Best Meat Grinder for Wild Game

Since venison is tougher than regular meat, it requires a powerful, high-capacity grinder. The best meat grinder for wild game grounds the meat to a consistent texture breaking down even large pieces of meat and connective tissues. It should be versatile to process different types of game meat and should have additional functionalities such as a sausage stuffer.

This article reviews the best meat grinders for wild game. It then provides a buying guide and answers to the top meat grinder questions for wild game.

6 Best Meat Grinder for Wild Game

1.Best Overall: STX Turboforce 5-in-1 Electric Meat Grinder

Specs

• Type: Electric
• Wattage: 3000w
• Capacity: 200lb/hour
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 9.75×7.25×2.00 inch
• Weight: 12.5 pounds
• Accessories: Foot pedals, sausage stuffer, kubbe maker, burger/slider maker, 2 meat claws, 3 s/s blades, and 4 grinding plates.

The STX Turboforce is a heavy-duty electric grinder specially designed for home use. It is powered by a 3000watts locked motor, but it normally uses 800-1200 watts when grinding. It grinds 180-240lb of meat per hour. However, to perform optimally, the meat has to be prepped properly by stripping and cutting it into cubes.

It is easy to operate using a 3-speed push-button control panel that enables you to control the speed of the grinder from slow to fast and vice versa. There is also a reverse button in front of the stop and reset switch. The unit also comes with a circuit breaker.

The STX Turboforce is made of food-grade polished aluminum for a sturdy and lightweight construction. It has a wide range of convenience features, including three cutting blades, three grinding plates (5/32”, 25/64”, and wagon wheel plate), a sausage stuffing plate, and three sizes of stuffing tubes. It also comes with a kubbe attachment, a foot pedal, two meat shredders, holder claws, and a 3-in-1 slider maker or burger press. The meat hopper has a high capacity to hold over 3lb of meat.

The burger slider press has waxed transfer sheets to enable you to easily remove the burgers once they are pressed. The claws come in handy when shredding, carving, or handling food. Although the auger automatically pulls the meat in, as long as you have organized it into strips on the mouth of the grinder, you can use the pushers to feed it in. The pusher also serves as storage for the sausage stuffers.

The meat auger has a unique advanced variable intake technology. Together with the 21/8-inch hopper opening, they enable for grinding of large portions of meat.

This size 12 grinder is available in three other versions, including:

• 5-in-1 with no foot pedal
• 6-in-1 with juicer
• 7-in-1 with juicer and foot pedal

The manufacturer categorically notes that it is only designed for home use and not commercial use. They also warn against using the electric meat grinder with bones, animal tendons, nuts, vegetables, and fruits. The product is backed with a 30-day money-back guarantee and a 3-year warranty.

Pros

• Quite affordable
• Easy to operate
• Easy to clean and maintain
• Easy to assemble and disassemble
• Foot pedal for optional hands-free operation
• Wide range of accessories
• Excellent for multifunctional home use
• Available in 4 versions

Cons

• Not suitable for commercial use
• 3-year warranty is only eligible for products purchased from Paradigm Alley USA

2. Best Premium Quality: Weston Pro Series 1.5HP Electric Meat Grinder

Specs

• Type: Electric
• Wattage: 3000w
• Capacity: 200lb/hour
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 17×24.75×215.5 inch
• Weight: 58 pounds
• Accessories: Sausage stuffer kit with adapter spacer, auger grabbing stomper, patented storage tray with cover, 7mm and 4.5mm grinding plates, and knife sharpener.

If you are looking for a premium quality electric meat grinder and are willing to spend a bit more for high performance, this is it. This unit is specially designed for commercial use, but it can be used at home even with the tough and large volumes of venison meat.

The Weston Pro Series is powered by an air-cooled 1120 watts (1.5HP) motor. It can grind over 14lb of meat per minute. The all-metal gear is precision engineered for maximum efficiency, quiet performance, and durability. 

This unit has some unique design features that warrant its high price and make it stand out from its competitors. It has a riffled head design and a long tapered throat that eliminates the need for a tray guard.

