Best Meat Grinder for Grinding Bones (Must Read for Safety)

All electric meat grinders can obviously grind meat, though did you know that many will fail when you attempt to grind small animal bones such as chicken?

In this guide I’ve handpicked 5 of my favorite meat grinders that are powerful enough to grind bones. Use them to grind chopped animal bones to make nutritious raw food for your dogs, bone meals for your plants, and of course all the other delicious ground recipes for your family such as ground burgers. If you’re in the market for a meat grinder, why not get one that has no limitations?

Best Meat Grinders for Grinding Bones

STX International Turboforce II – Best Overall

If you’re looking for a great all-around meat grinder, look no further than the STX International Turboforce II. This popular electric meat grinder has the perfect balance when it comes to features, power, ease of use and affordability.

For its features, you’ll love the foot pedal which you can use whenever you want to grind meat without using your hands. This is especially helpful when you want to stuff sausages using its different sausage stuffing tubes and beaner plate. It even comes with an attachment for all your kibbeh needs.

But of course, let’s not forget why we’re here. With a peak output power of 2000 watts, this meat grinder can go through up to 225 pounds of meat per hour. It’s also powerful enough to grind chicken bones that you can use to make your own cat or dog food. One user even mentions that it can grind bone-in chicken legs as long as you cut it into small pieces.

So the Turboforce II’s performance and power are excellent, but these are useless if it doesn’t last long enough for you to recoup your investment. Fortunately, the unit is very durable with its stainless steel cutting blades and aluminum grinding head. It even has a patented cooling system which the manufacturer claims will double its lifespan.

One thing that some users did not like is its noise level. Though it is a touch too loud, it won’t affect its performance and you’ll still be able to make raw pet food with ease.

Despite this drawback, Amazon’s best-selling electric meat grinder, the STX International Turboforce II does a fabulous job processing meat and soft bones. It’s a great investment if you’re into kibbeh, sausage, and raw pet food making.

Sunmile SM-G73 Electric Meat Grinder – Most Affordable

The Sunmile SM-G73 is a great low-cost electric meat grinder that is better than many competitors at higher prices. Though it isn’t as powerful as the previous electric grinder, it can still grind up to 180 pounds of meat per hour using its maximum power of 1000 watts. Aside from being easy to use, this grinder with food-safe materials has lots of accessories.

Speaking of its accessories, I’m sure you’ll love its 3 cutting plates which let you choose how fine you want your ground meat to be. It also has 3 attachments for sausage stuffing which you can share with all the meat lovers in your house.

A buyer said that she loves that this electric meat grinder can handle long sessions just fine. She makes a huge batch of raw cat food every week and likes that it doesn’t slow down and overheat even after prolonged use.

For me, what I like best about this Sunmile product is that it’s so easy to assemble and operate. Not to mention that even if it’s not dishwasher-safe, it’s still easy to clean if you have a brush. Just don’t forget to dry it properly with a towel after washing to prevent rusting.

Probably the only disadvantage that you’ll encounter is that it sometimes gets clogged. To prevent this from happening, you need to cut the meat into small pieces before grinding it.

Overall, it’s still a great buy for budget-conscious raw feeders. You get more than what you pay for with its strong motor, attachments, and simplicity.

Kitchener #8 Commercial Grade Electric Meat Grinder –  Best for Easy Storage and Safety

Give yourself the peace of mind that you deserve by getting a durable and safe meat grinder like this product from Kitchener. This product isn’t just powerful but loaded with safety features as well.

First, let’s talk about its strength. With its 0.5 HP, it can grind about 480 pounds of meat in an hour. It even comes with a large mouth so you can put more meat, enabling you to take advantage of its power. You can make big batches of raw dog food with ease. According to a buyer, the secret is in whacking the chicken bones using a cleaver first so that it’s easier for the machine to process it.

And I’ve mentioned that it has a lot of safety features. Well, like any good meat grinder, this product has a safety circuit breaker. But on top of that, its stainless steel housing is rust-resistant. There are also its waterproof switch which prevents you from getting shocked and the air-cooled motor which prevents the machine from overheating..

