How to Clean Your Meat Grinder: A Guide for Sanitation and Maintenance
Now that you have purchased a meat grinder and used it to make delicious sausages or savory ground meats, you will need to know how to clean it properly. Taking the time to sanitize your equipment ensures that your meat grinder stays in working condition and continues to look and perform like brand new. Whether you use a home meat grinder or a commercial meat grinder, careful maintenance supports safer food handling and more reliable grinding results.
Cleaning your grinder after every use also reduces odors, limits bacteria growth, and helps your machine stay ready for the next batch.
Step 1. Preparation
What You'll Need:
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A bucket of warm, soapy water
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Paper towels
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Your meat stomper
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A grinder cleaning kit, or various sizes of cleaning brushes
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Food-grade silicone spray
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Two pieces of regular white bread
Safety Notes:
Safety should always be your top priority when handling meat processing equipment. Always use the meat stomper when performing any cleaning techniques. Never reach your hands into the grinder while the machine is on. Finally, always turn off and unplug the grinder when it is not in active use or before you begin to disassemble and clean your equipment.
Step 2. Clean Out Your Meat Grinder
Before you take anything apart, there is a helpful trick that makes the cleaning process easier for both manual and electric grinders.
Take two halves of a slice of regular white bread and feed them through the grinder after your meat has finished processing. Be sure to use the meat stomper to safely push the bread through the turning auger.
This technique assists in clearing out any remaining clumps of meat that became stuck during the grinding process. The starches of the bread also assist in soaking up any remaining grease or fats that were left behind during processing.
Step 3. Disassemble the Grinder
Always turn off and unplug your electric grinder before you begin to disassemble your equipment. Once safely powered down, take the grinder apart piece by piece. Start by removing the collar, grinding plate, blade, auger, and throat.
Step 4. Cleaning Process
Since raw meat can leave behind residue in small spaces, even a quick rinse is not enough. A consistent cleaning routine helps protect the grinder plates, blade, tray, and feed tube from buildup and early wear. While many parts might be dishwasher safe, our Experts highly recommend hand washing them with warm, soapy water to ensure a thorough sanitization.
Tips & Tricks for Cleaning Your Meat Grinder
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Wash with Warm, Soapy Water: Using warm water and soap easily cuts through leftover fat and grease, giving you peace of mind that your grinder is thoroughly sanitized.
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Utilize Small Size Brushes: Using smaller brush sizes on the plates and blades of your meat grinder helps scrub away all the fat and meat from smaller corners and gaps in your machine that a dishwasher might miss.
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Final Wipe Down: When working with raw meat, you can never be too careful. Be sure to wipe down the entire unit for a flawlessly sanitary finish, including the parts you didn't think you touched.
Recommended Cleaning Products
If you want to make sure you have the correct tools for all of those hard to reach areas of your meat grinder, as well as other meat processing equipment, like stuffers, slicers, or knives, our Experts recommend:
These kits include all the necessary brushes and accessories, and some even feature food-grade silicone spray to protect your grinder before you pack it away for storage.
Step 5. Storing Your Meat Grinder
Proper storage is the key to ensuring your grinder is ready to go for your next processing day. Our Experts recommend giving the metal parts a quick coat of food-grade silicone spray and wiping off the excess with paper towels to protect your components.
If you have a meat grinder model similar to the LEM Big Bite meat grinder, the fully encased, self-lubricating motor means you never have to worry about opening the unit to lubricate the internal gears. Finally, store your clean grinding plates and extra cutting knives in a safe, dry place, such as the built-in storage drawer found on select models.
By following these simple steps, you can guarantee that your meat grinder will remain in peak condition for years to come. Proper maintenance not only ensures safer food handling but also helps you get the most out of your equipment. Whether you are looking for a complete grinder cleaning kit, curious about attaching a meat mixer for your next batch of sausage, or just need some processing advice, our SCHEELS Experts are right there with you.
Stop by your local store to chat with an Expert and find more success in your passion today!