The Weston Pro Series electric meat grinder also has a patented storage tray and cover that keeps the auger, stomper, and other accessories clean and well-organized. It also has a forward-reverse mode suitable for grinding tougher meat with lots of connective tissue.

Pros

• High-quality, durable build
• Powerful and high performance
• Suitable for grinding large volumes of meat
• Efficient and quiet motor operation
• Fast grinding
• Wide range of accessories
• 5-year warranty
• Can be used to make cat and dog food
• Easy to assemble, disassemble, and clean

Cons

• Pricey
• May not break up bones as well as expected

3. Best Value for Money: HappyBuy Commercial Meat Grinder

Specs

• Type: Electric
• Wattage: 1.5HP/1100w
• Capacity: 550lb/hour
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 20x17x18
• Accessories: tray, plastic pusher, two grinding plates, and anti-slip feet pad

The HappyBuy Commercial Meat Grinder is a premium quality grinder. All its parts, including the top tray, outer casing, and blades, are made of food-grade stainless steel to ensure it is rust and wear-proof. It has a polished, elegant finish. It is marketed as a commercial grinder, but it can also be used at home with wild game.

The powerful meat grinder is powered by a 1100w motor with a speed of 220rpm. It grinds conveniently and easily with the capacity to deliver up to 550lb of ground meat per hour. It is versatile and can be used even with other types of meat. The grinder has higher threads than most other grinders to optimize efficiency and produce a fine texture of the meat.

This unit is easy and convenient to use. It has one operation button to run and stop the grinder. Its feeder tube is 2.1-inches wide, so you don’t need to chop wild game meat into small pieces before grinding.

The wide tray provides ample space to hold your meat when grinding. It comes with a plastic push to push the meat into the feeder tube. The manufacturer provides two grinding plates, 6mm and 8mm, for fine and coarse grinding. The 6mm plates come fitted into the grinder, while the 8mm one comes as a spare plate.

Its design includes air vents for heat dissipation, preventing overheating or breakdown of the machine. Unlike most electric grinders, it produces minimum noise when running.

Pros

• Premium quality construction
• Quite affordable
• All parts are made of stainless steel for durability
• Versatile: Can be used for both home and commercial use
• Can be used with all types of meat
• Operates relatively silently
• Fast grinding speed
• Comes with all the essential attachments

Cons

• Does not come with stuffing tubes
• Some units are defective at delivery

4. Best Budget Wild Game Grinder: OSTBA Electric Meat Grinder

Specs

• Type: Electric
• Wattage: 500-2000w
• Capacity: 200lb/hour
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 12.87×12.6×9.88 inch
• Weight: 7.26 pounds
• Accessories: 3 cutting plates, 3 sausage kits, 1 cutting blade, 2 food pushers, 1 kubbe attachment, 1 hopper, 1 tomato juicer, 4 different grating, slicing, and shredding attachment.

You don’t need to break the bank to get a high-quality electric grinder for wild game. The OSTBA electric meat grinder provides high-quality at an affordable price point. It is one of the bestselling grinders with high ratings on Amazon and fares well against the competition.

The grinder is versatile. Besides being suitable for grinding game meat and other types of meat, it can also be used as a sausage stuffer, vegetable slicer, tomato juicer, and kubbe maker. It comes with four interchangeable stainless steel blades to enable you to cut your vegetables in different shapes.

The unit has a professional, high-performance design. It is powered by a 2000W max power motor and can grind up to 3.3 pounds of meat per minute. It operates fast and conveniently and delivers high torque.

You can adjust the power for fast or slower grinding depending on the type of food you are processing. The auger attachment has a 3-stage spiral extrusion technology design that ensures that meat is squeezed out without damaging its fibers to preserve the flavor and texture.

Its construction incorporates several safety features. It has an automatic built-in circuit breaker to prevent power overloading and overheating. It also has a reverse auger that enables you to turn the auger in the opposite direction in case it jams.

Alongside the reverse switch are the power on and off button and the speed adjustment button. It also has four non-slip feet for a firm grip on the working surface.

Overall, it is easy to operate. You can also easily assemble it for set up and disassemble it for cleaning and maintenance. The manufacturer recommends against washing the components in the dishwasher; instead, they recommend hand washing using a mild detergent.

