How To Grind Your Own Meat

Are you thinking about grinding your own meat in order to save money on processing costs incurred when you use a professional meat shop? This activity can help you save money and also can give you a great sense of self sufficiency. Read on to learn how to grind your own meat.

There are a number of steps involved in the process of grinding meat including preparation, set up, the actual grinding process, and packing and storing of the final product once the process is complete.

Prepare The Meat

The first thing you have to do is get your hands on a good clean supply of beef, pork, chicken, venison, or whatever type of meat it is that you would like to grind. You can purchase the meat from a local grocery store, get it from a farm, or rely on hunting in order to get the meat you need.

Once you have your supply, prepare it by cubing it (cutting into small one inch squares) and washing it thoroughly. The washing process will ensure that no dirt and debris makes it into the final product which is your ground up meat.

Set Up Your Grinding Station

After you have prepared the meat and set it aside, get your grinding station ready to go by setting up your meat grinder, arranging any bowls, containers, or bags that you will be using. Arrange your grinding area in a way that will allow you to complete the process quickly and effectively. You should be able to complete the process in an assembly line fashion. From a pile of raw meat to a finished sealed product, your process should flow seamlessly.

The Grinding Process

The actual process of grinding the meat is the easy part. Your grinder should have a feeding tray that is located just above the opening where meat goes through the grinding chamber. This feeding tray is connected to a tube that funnels into the grinder chamber where meat is ground up and spit out. All you have to do is turn the grinder on and feed the meat into the feeding tray and press it down the tube one small bunch at a time. The meat will slowly be ground up and will filter out into the bowl or other type of container that you have set out.

Packing and Storing Your Meat

Once all of your meat has been ground up you can pack it and get it ready for storage. One popular tool that many use to pack and seal meat is a vacuum sealer. The vacuum sealer effectively seals meat into plastic packing material which helps it stay fresh for long periods of time. Putting the meat in air tight packaging also prevents freezer burn which occurs when food is exposed to air in the freezer.

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