.
These mincers choose to replace manual models in order to simply ease their labor in the kitchen. An average family that does not grind meat for mincemeat with kilograms, the possibilities of this technique will be enough.
Reinforced
Intermediate version - high power meat grinders designed for large families and use in the catering system( small cafes, canteens, buffets).Their performance is higher than that of typical "home" models, so there is already a large supply tray for products already in the kit. Often such mincers are equipped with self-sharpening knives and a decent number of nozzles, for storage of which a special compartment is provided in the body.
Pros:
- High power and performance;
- Excellent speed of processing of products;
- Reverse system;
- Motor overload protection;
- Large selection of attachments, not limiting the technique of working with meat alone;
- Easy to operate.
Cons:
- Cost above the average;
- Noisiness;
- Large size.
Professional
The most powerful and multifunctional meat grinders for large catering establishments with high attendance, as well as outlets.
Pros:
- Very high power and performance;
- Multiple speeds;
- Large engine life;
- High level of protection of the electric motor;
- Durable and stable housing.
Cons:
- High cost;
- Large size and weight;
- Uneconomical power consumption;
- Too loud for use in an apartment.
Selection Parameters Selecting a mechanical grinder does not take long. It is enough to decide on the convenient dimensions( there are few options here) and choose a quality metal - thick and strong, without casting defects. With electrical engineering, the situation is more complicated, as it will be necessary to pay attention to the characteristics of the drive.
Power
This is not only the effort that the motor transfers to the auger, but also the power consumption of the kitchen machine. Here it is necessary to search for a middle ground between the effective operation of machinery and the load on the network. The power of "home" electric meat mincer ranges from 330-800 W, but if you have good wiring in the house, it is better to stick to the upper limit.
Reinforced electric meat grinders go from 800 to 1600 W, professional ones can produce up to 2-3 kW.However, in the case of industrial machines, this parameter is already receding into the background. For example, European and Japanese meat grinders are equipped with reducing gears, which, even when coupled with a low-power engine( 250-550 W), can transmit enormous force to the shaft.
Performance
This parameter is closer and more understandable to users of kitchen appliances - it shows how many products per unit of time can twist the meat grinder.
Simple electric models have a productivity of 0.6 to 1.5 kg / min, that is, the preparation of a portion of minced meat to feed the whole family with cutlets, it only takes a minute.
Semi-professional devices show more impressive results - up to 3 kg / min, industrial machines at the same time produce 5-10 kg of minced meat.
If you have to process large volumes of products, you do not need to spare money for a professional meat grinder with a performance higher than required.
The problem is that low-power models usually go without engine protection from overheating and can not work longer than 5-10 minutes. Standing for hours above the unit will not work, even if you have enough time for this - so not for long and the engine ditch. Therefore, take a meat grinder with a small margin of performance or clarify whether it has protection.
Materials of construction
Of course, all the working elements of the meat grinder must be metal and solid-cast - this is the guarantee of durability of the equipment. But the material of the case matters.85% of the models on the market go in inexpensive plastic casings - they are lighter, cute look in the interior, but over time they are scratched or covered with cracks. This does not affect the operation of the machine, however, the appearance of the meat grinder will be spoiled.
Units completely made of metal, where stronger and more reliable. However, these meat grinders are very heavy, so they better find a permanent place in the kitchen so that they do not have to get heavy equipment on the shelf every time. One tip: if you buy a model in a metal case, do not take a shiny polish - look for steel with a matte effect, which will not leave any traces of hands and stains after washing.
Additional functions and features of the
The number of functions that the manufacturers were able to implement in the electric meat grinder is small:
- Reverse - the return of the screw, which allows to return the mass stuck in the pipe;
- Motor overload protection;
- Ability to adjust the speed of operation.
All other "skills" of meat grinders depend on the set of complete attachments and their features. When buying, you should carefully read this list to know which dishes can be cooked using a specific model.
In addition to the usual perforated disk for minced meat and auger, the following tips are attached to the output socket of the meat grinder:
- grater-slicer;
- shredding;
- spout for filling the sausage casing;
- kebbe nozzle( meat tubes for further stuffing;
- juice extractor for berry and separately for citrus;
- macaroni press;
- disc with figured holes for shortbread;
- mill.
A large number of different attachments increase the cost of the meat grinder, but at the same timeThe same time allows you to refuse the purchase of other kitchen appliances and appliances. So if you often cook meals, where you need different degrees of grinding products, this investment can justify itself.
What kind of meat grinder to choose
1. For those who use a meat grinder extremely rarely( 1-2 times a month) and prepares minced meat in small portions, it will be enough to have a good mechanical modelIt will last forever, does not rust from the inside during the time of "downtime" and will quietly leave behind the children and grandchildren. With the same conditions and the unwillingness to twist the meat by hand, you can take a budget home model with a capacity of 500-700 W with low performance( up to 1-1, 5 kg /min.).For special nozzles in both cases, it is not worth chasing.
2. In a large family, where it is often necessary to cook, it is more convenient to use semi-professional meat grinders of increased power up to 1.5-1.6 kW.Productivity of 2-3 kg / min will be more than enough to quickly and without extra effort to prepare forcemeat, chop the vegetables for caviar or potatoes for the deruns. Well, if the machine comes with self-sharpening knives, because it will have to work a lot and often. But you can choose additional attachments at will, given the availability of other grinding machinery in your kitchen.
3. Professional meat grinders are designed for daily use or grinding of large volumes of meat. Such models make sense to buy in public catering establishments, meat shops and those who hold their own farm. When choosing to focus is not so much on power, but on the performance and brand fame. In this case, the machine will be able to cope with its functions and will serve for a really long time, having spent the money spent on it.
How much does the mincer
1. Manual meat grinder will cost a small amount from 400 to 1000 rubles. But for the imported model can be requested 6-10 thousand, although functionally it is not too different from the domestic samples - except that in the interior of the kitchen will look elegant.
2. The most simple electric meat grinder for domestic and infrequent use can be bought at a price of 2000 to 8000 rubles.
3. The high power model with a good set of different attachments will cost 5-12 thousand.
4. For professional equipment, capable of working hours with large volumes of products, you will have to pay a considerable amount in the range of 16-30 thousand rubles.
