Meat grinder: how to correctly install the knife

The meat grinder has become an indispensable part of our kitchen utensils. It allows us to effortlessly prepare minced meat and puree. Initially, manual meat grinders were introduced, followed by the electric ones, and both types are equally effective in grinding various ingredients such as meat, vegetables, fruits, and breadcrumbs. The primary purpose of the meat grinder is to pulverize the ingredients, but before we can start using it, it’s important to know how to properly insert the knife. Without proper knife placement, the meat grinder will not function effectively.

In this article, we will provide a comprehensive guide on assembling and disassembling both manual and electric meat grinders. The focus will primarily be on how and where to install the knives in the meat grinder. These instructions will help you become proficient with the equipment and enable you to use it seamlessly for preparing minced meat, puree, and various other dishes.

A common manual meat grinder

Types of meat grinders

There are two categories of meat grinders available: electric ones with high and medium power. The former are capable of efficiently processing any type of meat, even with veins or when frozen, making them much more practical compared to manual grinders where you have to wait for the meat to defrost. With an electric meat grinder, you can immediately start chopping without any delay. Additionally, electric grinders offer the convenience of not only grinding meat into minced meat but also cutting it into small cubes.

The main parts of meat grinders

There is a small difference in the structure of the devices, although it is present. First, let’s comprehend the arrangement of the manual model. It includes the following components:

• Main body
• Fastening screw, which assists in securing the pibor on the table
• A special screw that propels the meat inside the body and aids it to come under the blade of the knife. This forms one of the crucial elements
• The element for securing the grate
• The grate that allows the ground food to pass through.

Typically, the frame is composed of a blend of aluminum and steel, although older versions were crafted from cast iron, resulting in a higher weight and increased susceptibility to rust. The blade has a convex shape on one side and a flat surface on the other. The cutting edges are situated on the latter side, enabling the knife to effortlessly dice the processed food into small portions. The aperture snugly conforms to the square tip of the screw, ensuring a firm attachment between the knife and the screw. Additionally, the screw secures the grille by means of a dedicated ring that is screwed onto the outlet tube.

Manual model spare parts

The proper installation of the components greatly affects the performance of the kitchen appliance. To avoid any mistakes during assembly, please follow the instructions below.

1. Begin by placing the auger inside the housing. Ensure that the longer threaded end protrudes through the hole in the back wall.
2. Next, screw the crank handle onto the screw.
3. Secure the handle using the special clamp.
4. Now, proceed to install the knife. Attach the knife with the flat side facing outward and the convex side facing inward. This will ensure the knife is properly positioned.

Great! Now you just need to install the grid and secure it with the fixing ring. Once you have attached the meat grinder to the table, you are ready to start working.

In case of incorrect installation, the blades won’t be able to effectively mince the meat. Although the screw will move everything towards the grinder plate, the meat will remain unshredded and eventually cause clogging, so it is important to ensure the knife is correctly installed.

All components should be installed in a certain order

The electric version of this equipment is larger in size. Prior to entering the grinder, the meat travels through a funnel and then, with the assistance of special pushing mechanisms, moves into the hopper. Some models are capable of not only producing minced meat, but also dicing the meat into cubes. The assembly process for this equipment follows the following steps:

1. Similar to the manual model, the first step is to insert a screw into the body.
2. Next, a ring with multiple holes is inserted.
3. The double-sided knife is also installed, with the flat side facing outward.
4. A grid with medium-sized holes is then attached.
5. Another knife is installed.
6. Finally, a smaller grid is inserted and everything is secured with a special ring.

By following this method, the meat goes through a dual process. In essence, the process is nearly indistinguishable from assembling a regular manual model. Similarly, the knives must be correctly positioned, otherwise they will be ineffective. Electric meat grinders with large output capabilities have a significant energy reserve, allowing them to easily grind frozen pieces. On the other hand, devices with lower or moderate power can only handle fresh products.

Electric meat grinders and their component parts

Each model has its own unique features. When it comes to manual models, there is hardly any difference between them. However, electric models vary in terms of their capacities and capabilities. As long as the assembly is done correctly, all of them will function reliably. It is important to note that the mechanism of the device is just as sensitive to assembly errors as any other. By following the correct procedure for installing the knife, you can avoid any difficulties when it comes to meat processing. The key point to remember is that the flat side of the knife should face outward, while the convex side should be placed inside the body.