Also, as you might have noticed by now, these electric meat grinders come with several accessories. But without proper storage, they can easily get lost and you’ll end up needing to buy a replacement. Thankfully, the Kitchener comes with a patented removable drawer where you can safely store the attachments.

This unit is great as long as you don’t put it in the dishwasher. It didn’t state in the manual whether it’s dishwasher-safe or not so some buyers used it to clean the removable parts. Unfortunately, this caused those parts to oxidize.

As long as you don’t mind washing the parts by hand, this commercial grade grinder from Kitchener is a must-try.

LEM Products W780A Big Bite Electric Meat Grinder – Best for a Quiet Operation

The Big Bite is more than just your ordinary electric meat grinder. It’s like the ninja of electric meat grinders. Though it is quite powerful at 0.75 HP, it still runs quietly even when grinding bones. Silent, fast, strong and sturdy – these are what this unit is all about.

This electric meat grinder has so many reviews that rave about its ability to handle tough chicken thigh bones like its butter. Not to mention that it definitely lives up to its name Big Bite. You won’t even be able to keep up with it since it’s very quick in processing the meat and bones. It can grind 660 pounds of meat per hour.

Also, a lot of people are surprised at how quiet it is. One raw feeder who bought this unit mentioned that it’s even quieter than his ninja blender even when it’s grinding bones.

This permanently lubricated grinder is quite pricey. It is quite heavy as well at 47 pounds as well so you might need help in moving it.

I do think that grinders need to be on the heavy side so that they stay in place during use. As such, for me, the Big Bite is a must-buy for cooks who want to make burgers and sausages quickly without disturbing anyone in the house. This workhorse is also very sturdy so you can consider it an investment that will last you for years to come.

Weston 10-3201-W Pro Series Electric Meat Grinder – Most Powerful Bone Meat Grinder for Home Use

For an electric meat grinder that performs like a champ, check out Weston’s Pro Series. This meat processing equipment runs smoothly and quickly without a hitch even when it’s grinding bones. Also, it’s built like a tank so this will probably be the last grinder you will ever buy.

To start with, this monster can gobble up a whopping 18 pounds of meat per minute with its 2 HP air-cooled motor and extra wide throat without overheating and making too much noise. That’s more than a thousand pounds of meat per hour! In fact, one user commented that what took her 6 hours on another grinder only took her 15 minutes with the Pro Series.

This meat grinder is also a delight to use because of its easy assembly, operation and clean up. You won’t even need to prep your chicken since it can grind anything that can fit into its mouth, be it chicken drumsticks, wings or neck. Plus, except for the auger, the other removable parts are dishwasher-safe.

The Weston Meat Grinder comes with a lot of small but very thoughtful features. It has rubber feet that prevent it from moving around during use. There’s also the built-in knife sharpener which can help keep your knives at their best. It even comes with a tray where you can keep all the accessories including the ones for sausage stuffing.

However, just like the Big Bite, this machine is quite heavy at 35 pounds without the attachments. At below $750 it’s also very expensive. Still, it’s understandable since it’s built to last and you get what you pay for.

Overall, I highly recommend the Pro Series to people who want to invest in a top of the line electric meat grinder. This machine won’t disappoint in terms of performance, durability, noise, ease of use and features. They’re especially suited to hunters who want to prepare the game animals that they’ve caught.

Most Important Features to Look for in a Bone and Meat Grinder

Grinding Power

This is measured in either watts or horsepower. The higher the number is, the better it will perform in grinding meat and bones. It will also be faster in processing big batches of raw pet food.

If you don’t anticipate grinding bones with your meat grinder, there are many good meat grinders that are less powerful, and hence less expensive.

Reverse Function

This is a must for any decent electric meat grinder. Jamming is an inevitable part of grinding and a reverse function can help in clearing such issues.

Accessories

Look for ones that have various grinding plates so you can adjust the coarseness of your ground meat. There are also some meat grinders that offer attachments of different sizes for making sausages, kibbeh and pasta.

Construction

Since electric meat grinders, in general, don’t come cheap, it’s important that it’s constructed of materials that can withstand the demands of grinding. It’s better if the housing, gears, and plates are made of rust-resistant materials like aluminum.

