Main criteria:

  • Power. For an electric grinder, power is one of the defining parameters that is important for high‒quality work. Insufficient power reduces productivity and limits the range of tasks that the unit is able to perform. Purchasing an electric grinder with a small capacity is impractical, because you will have to carefully select and pre-prepare raw materials, and this requires additional time costs. But, despite this, models with a power from 400 to 700 watts are affordable, versatile and able to meet minimum household requirements. Such a meat grinder can have several speed modes. But if you are used to pamper your pets with meat dishes, it is better to purchase a device with a power of more than 800 watts. The disadvantages of powerful technology include a high noise level and high electricity consumption. But among the advantages there is a minimal risk of clogging the mechanism of the device with meat veins or cartilage, high productivity.
  • Materials. The body of modern electric meat grinders can be made of food-grade plastic or metal. But the main thing is that the material meets the basic requirements of sanitary standards and is resistant to food acids. High wear resistance is necessary for the device to last at least several years. The design of the case, the quality of its material and size affect the weight, hygienic properties of the meat grinder, safety, ease of operation and storage. Practical housewives select the shape of the case in such a way that it is possible to install a container for minced meat as close as possible to the meat grinder, then it will not fall out on the table. The neck of the device should be long and narrow ‒ this will avoid household injuries. The knives and auger of a high‒quality meat grinder are made of durable steel - this helps to extend the service life of the device and avoids unnecessary hassle, for example, frequent replacement or sharpening of knives.

Additional functions and adaptations:

  • Reverse. Auger is a metal or plastic spiral on which nozzles and knives are attached (there are models that include two augers). When rotating, it moves the raw material from the neck to the outlet. Most often, a plastic auger is used for soft foods, such as berries, fruits. With meat products, everything is more complicated. Sometimes meat veins get stuck in the mechanism and slow down its work. So that you do not have to disassemble the entire meat grinder because of this, modern models provide a screw reverse function. It will simply start rotating in the other direction and push the core into the inlet, which will allow you to easily remove it from the device.
  • Overload protection of the device. The motor protection function is performed by a plastic fuse sleeve on the screw, which provides a mechanical lock or a conventional fuse, which is also called an automatic circuit breaker. Both parts are needed to protect the meat grinder motor from overheating, excessive overloads, which shorten the service life of the device. The latest generation models use protective heat elements. If the permissible temperature is exceeded, they automatically turn off the engine.
  • Ergonomics. For the convenience of placing raw materials in the neck, a loading platform or tray is provided. In addition to the main function, the use of this part guarantees you safety while working with the device. Products have to be pushed through the neck to the auger to do it easily and safely, a special pusher is provided in the kit. In size and shape, it is such that it completely fills the neck and pushes the products inside.

Nozzles and knives:

 
  • For hardware. Modern electric meat grinders have many additional options, which greatly facilitates the preparation of dishes. Some models are equipped with a kebbe nozzle, with which you can get hollow tubes. With such a nozzle, you can cook stuffed sausages. A rather unusual dish, but despite this, such a nozzle is included in many models. With the help of a nozzle for filling homemade sausage, it is enough just to fix the gut correctly, turn on your device and monitor the preparation.
  • Slicing and squeezing. Often the kit includes a nozzle for squeezing juice from fruits and berries, which turns the meat grinder into a juicer for a while. This is very convenient, and there is no need to buy another device. Modern housewives will also be pleased with the presence of a shredder, a vegetable cutter, several types of large and small graters ‒ these are cylindrical nozzles with holes of a special shape. Using them, you will get perfectly chopped (chopped) vegetables.
  • Specific nozzles. The kit may also include nozzles for curly cookies or sausages made of dough. And special discs for noodles will allow you to pamper others with wonderful pasta. There are not always devices with these nozzles on the market, but if desired, you can find such a model. Special forms for cutlets will help to prepare the perfect "calibrated" cutlets, for aesthetes this nozzle is irreplaceable. And judging by how often it is included in the package, there are a lot of such people. Online stores offer many models with a variety of equipment, but do not forget that all the additional functions affect the cost of the meat grinder. Therefore, choose a model that clearly meets your requirements, so as not to pay for functions that will not be useful to you.