Can Meat Grinder Grind Bones?

You may be wondering whether you can grind bones in a meat grinder. After all, bones are quite hard, and you might think that they would damage your machine.

Good news! You can definitely use a meat grinder to grind bones. These products are tough enough to handle hard materials like bone. In fact, it is common for people to grind up chicken bones or small fish bones in their meat grinder.

I remember back when I first started grinding bones for my dog in the meat grinder, I was a bit worried about whether it was going to damage the tool. But it turns out that grinding up bones in a meat grinder is actually much simpler than one might think, and there is approximately zero chance of harming your machine, if you do it properly.

I was curious if a meat grinder could grind bones. I did some research and found that it can, but there are some things you need to know before trying it. In this article, I’ll share what I learned about grinding bones with a meat grinder, including the benefits and risks of doing so.

Can A Meat Grinder Grind The Bones?

A meat grinder can indeed grind the bones of animals. The best type of grinder to use for this purpose is a heavy-duty electric grinder. These types of grinders are designed to handle tough meats and bones.

To grind the bones, simply place them into the grinder and let it do its work. You may need to stop the grinder periodically to clear out any bone fragments that get stuck in the grinding mechanism.

Important measures to take before grinding bones in a meat grinder

The next time you go to grind the bones in a meat grinder, take these essential steps before grinding so that everything goes smoothly:

1: Clean your grinder

Before you get started, you need to make sure that your grinder is completely clean and free of any residues. Thoroughly wash the machine with hot water and soap(suitable for these items), paying close attention to all the small spaces. If there are any leftover meat or fat particles, soak the machine in a strong cleaning agent to remove those.

2: Use the right lubrication and speed

The best meat grinders have special attachments that will help you control the speed and amount of lubrication used. It is important to use the right lubrication and speed for the job so that you don’t damage your machine. By consulting your manufacturer or product manual, you can find the correct speed and lubrication for your grinder.

3. Use the double grounding technique

For a more efficient grounding, start with a hole size of 3/8 inches to crush the bones and end it with 1/8. The double grinding process first reduces large pieces of bones into smaller fragments. Once you re-grind those initial fragments, they become even smaller.

4. Check The Thickness of the bones

It is more difficult to grind thick bones, so always check the thickness and length of the bone before grinding. You can accurately measure bone thickness by comparing it to the width of your thumb.

If the bones you want to grind are thicker than your thumb, don’t attempt grinding them as it will dull your grinder blades.

How to Grind Bones in a Meat Grinder?

Now that you know what to consider before grinding bones, let’s go over the steps of how to effectively do it in a meat grinder. 

1. Detached the Bones

If you want to grind bones in a grinder, it’s easy to do so as long as you know what you’re doing. Always start by removing the meat from the bones. There are several ways to remove bones from meat, but the most straightforward method is by using a kitchen knife or scissors.

 2. Cut the bones into small pieces

After you’ve separated the bones from the flesh, cut them into smaller pieces using a very sharp knife. By doing this, the grinder will be able to handle and process them more easily.

3. Have a bowl on hand to collect ground bones

Once you’ve cut the bones into smaller pieces, place them in a clean bowl. This is vital to ensuring you don’t contaminate anything.

4. Get Your Grinder Ready

Place your grinder on a level, smooth surface area like the countertop. Ensure that there is sufficient space around the bowl so you can effortlessly slide it in and collect the ground bones.

 5. Put The Bones Into The Grinder

Feed the bones into your grinder slowly to avoid overloading it and causing damage. To begin, slowly insert the bones into the grinder one after another. Make sure each bone has exited before putting another in.

6. Store the ground bones

If you choose not to feed your pet all of the ground bones, it’s a good idea to store some of them in the refrigerator. If you want these ground bones to last, store them in airtight boxes. Long-term storage can also make them lose flavor.

How To Grind Chicken Bones Without A Grinder

If you find yourself without a grinder and in need of ground chicken bones, there are a few methods you can use. One is to use a food processor. If you have a powerful one, it should be able to handle the task. Otherwise, you can wrap the chicken bones in a clean dish towel and use a rolling pin to crush them.

Another option is to put the chicken bones in a ziplock bag and use a meat tenderizer to pound them into a fine powder.

The process of grinding bones without a grinder (And In a blender)

Keep the following tips in mind to properly and safely crush bones in your blender:

1. To get the most nutrients from bones, make sure to choose raw ones. Raw bones have significantly more nutrients than cooked ones.
2. A butcher’s knife can cut through bone effortlessly, allowing you to create smaller pieces.
3. It is more efficient to grind multiple bones at one time, and adding water makes the process much easier and quicker for the blender.
4. If the process is taking time, take breaks every few minutes.
5. Once you’re done grinding, check to see if there are any large bone chunks left. If so, either grind them up more or get rid of them. Be really careful here though, because smaller pieces can easily get caught in someone’s throat and cause choking.

Conclusion

A meat grinder can make it easy to grind up soft bones for your pets’ food. By grinding the bones, you’re able to use them entirely and prevent small slivers or chips that could potentially hurt your animal companion.

I hope that this article provides you with a clear understanding of whether or not meat grinders can successfully grind bones. Now that you know how to grind bones with a meat grinder, it’s time to purchase a grinder that will be worth your while.

Thank you for reading!

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