Interesting and Practical Ways to Clean and Maintain Your Meat Grinder

Manual Meat Grinders are typically made of the following parts:

The Body or Head
The Bushing
The Auger or Worm Gear
Auger Stud
Handle
Handle Arm
Handle Screw and/or Bolt
Knife and/or Blade
Grinding Plate(s)
Stuffing Attachments (if included)

I am sure there are other parts depending on the model of the Meat Grinder. However, for this, the listed items above should serve to illustrate the points made. Knowing what parts you have is vital to assemble and disassemble the grinder properly. Use the product list and keep available until you memorize what is necessary to proper care for, clean and maintain your meat grinder. Even if you have an exceptional memory, I still recommend using the product list.

Before first use and every use thereafter, disassemble the grinder and hand wash in warm or hot soapy water to clean and remove any fat or sinew from the grinding plates. Use a nylon or plastic brush to remove bits of fat, meat or sinew. Never use a steel brush when cleaning a Meat Grinder! This will scratch the grinder causing harm that will permanently damage the product. This applies to Aluminum, Chrome, Cast Iron, Iron, Stainless Steel, and Tinned Iron grinders.

Washing all food preparation products before first use and ongoing after each meal preparation is necessary before continuing with the next step. Never soak an Aluminum, Iron, "Tinned-Iron," Cast Iron, Chrome and Stainless Steel Meat Grinder in water. Corrosion is the first and immediate problem occurring after prolonged exposure to water. I define 'Prolonged time-frame' as more one (1) to three (3) minutes. This is obviously not much time.

Rust and water spots are the second problems caused from soaking all metal products in water. Water spots in most cases wipe clean when towel drying. Water spots even show when using the hot cycle on your dishwasher. Using a cotton towel to dry all metal products is mandatory. Aluminum corrodes easily and does not rust. Chrome chips and peels over time and will corrode and rust. Stainless Steel does rust too and also corrodes as well. Not as quickly as other metals, but it also corrodes and rusts. If this does not convince you to towel dry and wash with a plastic or nylon brush, than nothing will.

Electric Meat Grinders warrant specific steps. Never assemble, disassemble, or clean an electric product while the plug is in an outlet. Make sure your grinder instructions recommend cleaning with a dishwasher. Most are not. Many products advertised as being "dishwasher-safe" ignore the product instructions. This term is strictly a marketing or advertising tool stressing how a product is either "low-maintenance" or "maintenance-free." Every product in your home requires maintenance + cleaning and electric meat grinders are no different.

Follow your product list and instructions for assembly and disassembly before each cleaning. The auger or worm gear usually requires food grade silicone along with the blades (knife) and plates (grinding Plates). Be cautious of the threads on screws and the retaining nut. The threads are fine and strip easily. Use proper time with a few moments to plan your food preparation process. Cleaning and maintaining your meat grinder ensures a longer relationship you will have with this product. The longer the relationship, the increases the money you save from using a Meat Grinder as a healthy food preparation product.

Meat Grinders are one of the Healthy Food Preparation Products I follow. Meat Grinders Now Meat Grinders Now provides a comprehensive selection from seven (7) manufacturers. I continue writing about healthy food preparation products to share product knowledge and experience.