Warranty

A good electric grinder will come with a 1-year warranty at the very least. This will give you the security that you need just in case the machine you bought has a defect or needs to be repaired.

Aside from making sausages, burger patties and other food, you can use your electric meat grinder to make bone meal and raw pet food.

What is Bone Meal?

One of the best uses for a meat grinder that can grind bones is making bone meal. Bone meal is often used as an organic fertilizer for plants which will slowly release phosphorus, nitrogen, potassium, and protein over a period of months. It is also very beneficial to our pets since it can add important nutrients like calcium, phosphorus, and protein to their diet.

Now, I’ve heard some people say that bone meal isn’t safe for dogs. This isn’t true at all. While bone meal isn’t safe for large animals and human consumption as they can cause mad cow disease, they are safe for dogs since they aren’t susceptible to this disease.

However, bone meal that is marketed as a fertilizer should never be given to animals unless it’s stated that it is safe for animal consumption. Otherwise, it might contain other ingredients that can harm your pet.

How to Make Bone Meal for Fertilizer

Making bone meal is very easy and you can even make some broth at the same time.

1. Make some broth out of your bones by simmering them for several hours or until the fat and meat easily comes off.
2. Scrape the remaining fat and meat.
3. Dry the bones and let them harden until they are brittle. To achieve this you can either bake them at 400°F for an hour or place them in a well-ventilated area to dry for a month.
4. Once the bones are brittle enough, put them in a sack and smash them with a hammer or a rolling pin to crush them into smaller pieces.
5. Gather the bone pieces and use your electric meat grinder to grind them into fine powder.

You can also check out this video for more information on how bone meal works in helping you grow healthy plants.

How to Make Healthy Chicken Bone Meal for your Dog

Instead of buying a pre-made bone meal, you can make your own to save money and ensure that it is safe for your pet. To make healthy chicken bone meal, just follow these instructions.

1. Collect the cooked chicken bones from your meals and store them in the freezer.
2. Once you have enough, chop them into small pieces.
3. Leave them to dry.
4. Once they’ve turned brittle, you can turn them into a fine powder using your electric meat grinder.

Did you know that a dry food diet can be harmful to our pets? Not only is it linked to hyperactivity, it is high in unnatural chemicals as well that can harm our furry friends.

Instead of processed dry food, a raw food diet is more beneficial to cats and dogs. Here are some of the advantages of raw pet food.

• Most dry foods are cereal-based. Hence, our pets don’t get enough protein and fat. A raw food diet is rich in fresh fat and protein which can give our pets excellent coat condition and muscle tone.
• The B vitamins are very difficult to preserve in dry foods which are often stored for months before they are bought and used. However, B vitamins are essential when it comes to energy use and behavior. This makes raw food a better choice since they are rich in vitamin B.
• Pets that are fed dry food are at a higher risk of developing gastrointestinal issues and kidney problems. Raw food is easier for our pets to digest and process.

If you want to know more about the raw food diet, I highly recommend watching this very informative three-part video series.

Note that when we talk about a raw food diet, this includes the bones which are high in essential nutrients. Though small chicken bones can be directly fed safely to most pets, large and hard bones like the thigh part need to be ground first before they can be given to dogs and cats. This is where electric meat grinders come in.

What Ingredients Can You Add to a Raw Food Diet?

The raw food diet isn’t limited to just chicken. In fact, you can add a variety of meat, fruits, and vegetables to your pet’s meals to ensure that he gets the nutrients that he needs.

Raw Meat

Soft bones that can be processed by your electric meat grinder can be included.

• Poultry like chicken, turkey, and duck
• Lamb
• Rabbit
• Beef
• Offal
• Most fishes except salmon

You can also add raw eggs. However, the shells need to be ground first.

Fruits and Vegetables

Your pet might prefer some fruits and vegetables over others, so you’ll need to experiment at first. Also, do note that not all produce are safe for your pets. Here are some fruits and vegetables which you can safely give to your pets.

• Carrots, potatoes, and sweet potatoes (without the skin)
• Brussel sprouts and romaine lettuce
• Parsley and celery
• Pumpkin and squash
• Okra
• Green beans
• Peas
• Apples
• Bananas
• Melons
• Berries like strawberry and blueberry
• Pears