#meatgrinderperformance

The meat grinder has long been one of the most popular kitchen appliances. Of course, the companies offer this function in various multifunctional models. For example, it's one of the main in the modern food processors. Nevertheless, the maximum productivity and good price / quality ratio ensure stable popularity of the meat grinder as a separate device. Abundance of proposals sometimes complicates the choice of the optimal model that depends on its functionality and technical characteristics. The list of main characteristics includes the following parameters.

Power

Of course, engine power is one of the main parameters of meat grinder. It directly affects the model performance. The power value of engine in modern meat grinders varies from 100 to 3000 W. Models with power up to 450 W are classified as low-powered. These devices are effective only for processing meat without tendons. Such meat grinders have compact dimensions and low weight. Models with an average power from 450 to 800 W are the most popular. They are optimal for everyday use in a family up to 4 people. Meat grinders with engine more of 800 W are classified as powerful models. They provide high performance. Such models are usually equipped with a large quantity of various additional functions. Powerful meat grinder is optimal for big family. There is also the concept of peak power or power of jammed. It characterizes a critical mode, for example, at jamming the screw due to contact with a large bone. Almost all modern models are equipped with motor overload protection. Of course, the engine power directly impacts on the noise level during operation. This indicator is significantly higher for the powerful models. But the auger effort depends not only on the power. This value is inversely proportional to the auger diameter. Therefore, a narrow meat grinder provides a greater effort compared to wider model. But, its processing speed is lower. Practice shows that value of the maximum effort is more important compared to speed. Therefore, a model with a smaller diameter is preferable ceteris paribus. Of course, electricity consumption is directly proportional to power. But this factor is not important due to very low overall cost.

Performance and maximum continuous operating time

Performance characterizes the maximum amount processed meat during one minute. A performance range of modern models varies from 1.2 to 9 Lb / min. This parameter depends on the engine power and the meat consistency. Powerful model provides high performance even during processing the hard meat with tendons. Meat grinder with motor of 1000 W provides the performance from 2 to 3,5 Lb / min, depending on the meat quality and sizes of pieces. Maximum continuous operating time is important in combination with the continuous operating time. Almost all modern models work cyclically. Many manufacturers do not advertise this aspect for marketing reasons. However, it's important. The meat grinder electric motor is very heated during operation and periodically requires interruption in work for natural cooling. For example, some inexpensive models work less 5 minutes, and their cooling time is 20-30 minutes. Continuous operation time of other models reaches 30 minutes, but their performance in this mode is only 1,3 Lb / min. Therefore, this information is important for choosing a model. Duration of continuous operation and cooling for the modern models is 10-15 and 10-20 minutes, respectively.

Maximum height, material of housing, auger, tray and weight

Maximum height affects the allowable height of containers for minced meat. The value of this parameter varies from 110 to 140 mm. Typically, moder models use for housing plastic, steel or stainless steel. Meat grinder with housing of food plastic is lightweight, but requires careful handling due to low mechanical strength. Many models have a combined housing from plastic with metal inserts. Steel usually closes the front panel for simplifying cleaning. Housing of high-quality durable plastic good withstands the standard load.

Meat grinder with metal housing looks more respectable.

The models of the upper price segment usually have a fully metal housing. It's maximally durable and heat resistant. Of course, auger is one of the main components the device. It moves the meat to the knife. Accordingly, the maximum mechanical load is redistributed on auger. Therefore augers for meat grinders traditionally are made from strong steel grades.

However, some manufacturers are experimenting in this direction by making the screws with plastic tips. But the reliability and service life of such models are questionable. Modern models have metal or plastic trays for meat. Unfortunately, plastic trays often change color during operation due to exposure, for example, vegetable juices. And, of course, they have a rather low mechanical strength. Metal trays are more expensive but they are more durable and environmentally friendly.

Of course, the meat grinder has long been a mandatory attribute in the kitchen. Moreover, all modern food processors and many other kitchen appliances also support this function. However, only its implementation as a separate device ensures maximum efficiency and performance. Therefore, companies still produce and successfully sell these devices. As a consequence, modern market offers in abundance different meat grinders.

Therefore, the choice of the optimal meat grinder sometimes causes difficulties. Their classification can slightly simplify this task. Model cost mainly depends on the following factors: - functionality; - technical values; - meat grinder attachment set.

Operating principle, performance and maximum time of continuous operation

Full cooking cycle a mincemeat using meat grinder contains the following steps. - Initially, meat is cleared from bones and cut into pieces. - Then, pieces of meat are fed with the help of pusher into screw canal. - The screw captures a piece of meat, moves it to the rotating knife for cutting and pushes its through a grate in the form of a minced meat. Of course, meat grinder performance is one of the main parameters and directly depends on the model power. According to this criterion, modern meat grinders are classified as follows: - low-powered (up to 450 W) - up to 2,5 lb / min; - average power (from 450 W to 800 W) - up to 3,5 lb / min; - powerful (800 W or more) - 3,5 lb / min or more. Of course, maximum time of continuous operation also affects the performance. It's obvious that electric motor heats up during operation and requires cooling. But today this problem is solved by the cyclicality of operation. Unfortunately, many manufacturers do not accentuate the consumer's attention on this aspect for marketing reasons. However, this value significantly affects the model usability. Of course, almost all modern models are equipped with a special motor protection from overheating and overloading. But it's intended mainly for emergencies. Normal operation assumes the absence of engine overheating. Of course, cyclicality protects the motor from overheating due to its natural cooling during periodic pauses. Usually, the modern models provide duration of continuous operation from 10 to 15 minutes. But the duration of their cooling reaches 10-20 minutes. Of course, this ratio affects performance and usability. As a rule, the instruction contains this information.

Auger

As known, the auger is a massive metal screw for the meat supply on the knife.

Of course, its shape significantly affects the device efficiency. Today, engineers design them on a PC using special programs. The knife is placed between the screw and the grate with holes. Of course, the holes diameter affects the consistency of the minced meat and the engine load. In fact, channel of feeding meat to the screw is a vertical tube with tray for a meat at the upper end. Its lower end is connected to the screw channel. The screw channel is a horizontal tube with a screw inside. One end of the screw connects with driving shaft of the motor by clutch. But other end for placing a knife and grating has square form.

Knife of modern meat grinders is made of high-strength tempered steel. Many manufacturers use a self-sharpening knife but it's significantly more expensive. Knife for meat grinders has four blades. They are bent in the screw direction and sharpened on one side only.

The grating is a perforated plate that connects with a screw by nut.

Diameter of holes differs between manufacturers. But these values are approximately the same. They are equal: - up to 5 mm - for the soft meat; - from 5 to 7 mm - average diameter; - from 7 mm and more - for the hard meat with tendons. Tray for meat is made of plastic or metal. The pusher is a special tube for pushing the meat to the auger. The body of some models has compartments for storage of nozzles and power cable. Reverse button and switch are usually located on the side panel.

Motor

A motor with reduction gear and drive shaft are placed in a plastic or metal housing. Electric motor of meat grinders is characterized by nominal and maximum power. Nominal power is indicated on the certification label. Maximum power corresponds to the maximum permissible load that usually is indicated on the package or housing. Motor provides the drive shaft rotation with the help of reducer. Coupling with a screw are located on end of shaft. Types of couplings are differ between manufacturers. Today, the companies use the following couplings: - hexagon (plastic or metal); - cotter (metal); - fork (Bosch meat grinders).

Main and additional functions