Types of knives for meat grinders: features of correct selection, sharpening and operation

Basic spare parts for meat grinder

Mechanical and electric meat grinders have similar cutting parts, consisting of two parts:

• rotary cutter with blades;
• fixed mesh knife, which is also called a grid.

Knife materials

The cutting surfaces of modern meat grinders are made of stainless steel, stainless steel or tool carbon steel.

The wear resistance of a knife for an electric meat grinder is increased by coating it with a special alloy that contains chromium and cobalt with the addition of tungsten or molybdenum. The alloy gives strength and long service life to the part without sharpening.

Expensive self-sharpening knives made of improved tool steel are used in industrial meat grinders. They are quite expensive and it is not economically feasible to use them in household appliances. A household meat grinder with a stainless steel cutting unit will function properly for 1-2 years without replacement.

Types of cutters

Movable cutters for meat grinders differ:

• by the number of blades;
• according to the shape of the blades;
• according to the configuration of the hole for attaching the knife to the auger.

Cutters for household meat grinders often have 4 blades. This number of blades is ideal for preparing minced meat for cutlets and meatballs. The shape of the blades can be straight or curved. Knives with curved blades cut wires more easily and prevent them from wrapping around the auger, which makes the shaft easier to operate and extends the service life of the device. Cutters with double-sided sharpening will last longer than single-sided ones made of the same material.

Cutters for industrial meat grinders are distinguished not only by a wide variety of blade shapes and sizes, but also by the manufacturing method: they are most often not stamped, but forged and self-sharpening. The number of blades varies from 2 to 8. The shape is straight, curved and crescent-shaped . Knives are often equipped with replaceable blades.

Self-sharpening forged blades made of tool steel can also be selected for a household meat grinder; for this you need to know the size and configuration of the cutting hole, as well as the dimensions of the blades.

The mounting holes have the following shape:

The sizes of the holes also vary, so you need to know the exact parameters of the mounting location of the device for which the knife is selected.

Cutting meshes

The second part of the chopping block of the meat grinder is the grid or mesh knife. The performance of the unit and the quality of the minced meat obtained depend on the number of holes and the sharpness of the cutting edge. Household appliances are most often equipped with three grids:

1. A disk with holes with a diameter of 7-10 mm, which is used in the production of minced meat for homemade sausages. This grid is also used when grinding hard cheeses and dried fruits.
2. A universal disk with holes 4-6 mm in diameter. It is indispensable when obtaining minced meat for cutlets, meatballs and meatballs.
3. A grid with small holes with a diameter of 2.5-3 mm. Using this disc, minced meat is obtained for preparing baby food, pates, meat soufflé, as well as fillings for pies and pancakes.

Some meat grinders, often industrial ones, have discs with two or three large holes. Such grates are suitable for finely cutting meat, for example, for preparing beef stroganoff.

If the meat grinder is equipped with only one disc, this is not a reason for frustration. It is easy to select additional grilles, knowing the size and configuration of the mounting hole.

Top 10 best knives for electric meat grinder in 2022

The rating includes the most popular knives for electric meat grinders, which have earned positive customer reviews.

Methods for sharpening knives

Knives for household meat grinders, especially stamped ones, need to be sharpened periodically. This must be done immediately, as soon as the productivity of the unit has decreased, the number of strands and films that began to be wound on the auger has increased.

Cutting surfaces are sharpened in special workshops, but you can do it yourself if you have a sharpening tool, the skill to work with it and a little free time.

When sharpening, several methods are used:

1. On the grindstone. The stone is generously moistened with water and circular movements are performed first with a knife and then with a disk, pressing the side that comes into contact with the cutter blades to the stone. Movements are made in one direction, evenly pressing the part being sharpened. After finishing sharpening, you need to fold both elements of the cutting block and check for the absence of clearance between them.
2. Using sandpaper. The sandpaper is fixed to a piece of plastic or plexiglass with glue and sharpened in a circular motion in one direction. First, use medium-grain paper for sharpening, and then use fine-grain paper for polishing to a mirror finish.
3. Using a meat grinder sharpening kit. The set includes two abrasive discs. First, insert a disk instead of the grate and sharpen the cutter, then insert another disk instead of the cutter and sharpen the grate. To sharpen blades, 30-50 shaft revolutions are quite enough.

