If your meat grinder becomes clogged up on a regular basis, it is clear that you are doing something wrong with the way you are operating it. I will begin by guiding you through the process of unclogging your meat grinder, and then I will discuss some preventative measures that you can do to ensure that this does not happen again.
If you have any kind of clogging in your meat grinders, these cleaning techniques should help you get rid of it; all you have to do is follow them and everything will be great.
Expert Steps To Fixing A Clogged Meat Grinder
Materials Needed
- Dish soap
- Baking soda
- Bottlebrush
- sponge
Step 1: Disassemble Your Meat Grinder
When you discover that your meat grinder is clogged, the first thing you need to do is breakdown it into every item that can be removed.
If you do this, you will be able to obtain access to the part of the hopper that contains the meat, which has a high probability of becoming clogged. In addition to that, you will have the ability to clean the blades and any other grinding mechanisms. When disassembling electrical grinders, however, one must exercise caution and ensure that the motor component does not come into touch with any water.
If you are unsure of how to disassemble your meat grinder, kindly make a fast reference to the user handbook. The booklet should feature a visual illustration showing how the grinder can be taken apart.
Step 2: Remove The Meat Particles Clogging The Hoper Section
Use the bottle brush in certain areas where your finger or sponge are unlikely to reach, such as the food channel consisting of the hopper. After you have disassembled your meat grinder, remove the pieces of meat that are clogging certain areas of the tool. This should be easier now that the parts are apart.
After you have done removing the pieces of meat from the grinder, the next step is to clean it.
Step 3: Soak The Parts In Soapy Warm Water
The temperature of the water should be as warm as possible. If you soak the components in warm water for some time, the chunks of meat that are causing your meat grinder to become clogged will eventually become more pliable. The combination of washing solutions and warm water will make it much simpler to remove any oil residue that may be present in the parts. Soak the components for approximately half an hour.
Step 4: Clean The Parts With A Sponge And Baking Soda
After soaking the various components, you can proceed to clean your meat grinder by using the sponge. Because the meat grinder becomes oily after the grinding process, you have the option of adding baking soda to your sponge before using it to scrub the meat grinder. Make sure you give the task your full attention before rinsing the soap off with fresh water.
After giving the parts a quick rinse, it’s important to give them some time to dry in the air so that they don’t rust. You have the option of reassembling your meat grinder in order to continue grinding, but you should only do so after you have determined how to stop clogging from becoming a consistent problem whenever you grind meat.
How Do I Know My Meat Grinder Is Clogged?
When the meat coming out of the outlet in your meat grinder is moving at a pace that is significantly slower than normal, you will know that your meat grinder is clogged. To solve the issue once and for all, it would be wise to follow the methods outlined above.
How Do You Keep Meat Grinder From Clogging?
Homeowners who process their own meat are the most likely to report clogging issues with their grinders. These easy procedures will help to eliminate the possibility of such a thing occurring.
1. Trim Off The Excess Fat From Your Meat
If you have ever cleaned out a clogged meat grinder, then you will likely agree with me that one of the meaty parts that you are likely to notice as you clean your meat grinder is fat and sinew meat. This is because fat and sinew meat are two of the most common types of meat to become clogged in meat grinders.
When you grind meat, it is typically these sections of the animal that cause the grinder to become clogged because they are made of tougher tissue. Despite the fact that these won’t provide much of a problem for electric meat grinders, you should still take all of the appropriate safety precautions.
2. Watch The Kind Of Bones You Grind
People who have pets are more prone to grind meat with bones, which isn’t an issue in and of itself; nevertheless, before you do so, you should check that your meat grinder is suitable for grinding bones.
Not all meat grinders are built to grind bones, and even if they are, only bones that are somewhat soft should be used in a meat grinder. Heavy-duty meat grinders are the exception to this rule.
If you feel the need to grind bones, you can grind them separately using a meat grinder that is designed for heavy-duty use or a blender that is designed specifically for such a purpose. According to my own experience, it is preferable to have a meat grinder that is jammed with meat rather than bones.
3. Maintain And Sharpen The Blades From Time To Time
When you frequently grind meat in your meat grinder, the blades are more likely to become dull as a result of the regular use. This can slow down the grinding process when you are grinding your meat, which makes the possibility of clogging a very real possibility.
When you frequently grind meat in your meat grinder, the blades are more likely to become dull as a result of the regular use. This can slow down the grinding process when you are grinding your meat, which makes the possibility of clogging a very real possibility.
4. Clean Your Blades Properly And Frequently
After each and every use, you need to make sure the blades are thoroughly cleaned and dried. A healthy blade is one that has been dried correctly. Never even think of putting your meat grinder back together if the blades aren’t completely dry first. I don’t know about you, but after each time I use my meat grinder, I make sure to clean it.
When you clean your meat grinder more frequently, you remove less sinews and meat particles from the vital channels in your meat grinder, which reduces the likelihood that your meat grinder will become clogged. In the event that you find yourself in a hurry for whatever reason, you can always grind pieces of bread after you have ground your meat.
