Is It Cheaper To Grind Your Own Meat?

According to a recent survey conducted by the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, grinding your own meat at home is becoming a popular choice for many households. The survey found that 72% of households now grind their own meat at least once a month, up from 64% just a year ago. Not only is it an economical option, but it also offers families a healthier alternative to pre-ground meats.

Additionally, grinding your own meat allows you to control the quality and freshness of the meat, as well as the type of cut. Furthermore, grinding your own meat may help you save money in the long run, as it can reduce the amount of waste that is thrown away. 

This article will explore some of the benefits of grinding your own meat at home, including cost savings, convenience, food safety, and the health benefits associated with the practice. It will also provide some tips and tricks to help you get started with grinding your own meat. So, let’s dive in and see if it is indeed cheaper to grind your own meat!

Should You Grind Your Own Meat?

Yes, you should grind your own meat. It gives you more control over the type of meat you use, the texture, and the fat content of the final product.

It’s also a great way to experiment with different cuts and flavors since you can customize the flavors and seasonings. The cost of ground meat is usually higher than that of larger cuts, so grinding your own meat can save you money.

Is It Cheaper To Grind Your Own Ground Beef?

Grinding your own beef has become an increasingly popular practice among consumers in recent years due to its potential to save money while providing a higher-quality, fresher product.

Studies show that grinding meat at home can result in savings of up to 75% over pre-ground store-bought meat, and the process can be as simple as purchasing a grinder and following a few simple steps which will be provided below. 

With the rising cost of grocery bills, the cost savings of grinding your own meat can be an attractive option for many shoppers looking to save money.

So yes grinding your own beef is a lot cheaper than buying already grounded beef that you are not even sure is of good quality or not.

Benefits Of Grinding Meat At Home?

For the vast majority of people, the idea of grinding their own meat is a foreign concept. After all, supermarkets and butcher shops have been doing it for years, so why go through the trouble of doing it yourself? There are actually a few very good reasons to consider grinding your own meat at home. Here are the benefits of grinding your own meat:

1. Grind Your Own Meat to Save Money

One of the biggest benefits of grinding your own meat at home is that it can save you a significant amount of money. Buying pre-ground meat from the store can be expensive, especially if you’re buying organic or grass-fed meat or if you’re looking for a higher-quality cut of meat.

When you grind your own meat at home, you know exactly what’s going into it and you can save money by buying less expensive cuts of meat and grinding them yourself. Not only that, but you’ll also have the added bonus of knowing exactly where your ground meat came from and what went into it.

2. Grinding Meat Ensures Freshness

Another benefit of grinding your own meat is that you can ensure its freshness. When you buy ground meat from the store, you don’t always know how long it’s been ground or how long it’s been sitting out. When you grind your own meat, you know exactly when it was ground and can ensure that it’s as fresh as possible.

3. You Can Control the Quality of the Meat

When you buy ground meat from the supermarket or butcher, you’re trusting that they’re using high-quality ingredients. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. Likewise, when you buy ground meat from the store, you also don’t always know what kind of quality meat went into it. Was it grass-fed? Organic? Free-range? 

Grind your own meat at home can be sure that you’re getting exactly what you want. In some instances, stores will grind up cheaper cuts of meat or even add fillers to make their ground meat go further.

4. You Can Avoid Unwanted Additives

Another benefit of grinding your own meat is that you can avoid unwanted additives like fillers, preservatives, and flavorings. These additives are often added to ground beef to extend its shelf life or improve its flavor, but they’re not always necessary or desirable. When you grind your own meat, you can avoid these additives and get pure, unadulterated beef.

5. You Can Customize the Grind

When you buy ground beef from the store, it’s usually only available in one grind: coarse, medium, or fine. But when you grind your own meat, you have complete control over the final product. Do you like your ground beef extra-lean? No problem! Prefer a coarsely ground sausage? You can do that too! Grinding your own meat gives you the ability to customize the grind to your specific preferences.

If you’re making burgers, for example, you might want a coarser grind so that the burgers hold together better. Or if you’re making tartare, you might want a finer grind so that the texture is more smooth and more creamy.

How To Properly Grind Meat At Home To Save Money?

Step 1: Buy the Meat

Buy the meat you want to grind in bulk. Ground beef is the easiest meat to grind at home, so if you’re a beginner, start with that. You can also buy pork, lamb, chicken, turkey, or veal.

Step 2: Choose the Right Cut of Meat

Choose the right cut of meat for grinding. You want to look for lean cuts of meat with little fat. Fat can cause the meat to become gummy when ground.

Step 3: Cut the Meat into Small Pieces

Cut the meat into small, uniform pieces. This will ensure the meat is ground evenly.

4. Chill the Meat

Put the meat in the freezer for 30 minutes to an hour before grinding. This will make the meat firmer and easier to grind.

5. Set Up Your Grinder

If you have a manual grinder, attach it to a table or countertop. If you’re using an electric grinder, plug it in and turn it on.

6. Start Grinding

Put the pieces of meat into the grinder and turn the handle or press the button to start the grinding process. Keep an eye on the meat to make sure it’s grinding evenly.

7. Refrigerate the Ground Meat

Once the meat is ground, transfer it to an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator. The ground meat will last for up to three days in the refrigerator.

8. Freeze the Ground Meat

If you don’t plan to use the ground meat within three days, transfer it to a freezer-safe container and store it in the freezer. Ground meat will last up to six months in the freezer.

Grinding your own meat at home is a great way to save money and ensure quality ingredients. With the right equipment and the right technique, you can easily grind your own meat at home.

Conclusion

Grinding your own meat might seem like a lot of work, but it actually has a number of advantages. From knowing exactly what’s going into your ground meat to being able to customize the grind to save money, and ensuring freshness to being able to control the quality of the final product there are plenty of reasons to consider grinding your own meat at home!

Whether you’re a chef or a home cook, consider giving grinding your own meat a try you might be surprised at how easy and rewarding it can be!

Thanks for reading!