It comes with a 2-year warranty. The grinder is only suitable for home use.

Pros

• Super affordable
• Easy to use and clean
• Great value for money
• Easy to assemble and disassemble
• Wide range of convenience features and accessories
• Multifunctional
• Adjustable speed

Cons

• Not efficient at juicing tomatoes
• Lower capacity than the other grinders reviewed in this article
• Not suitable for commercial use

5. Best Wild Game for Home Use: Vevor Electric Meat Grinder

Specs

• Type: Electric
• Wattage: 1.5HP/1100w
• Capacity: 661lb/hour
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 21x9x15 inch
• Accessories: 6mm and 8mm grinding plates, sausage kit set, 2 blades, and large tray.

The Vevor electric grinder is designed to be durable and sturdy while delivering excellent performance. It is made of food-grade stainless steel. The motor and fan exterior is painted red for a beautiful finish.

The grinder features an 1100 motor that provides a cutting speed of 180r/min. It can grind up to 661lb of meat per hour. The motor has a gear-driven mechanism for optimal efficiency.

The Vevor grinder is fitted with an air-cooled electric fan to prevent overheating even when operating for a prolonged period. Its construction also features an auto circuit breaker to prevent short-circuiting or power overloading when it is in use.

It comes complete with all the essential accessories for easy and convenient use. The 6mm grinder is suitable for finer grinding, while the 8mm one is for coarse grinding. The sausage kit allows you to make all kinds of sausages.

The multifunctional grinder is also suitable for commercial use. Aside from grinding and mincing wild game and other types of meat, it can also be used for chopping and mincing vegetables.

The unit is easy to assemble and disassemble, whether you are setting it up or cleaning. The grinding head is removable, and all the components. All the metallic parts can be washed with water.

Pros

• Reasonably priced
• Sturdy and durable construction
• Easy operation with one button
• Easy to disassemble, clean, and reassemble
• Has a circuit breaker
• Comes with a complete sausage kit
• Wide application
• Suitable for both home and commercial use

Cons

• Does not have a reverse switch

6. Best Manual Grinder for Wild Game: LEM #10 Stainless Steel Clamp on Hand Grinder

Specs

• Type: Manual
• Construction: Stainless Steel
• Dimensions: 21x9x15 inch
• Accessories: 3 stuffing tubes, a stuffing star, 3/8” and 3/16” stainless steel plate, and a knife.

If you are looking for the best manual meat grinder for processing your wild game, this is it. The LEM clamp-n hand grinder has a sturdy and durable construction. It is made of highly polished stainless steel, which is rust and corrosion-resistant. The material is also easy to clean.

It comes with all the necessary accessories for convenient use, including three stuffing tubes, a stuffing star, a 3/8” stainless steel plate, a 3/16” stainless steel plate, and a complementary stainless-steel knife.

It has a wide-opening clamp base that mounts on almost any table or countertop. It has a long handle arm to deliver adequate torque when grinding. The handle is made of smooth wood for comfortable handling.

Pros

• Affordably priced
• Easy to use
• Sturdy and durable construction
• Comfortable handle
• Comes with the essential accessories
• Firm mounting on countertops and tables

Cons

• Not suited for high load grinding

Best Meat Grinder for Wild Game Buying Guide

Below are the key factors to consider when buying a meat grinder for wild game.

Power Mechanism

Meat grinders for wild game can be broadly categorized into two main categories: manual or electric grinders.

Manual Grinders

Manual grinders, also known as hank crank meat grinders, are the earliest version of grinders. They are quite affordable in comparison to electric grinders. You provide the power to operate them by cranking the grinder handle. As such, they are much slower and more time-consuming. 

The best manual grinders for venison can churn out up to 3 pounds of ground meat per minute. However, they can be cumbersome if grinding large chunks of meat or more than 10 pounds.

They are most suitable if you grind wild game occasionally. Since they do not require electric power, they can be used while camping. They also operate quietly.

Electric Grinders

Electric grinders offer high efficiency and capacity than manual grinders. Their exact capability depends on their horsepower. Their sizes range from small, household use grinders to commercial use grinders.