This will help in absorbing any type of oil that may have been left over during the grinding process while also pushing out other particles of ground meat. Corrosion is one of the primary elements that contributes to blunt grinding blades.
5. Cut Your Meat Into Smaller Parts
When it comes to grinding, you’ll make up for the time spent cutting the meat. When compared to merely tossing them in their large size, chopping your meat into smaller pieces makes it much easier for the blades to grind your meat into smaller pieces than when you simply toss them as they are. When it comes to causing blockages in the digestive tract, larger pieces of meat tend to be more problematic than their smaller counterparts.
First and foremost, make sure to clean your meat grinder as frequently as the situation allows. When it comes to keeping their meat grinders clean, the people who are most likely to complain about clogging are also the people who are most likely to be at fault. Though you follow the easy methods that I detailed above, your meat grinder is likely to become clogged even if it is clean and has been dried thoroughly.
How Do You Reset A Meat Grinder?
In the event that you have recently acquired a manual meat grinder, be it from a yard sale or any other source, you will need to do a “reset” in order to restore its factory shine.
Resetting your meat grinder should be a breeze with these instructions. Please be aware that the following instruction applies only to manual meat grinders and not electric ones.
Materials Needed
- Bowl
- Vinegar
- Wire brush
- Paint
- Used newspaper
- Masking tape
- Sandpaper
Step 1: Disassemble Your Meat Grinder
Disassembling your meat grinder into its component parts is the first step on the long and storied road of resetting or reconditioning your grinder. Be sure you take apart everything that can be taken apart first. In the following section, you’ll learn why this is crucial.
Step 2: Soak The Meat Grinder Parts In Household Vinegar
Get a bowl big enough to hold the pieces of the meat grinder and fill it with homemade vinegar. Place the components in the bowl with the homemade vinegar and let it sit for five to seven days.
For the vinegar to effectively kill any bacteria that may be lurking in the meat grinder, you’ll need to disassemble it to its smallest components and soak it in vinegar for at least an hour.
Step 3: Brush The Parts
Once the soaking period has ended, brush the components using a wire brush. Since the components have been submerged in liquid for a number of days, cleaning them shouldn’t be difficult.
To clean the meat grinder’s hopper and other small parts, use a bottle brush. After you’re done, you can wash the components in clean water.
Step 4: Get The Parts Ready For Painting
Now we’ll get the pieces ready for painting. The food compartment and the blade compartment can be protected from raw paint by being covered with used paper or old newspaper. Now that you’ve got those fastened down, read on for the following section.
Step 5: Prime The Metal Surface
A metal surface is said to be primed when a primer (see here for more info) or undercoat is put to it before the real painting takes place. This is important information for those of you who are unfamiliar with the term “priming” and its significance.
Priming is crucial because it improves paint adhesion to the metal. It extends the steel’s useful life and reduces the likelihood of further corrosion.
After preparing the metal surfaces for painting, a primer is necessary to ensure that the paint will adhere well and last.
Step 6: Spray The Grinder With Paint
Instead of using conventional paint, I recommend spray paint because it will save you time and better highlight the meat grinder’s unique design. Apply the paint liberally to the exposed areas and make sure it reaches every surface. Wait a few hours for drying time before continuing.
Step 7: Use Sandpaper On The Wooden Handle
Sand the hardwood handle of the meat grinder after spray painting the metal part. Be thorough and polish the handle until it shines. The meat grinder’s handle can be made more comfortable to hold by sanding it down, which prepares it for the following phase.
Step 8: Stain The Handle
Sand the handle down, then use finishing oil to achieve the desired colour. As a result, staining is crucial in these situations, as it serves to protect the wood from additional harm. Note that the colour of the wood will be altered after you carry out the operation, but it doesn’t indicate any type of distortion. This wood stain will give you professional results.
Step 9: Replace The Grinding Plate And Knife
You should expect to spend a few pounds on new grinding plates and a knife for your meat grinder, but it will be well worth it if you want the appliance’s aesthetics to match its improved functionality. Other, more specialised grinding attachments, such as sausage stuffers, are also available.
Step 10: Reassemble Your New Look Meat Grinder
Follow the rest of the instructions to rebuild your meat grinder and place it on the stand. Don’t start using it again until you’ve put some garlic and sprouts through the freshly repaired blades and motors.
As a result, you won’t have to worry about any chemical odours or residues persisting after the “resetting” process. After running a few cloves of garlic and a few sprouts through the motors, you’ll be good to go.
Are Old Meat Grinders Worth Anything?
Indeed, they do! Although not as costly as new models, the cost of a meat grinder might vary according to its features and aesthetic appeal. If you find a used meat grinder with a drab appearance, “reset” it using the methods I just described, and you may even be able to resell it for more money.
My Meat Grinder Keeps Clogging – Final Words
DIY projects like unclogging a meat grinder or cleaning up a gutter don’t require special skills; all you need is determination and willpower. I wish you the very best in your meat grinding venture, and let me know if you have any questions or observations in the comment area. Cheers!!!