Was sure I didn't need a meat grinder attachment until I ran a lamb shoulder through it

I've been cutting for about 6 years now and always thought those grinder attachments were just a gimmick for home cooks. Last month I had a lamb shoulder that was too beat up to sell as a roast, so I figured why not try it on a whim. I borrowed my buddy's KitchenAid grinder plate setup and ran that thing through with some pork back fat. The burgers I got out of that mix were better than anything I've bought pre-ground from the store. Cleaned up way easier than I expected too, just some cold water and a stiff brush. Now I'm wondering if I should just grab my own grinder or keep borrowing his. Anyone here use a standalone grinder versus the attachment?

2 comments

2 Comments

the_angela1d ago

Oh man, I read this article a while back about how pre-ground meat from the store can have a weird surface area issue that speeds up spoilage. Something about how the grinding process exposes more meat to air, but when you grind it yourself right before cooking, you skip all that. Made me rethink those cheap styrofoam packs of ground lamb. Honestly, I'd probably grab your own attachment instead of borrowing. The standalone ones look nice but you're right about counter space, and the KitchenAid one cleans up faster than I'd expect for how much meat you can push through it.

caleb_sanchez2d ago

Used to be exactly the same way, thought the grinder was just a toy for folks who wanted to feel fancy in the kitchen. But after borrowing a friend's and running some tough cuts through it (like that beat up lamb shoulder you mentioned), I totally get it now. The texture you get from grinding your own is just way better, no comparison to the pre-packed stuff at the store. As for the standalone vs attachment thing, I'd say stick with the attachment if you plan to grind maybe once a month. The standalone ones are nice if you're doing big batches, but they take up a ton of counter space that I can't really spare.