I have a heavy duty KitchenAid mixer and was thinking about buying the meat grinder attachment. Has anyone tried one and could tell me how well it worked? Thanks!

-- CJ Tinkle (CJTinkle@goin.missouri.org), December 13, 2000

Answers

I have the Oster equivalent, and it works great. Sure wouldn't be without it when we process deer! Jan

-- Jan in Colorado (Janice12@aol.com), December 13, 2000.

I have it and have used it gotta love a kitchen aide .If I was going to use it all the time I would probally buy a seperate grinder so I did not stress my KA to much .I love mine and would want to wear it out .

-- Patty (fodfarms@slic.com), December 13, 2000.

I have had a K5 (the big one) for about 20 years and it's still going strong. I got the meat grinder about 15 years ago when I burned out the one on the Oster. Although the grinder is made of plastic it has held up pretty well to heavy use. Last year I inadvertently got some bone in the mechanism and it did tear up the plastic some. I used a sharp knife to smooth out the rough spots and it still works well. We process and grind all our meat so it gets heavy use. The only thing I don't like about it is the mixer portion of the machine moves as though it was mixing while the grinder is working. Maybe the new KitchenAids don't do that. Considering how much I have used it, I think it is worth the investment.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), December 13, 2000.

Do they grind bones too? I'd like something like that for my dog's meat if it could handle the bones too.

-- Julie Froelich (firefly1@nnex.net), December 14, 2000.

I just wanted to thank you all for your responses. This was great, there's nothing like feedback from those who've been there to help guide you!

-- CJ Tinkle (CJTinkle@goin.missouri.org), December 14, 2000.

Julie, NO it won't handle bones. The spiral portion is made of plastic and will get all cut up if you put bones in it. My Mom, though, used to pressure cook lots of scraps and bones until they were soft ( they actually do get soft if you cook them long enough). Then she ground all the scraps and made dog bisquits the dogs absolutely loved. I think she added garlic, brewers yeast, eggs and corn flour to make a dough, then baked them until they were crisp.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), December 14, 2000.

I have it and find the meat needs to be nearly frozen, not room tempt to grind better and if I try to grind a 2nd time as they suggest it's harder than heck to get thru again, have to push and push with the stopper, but mine isn't the heaviest model either, I just don't put it thru a second time anymore, to much trouble. I also find the vibration of heavy use with the attachments seem to loosen the attachment hooked to the hub, so I have to ck it periodocally or it will fly off.

-- Carol in Tx (cwaldrop@peoplescom.net), December 16, 2000.

Carol, That must be the difference in size because I don't have any of those problems. I cut the meat roughly into 2 inch cubes, room temp, and run them through once. We do a lot of venison so after 5 minutes or so I remove the blade and clean out the gristle/membranes then continue. That takes less than a minute. When I'm done I run the gristle through and give it to the chickens- nothing wasted.

-- Peg (wildwoodfarms@hushmail.com), December 16, 2000.

I used my mother's KA (one of those smaller oldies) for almost ten years. Its grinding mechanism was all cast metal (aluminum, I think). It worked like a gem, for her--over 25 years, AND for me-- almost 10. Then, I foolishly gave it away (kept the accessories) to a church moneyraiser when my husband bought me a K5A, 300 watt, model in '78. Should have kept it to give to a grandchild but we are in military and "weight is everything". The K5A is just as wonderful (larger, 5 qt., capacity bowl) and a friend didn't know I had mom's accessories so she gave me the newer plastic grinder. It has also worked like a gem but, as said earlier, it's plastic--NOT metal. I found another K5A, 325 watt, at a garage sale for my oldest daughter (it had been used in a school cafeteria before being sold to a school mom who decided that she didn't like cooking)and I gave my daughter my plastic grinder. My husband loves what I do with mine so-o much (grind meats, juice vegies and fruits, bake ALL our bread) that he thought I was due this year for the PRO model. It has the 6 quart bowl, powered with 525 watts. I'll let you know how it goes. It still uses the same accessories but, regrettably, I must buy a larger "dust shield". All the newer ones (since the 80's) are two piece--just an inconvenience over the older model. Some of the models now come WITH the "dust shield". DON'T BOTHER TO GET A KA WITHOUT A "DUST SHIELD" IF YOU INTEND TO MIX ANYTHING WITH FLOUR, OF ANY KIND, and learn the directions for speeds and attachments used for various jobs. There are various wattage varieties available for the homemaker, between 300 and 525. I'm not sure the higher wattage is necessary--we'll see. Maybe I'll finally give my K5A to my youngest daughter or just use the PRO model to power the scooter my husband gave me for my birthday! Let me know how it goes...

-- KA afficionado (zumende@aol.com), December 20, 2000.

CJ, forgot to mention that everyone that I have known that makes bread (never near the quantity that I make), that bought something other than the Kitchen Aid, has replaced their "machine" with the KA. All, that is, ALL their motors burned out within the first year. These friends don't grind meat but that task has the same demand for power and quality. There are just a couple of other mixers on the market that can handle the same load as the KA but none of the "cheapies". Don't waste your money. The best ones are usually sold in the "exclusive" catalogs, like Williams Sonoma, and Sur La Table. Wish I could remember the brands--just a couple.

-- pleased KA owner (zumende@aol.com), December 20, 2000.