You can sharpen cutting parts on a special sharpening machine, but only if you have experience and knowledge of basic safety requirements. It is better to take dull knives to a craftsman, and periodically sharpen the cutting parts yourself by hand.

Knives and grates

Perhaps one of the main conditions for excellent operation of a meat grinder is the current sharpening of the cutting blades of the knife.

Those who have ever assembled a meat grinder after washing know that first the knife is “put on” the auger, and then the grate. That is, in the “combat” state, the knife and the grid are in constant contact with each other.

There is also another parameter for the efficient operation of a meat grinder - the distance between the knife and the grate. With a new meat grinder it is minimal. This gap forms as a result of intensive use of the meat grinder or over time. As a result of operation, the gap increases, which leads to deterioration in meat processing, and the larger this gap is, the worse the grinding will be.

But don't panic! This principle of operation is the same for all meat grinders and does not mean at all that you bought bad or low-quality household appliances. And over time, any, even the most durable steel wears out. In the language of specialists, it is developed, and this distance between the grill and the knife increases accordingly.

It is also necessary to add that the knife is gradually dulled by contact with small bones, tendons or, for example, frozen meat. This leads to the low-quality meat processing mentioned above. Turning meat becomes a most unpleasant procedure that takes energy and time.

Correct installation and operation

Problems may arise with the installation of a single-sided knife with a flat and convex part. When this is done incorrectly, the meat grinder will simply clog.

Such a knife is always installed with the flat side to the grate and is put on the auger with the mounting hole. Double-sided can be installed on either side. It will work this way and that way!

To ensure that the cutting edges of the shredder last longer, follow the following recommendations:

• Large and hard pieces with tendons, bones and cartilage can break the blades of the knife. The meat needs to be cleaned of all this.
• When chopping vegetables and fruits, you need to make sure that there are no bones that fall into the meat grinder during operation.
• At the end of the work, the knife is washed well and dried. Without soaking, so as not to damage the metal coating.
• Avoid overloading, do not put meat in large portions;
• When a knife becomes dull, it needs to be sharpened. You can do this yourself if you have the appropriate equipment and skills, or you can turn to a professional.

How to sharpen a meat grinder knife?

What to do if the knife is dull and does not want to cut meat? You can sharpen your meat grinder knife yourself

There are a lot of ways: from a machine with a grinding wheel to a file and sandpaper. There is a lot of information about this on the Internet, and we will not dwell on it.

In our article we would like to touch upon several other sides of this issue.

Frankly speaking, sharpening knives for meat grinders is extremely undesirable, even somewhat impractical and unwise.

• Firstly, you need certain skills and experience - otherwise you can only make things worse.
• Secondly, when sharpening the cutting elements of a knife, the blades are not sharpened, but rather ground down! By sharpening the knife, we automatically increase the gap between the grid and the knife, which we wrote about above! Accordingly, we have to return to the point where it is indicated about the unpleasant procedure...

From this we can conclude: if the meat grinder does not turn the meat well, then one of the reasons may be a dull knife. And accordingly, you just need to replace it with a suitable new one.

Advice
!
If your meat grinder begins to turn meat poorly, then it’s time to change the cutting element! And second: not all meat grinder knives are the same and universal. It is very important to know that all knives vary depending on the brand and model of the manufacturer. We also advise you to consider that other parts may need to be replaced.

As we discussed earlier, the knife and the grid are almost always in close contact with each other, which means that the grid can also be subject to wear, so our recommendation is to replace the knife at the same time as the grid. By the way, we have kits for these purposes.

Replaceable blades

The instructions for meat grinder knives of modern models are quite extensive. For example, Italian models have recently begun to be equipped with replaceable blades and a special key that will allow them to be replaced.

This will allow dull blades to be replaced with new ones, thus very quickly resuming the product processing process.