Typically, smaller electric grinders are 600-watts rated. They can grind up to four pounds of meat per minute. They are suitable if you have 1-2 wild game to process each season.

On the other hand, half-horse electric grinders are suitable if you process 3-4 wild game per season. The 0.5 horsepower models have a higher capacity of up to 4-5 pounds per minute. Their powerful motor enables you to process large batches of venison within a short time.

Finally, if you process at least 6 wild game per year, you need a 1 horsepower grinder. Such grinders can handle lots of meat without overheating. They churn out ground meat at a rate of up to 18 pounds per minute, almost at the same rate as you feed it through. It can grind up to three deer in a single pass within an hour.

Electric grinders can be quite noisy and heavy due to the motor. Therefore, they are unsuitable if you need to move the grinder around regularly. When buying one, ensure that it is fitted with a fan to prevent overheating. Also, read the manufacturer’s manual carefully to establish the recommended time for using the grinder and to mitigate overheating or breakdown.

Key Components

The most important components of a grinder are stuffing tubes, grinding plates, blades, and a stomper.

Blade

The blade cuts the meat. Most grinders are fitted with a four-sided blade that cuts the meat into smaller sizes before passing it down to the grinding plate. They should be sharp for optimal efficiency.

In most units, you can easily disassemble the grinder to access the blades to sharpen them. If you do not know how to sharpen the blade, ask your local butcher how they get their grinder blades sharpened. Some manufacturers provide a spare blade with their grinder, or you can buy one yourself.

Grinding Plate

The size of the holes in the grinding plate determines the texture of the meat. The smaller the holes, the finer the texture of the ground meat and vice versa. Some grinders come with two or three different plate sizes to enable you to adjust to your preferred grind texture.

Stomper

The is used to feed the meat into the grinder. It is used to push the meat into the grinder’s neck. The grinder neck has rotating augers, which grab the meat and push it to the spinning blades. You must never put your fingers in the grinder’s neck to prevent injuries. Different grinders have different stomper designs. Some are made of plastic, yet others stainless steel.

Additional Attachments

Some wild game grinders come with additional attachments that offer versatility when using your grinder. One of the most common complementary attachments is stuffing tubes. They enable you to make sausages, bologna, and snack sticks with the ground game meat.

The best wild game grinders come with various stuffing tubes in different sizes. The tubes are either made of stainless steel or plastic. Plastic tubes are more common in smaller grinders. However, they are not as durable and easy to clean as the stainless-steel tubes found in larger wild game grinders.

When deciding on tube size to use, pick the one that is slightly smaller than your meat casing.

Durability

The durability of a wild game meat grinder depends on the material used to make the various components. The best grinders are made of stainless steel as it is sturdy and rust and corrosion-resistant. Although they are pricier than those with plastic components, they last longer and are cost-effective over time as you do not have to keep replacing components of the entire unit.

Warranty

Since the best wild game grinders are quite pricey, it is important that the one you settle for comes with a 2-5 years warranty. A warranty is an indicator of the manufacturer’s confidence in their products, but it also ensures that you can get a replacement or repair parts in case the unit is faulty or breaks down.

Budget

Depending on specifications and brand reputation, there is a wide price range to choose from when buying a meat grinder. If you regularly need to process wild game throughout the year, investing in a premium-quality, a heavy-duty grinder is best. They are expensive but a worthwhile investment in the long run. 

Even if you are on a budget, keep off cheap and crappy products as they won’t be efficient, and you will end up buying a new unit sooner than you expected. Do thorough research to identify the best value products whose price is within your budget.

Ease of Use

Generally, electric grinders are quite easy to use. Most employ a power on and off mechanism and a simple button to start or stop the grinder. With that said, the grinder’s wattage and motor size should be suitable for its indicated capacity.

On the other hand, you need to consider the handle design when choosing a manual grinder. Since you will be operating it by turning the handle, it should be ergonomically designed for comfort when handling. It should also deliver maximum torque per turn.

Conclusion

Your options for meat grinders for wild game are unlimited. We have reviewed the 6 best options for your consideration depending on your needs and budget. Assess the products and information and compare everything against the factors discussed in the buyer’s guide to narrow it down to one that is best suited for you.