How To Clean a Meat Grinder

Cleaning your meat grinder is very vital to avoiding nasty bacteria and decaying meat from building up on your grinder. Whether you use a manual or an electric meat grinder, you should ensure it is thoroughly clean and dry when you are done with your meat processing.

Cleaning should include all the included components like the grinding plates, blade, sausage attachments, kubbe attachment and food hopper. Ensure to clean your meat grinder after every use and store it in a clean dust-free environment.

Preparation for Cleaning

Remove all the excess meat from the meat grinder to make the cleaning process easy. Before detaching the meat grinder parts for cleaning, you can run one or two pieces of bread through the system (feeding tube) to grab any large pieces of debris.

The bread will act as a sponge so it will soak up most of the little meat pieces that may be stuck in the blades, tubes or plates and it’s a good practice if you don’t have time for a full cleaning right away. Large meat residue will most likely cause bacteria and germs to build up in the meat grinder.

You don’t want your meat grinder to be the source of disease and sickness, so continue reading below to know how to clean your meat grinder.

Steps for Cleaning a Meat Grinder

1. Disassemble the grinder: Take apart the grinder and remove any excess meat from the blades and grinding plates.
2. Clean the grinding plates and blades: Use a brush to clean the grinding plates and blades. If they are very dirty, you can soak them in hot water and a mild detergent for a few minutes before scrubbing them.
3. Clean the rest of the grinder: Wash the remaining parts of the grinder, including the hopper, feed screw, and housing, in hot water and a mild detergent. You can use a brush to scrub away any remaining bits of meat.
4. Rinse and dry the grinder: Rinse all of the parts of the grinder thoroughly with hot water to remove any soap residue. Dry all of the parts thoroughly before reassembling the grinder.
5. Reassemble the grinder: Once all of the parts are dry, reassemble the grinder and make sure everything is tightened securely. Your meat grinder is now clean and ready to use.

 

Tips for Cleaning your Meat Grinder

You should disassemble all the meat grinder parts to clean the unit fully. In the case of a manual meat grinder, remove it from the table or countertop.

If you use an electric meat grinder, unplug it from the power source. Next, remove all the grinder’s screws, blade cover, cutting blade and plates.

Be very careful when handling the cutting blade; since it’s designed to cut tough meat pieces and its sharp. Also, place it at a safe distance to avoid accidents if you have young children.

If you want to get a thorough cleaning, do it by your hands. Washing the parts in a dishwasher is not advisable; it ruins the metallic construction of most meat grinder attachments. Always check for dishwasher safe first.

Using a dishwasher can also makes the blades dull after repeated wash.

Fill a large container or bowl with some soapy and loop warm water. Soak all the meat grinder parts for about 15 minutes.

Soaking the parts loosen the meat debris that may be left on the components. After the accessories have soaked, now scrub them on both sides with a sponge.

The grinding plates, feeding, and hopper can be cleaned with a bottle brush. Ensure you do it very thoroughly to prevent bacteria and germs build up.

For electric Meat grinders, avoid water from entering the motor. Also, never sink the motor in water. If you should clean it, use a moist rag.

But only wash the motor casing. Also, never allow water to enter the base.

You may also wipe the entire body with a moist rag or towel. Don’t scrub the outer casing since you may put scratches and marks on your meat grinder making it look old.

After you have washed all the parts, wipe them dry with a clean cloth or towel; it helps to prevent oxidation and rust.

Then leave the components to dry completely before placing them back into the meat grinder machine.

Storage Tips After Cleaning Your Meat Grinder

1. Make sure the grinder is completely dry: Before storing the grinder, make sure that all of the parts are completely dry to prevent rust or other damage.
2. Reassemble the grinder: Reassemble the grinder and make sure all of the parts are tightened securely. This will help to prevent any parts from getting lost or damaged while the grinder is in storage.
3. Store the grinder in a dry place: Keep the grinder in a dry place to prevent rust or other damage. Avoid storing the grinder in a damp basement or garage, or in a place where it could be exposed to moisture.
4. Cover the grinder: Consider covering the grinder with a towel or other protective cover to keep dust and debris off of it while it is in storage.
5. Store the grinder out of reach of children and pets: Keep the grinder out of reach of children and pets to prevent accidents.

By following these recommendations, you can help to ensure that your meat grinder stays clean and in good condition and is ready to use whenever you need it.