• The disadvantage of this method is that models with this feature are expensive due to the increased complexity of the device.
• However, if you need a very high-quality electric meat grinder with the ability to quickly resume work without having to deal with long and routine knife sharpening, this is definitely what you need.
• Such models can be used in small production, thus virtually eliminating the delay required for changing and sharpening knives.

There are several models from Italian brands, they have different numbers of blades, this needs to be taken into account.

What types of gratings are there?

Our meat grinder grates are perforated steel discs. Based on the diameter of the holes, there are 4 main types of gratings:

• a grid with small holes (about 100-120 pieces per disk) with a diameter of 2 -3.5 mm, these disks are indispensable when preparing “pate-like” products, as well as baby food products. To increase the productivity of this type of grid, we recommend using it for secondary grinding of minced meat prepared earlier using a larger grid;
• a disk with medium-sized holes (about 48 holes with a diameter of 4 - 6 mm). It is considered a universal lattice form, because traditionally used to prepare most types of minced meat;
• gratings with large holes (about 18 holes with a cross-section of 7 - 9 mm). Used for preparing coarse-grained minced meat for the production of sausages, for grinding dried fruits or for preparing intermediate minced meat for the purpose of repeated and easier grinding using a disk with small-diameter holes;
• a disk with particularly large holes (usually 3 to 6 holes with a diameter of 11 - 12 mm). Such grates are used for preparing so-called chopped minced meat.

Advice!

When choosing a grid for a meat grinder, pay attention to the shape and size, since NOT all grids (like knives) are equally universal and may have physical differences.

The grate may have a depression or bulge; these features will tell you whether the grate will fit your meat grinder or not.

Grilles MIM-600

Grate MIM-600 No. 1 Grate with holes with a diameter of 3 mm, designed for meat grinders MIM-600 with and without collar.

Grate MIM-600 No. 2 Grate with holes with a diameter of 5 mm, designed for meat grinders MIM-600 with and without collar.

Grate MIM-600 No. 3 Grate with holes with a diameter of 9 mm, designed for meat grinders MIM-600 with and without collar.

Read also: DIY oil burner

Types and features of screws

When choosing a screw shaft, the main attention should be paid to the material from which it is made. It can be durable ABS plastic, ceramic or steel. All screw options are manufactured in accordance with sanitary requirements and are suitable for use in direct contact with food products.

However, in terms of strength, their characteristics differ:

• no matter what type of plastic it is, it is subject to abrasion, and if it is too hard it may be prone to cracking;

• ceramics are often fragile and may not withstand contact with a very hard product;

• metal is the most optimal solution, so AksEl, as a manufacturer, settled on this particular version of screws.

In order to replace a failed auger, you first need to measure its outer diameter and axis size, and take into account the shape of the seat. You also need to understand that, as with knives and grates, the design of the auger may differ between different manufacturers, as well as between different models of the same brand!

How and where to buy

Call and name the knife or grill or their number in our list. Or a model of a meat grinder. Our specialists will inform you about the availability and cost of components. You can buy grates and knives for industrial meat grinders, as well as kits.

The store for spare parts for meat grinders and other equipment offers for sale the largest assortment in Moscow. Call and order!

The information provided here is for general information purposes only. Technical characteristics, appearance, design features may differ from the actual goods offered for sale. Any specific features of the products can be clarified by calling the store during business hours.

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A meat grinder is a very necessary device in the kitchen. Today there are other devices for grinding food, but a meat grinder is a more traditional option and also has simple functionality. The cutting knife is practically the main element of the meat grinder. Unfortunately, in low-quality models this is also the most fragile part.

Nuances of choosing gears and auger bushings

The gears and bushings of the auger are predominantly made of plastic, and this is done deliberately, since the plastic design of the parts affects the noise emitted during operation of the meat grinder (with plastic ones it is quieter and softer) and the overall weight of the meat grinder is also reduced, but the most important idea is that if the auger accidentally jams (for example, when a large bone gets caught in a piece of meat), it is the auger bushing (if present) or the gear that fails first, and not the engine.

This fact makes these spare parts one of the most popular parts in an electric meat grinder, after knives, of course... By replacing a bushing or gear in a meat grinder, you save yourself from unexpected expenses or finding the necessary funds to purchase a new meat grinder!

Advice!

In order to replace a worn gear, you need to know exactly the number of teeth of the old gear, its shape, height and diameter. But the ideal option would be to know the brand and model of your meat grinder, which are usually indicated on the device itself. In this section you will learn where and how to find a model on a vehicle.

Video text

It is not always possible to select a knife for a Zelmer meat grinder based on the model of the meat grinder itself. It is better to select according to the technical characteristics of your knife. In this video we will show you how to do this

The first thing you need to know is the sharpening type of your knife. They can be sharpened only on one side or on both sides. You will place a single-sided knife only with the blade facing the grill; for a double-sided knife, it does not matter which side you place it on. The second point is labeling. The number 5 or 8 is stamped on the knife itself; knives with different markings differ in size.

All knives are not interchangeable with each other and a new knife must be bought exactly the same as it was before.

All components that interact with the knife also differ depending on the knife. Therefore, to purchase a tube, auger, knurled nut and grid, you also need to know the type of knife.

Long gone are the days when housewives had to chop minced meat into cutlets or white meats with a huge sharp knife. Already in the middle of the 19th century, the first meat grinder was invented, which still makes life much easier for women. An integral part of the device for chopping meat is a knife. This is exactly what we will talk about.

How is a meat grinder knife used?

An ordinary mechanical or modern electric meat grinder is a metal body into which pieces of meat are fed. They pass through a screw conveyor, where by rotating the screw the meat is delivered to a sharp knife. It is the knife that cuts the product into small fractions, thus creating minced meat. The main load of grinding falls on him, because he separates small pieces from the meat, chops, grinds them and pushes them to the grate for exit.

The meat grinder knife has a four-bladed design. In its center there is a mounting hole (base), with which the knife is put on the screw of the screw conveyor. Knives and grids for meat grinders are usually made from high-quality steel, preferably stainless steel.

Types of knives for meat grinders

There are many manufacturers of meat grinders today. Many of them develop their own base configuration. However, most often you can find the following types of knives:

• with a base with square sides;
• with a base at four corners;
• with a base of six corners.

If you need to change the knife for your meat grinder, you should select this integral attribute that is suitable specifically for your device model. The best option is to purchase an original spare part manufactured by the manufacturer. These knives are strong, reliable and will serve you for a long time.

For example, the Moulinex meat grinder knife has knives with both hexagonal and square bases. For devices from Zelmer, components with a square base are produced. The same mounting hole is found in the meat grinder knife of Bosch, Braun, Kenwood, Gorenje. Knives for meat grinders are also divided according to the shape of the cutting blades. If the edge of the knife is shifted forward from the vertical axis, such a component cuts by sliding. This type is considered ineffective. But meat or other products move perfectly to the grill and do not stick to the walls.

The most productive knife is considered to have saber-shaped edges. However, with it, the processed food gets stuck on the walls, which is why the body must be disassembled and cleaned. However, the problem is relevant when grinding a large volume of meat. By the way, knives for industrial meat grinders are very strong, reliable, and generally have saber-shaped edges.

Questions about using a knife for a meat grinder

As for the important problem for beginners, how to put a knife in a meat grinder, everything is not difficult. If the knife is single-sided, find the side where it is flat. It is the flat side that should touch the grid that follows the disk. This means that the convex side of the knife is put on the rod finger. The double-sided knife can be inserted in any way.

Since even the sharpest knife tends to become dull over time, housewives begin to complain that it is becoming more and more difficult to grind meat. The handle of a mechanical meat grinder is difficult to turn. Due to a dull knife, an electrical device requires more engine power. As a result, untimely sharpening of the knife or changing it can lead to breakdown of the electric meat grinder.

If we talk about how to sharpen meat grinder knives, we hasten to assure you that everyone can do it. At home, you will need sandpaper No. 0 and 1. We do the following:

1. Place the sandpaper on a flat surface and start moving the knife blades along it in a circular motion for 1-2 minutes.
2. Do the same with the knife, but spread No. 0 sandpaper on the table.
3. Wash the knife with warm water and detergent to remove any metal residue.
4. Dry the knife.