If you have a meat grinder at home and you use it often then you must know how to properly clean the meat grinder. Why? Because it can save you from various germs that may cause many infectious diseases. Furthermore, the safety of your meat grinder needs to work properly.
So, how to properly clean a meat grinder? It is not rocket science to learn the proper and easy cleaning of a meat grinder. You can do it yourself at home and the most interesting thing is that it is inexpensive. Things that you need for its cleaning are already available in your home.
So, let us start learning how to clean a meat grinder without any delay.
How To Properly Clean A Meat Grinder?
Below are some easy and effective steps to clean the meat grinder.
Step 1: Do Not Wait To Clean The Meat Grinder
After using the meat grinder, you should always, always clean it right away. You will have a much harder time cleaning the grinder’s components if you let the meat residue harden and attach to them. You might not appreciate it now, but you will in the future.
Step 2: Make Bread Crumbs In The Bread Grinder.
Get some bread before you start taking the machine apart. Put them through the meat grinder the same way you would any other vegetable. You can use these to clean out the meat grinder and remove any remaining pieces of fat and oil.
Step 3: Take Apart The Chopper.
If the device is electrical, you must first disconnect the power cord. Then disassemble it into its parts. A meat grinder typically has the following components, however, this might vary by make and model:
- A feeder tube, a hopper, and a pusher (usually a single piece through which the meat is fed into the machine).
- One of those screws (an internal piece that forces the meat through the machine)
- An edge
- Eat or be eaten (the metal piece with holes where the meat comes out)
- A sheath to protect the knife and its plating
Step 4: Soak The Components.
Put some dish soap into some hot water in a sink or a bucket. Once the container is full, place the components inside. Allow them to rest for around 15 minutes to release any lingering meat juices or grease.
Do not submerge the engine or other electrical components of an electric grinder in water. Clean the exterior of the base with a damp towel, and then dry it with a clean one.
Step 5: Scrub To Get Rid Of The Grime And Dust.
Wipe down the screw, the lid, and the blade with a sponge. It’s important to hold the blade with care, as any slip could result in a nasty cut. Change to a bottle brush to scrub the plate’s holes, feed tube, and hopper. If you are done, give each component a quick rinse in clean water.
Take your time and do things right. To avoid creating a haven for germs and bacteria, it is important to get rid of any remnants. So, after you think you are done cleaning, clean it some more.
Step 6: Clean And Dry The Components.
You should start by drying them off with a towel. Then, place them on a clean cloth or a wire rack to dry in the air. It is important to let your grinder air dry completely before storing it away to prevent corrosion and oxidation.
Tips To Expand The Life Of Meat Grinder
Cleaning a meat grinder after each user is only the beginning of proper appliance maintenance. If you take care of it, it could last you a long time.
Work With Only Cold Meat
When grinding meat, it’s ideal to do so in a cool environment, both for the flesh and the grinder’s components. To freeze them for up to two hours, place them on a baking sheet in the freezer. Because it’s not safe to put warm meat through the grinder.
Meat at room temperature tends to lose its form in the grinder more quickly than semi-frozen meat. This will result in less distinct ground beef and a mess that is more difficult to clean up.
Do Not Grind Sinew
Minced meat should never include sinew or tendons. To begin with, they have too much fiber to properly cook and still taste good. Second, they will probably become stuck in the blade and grinding plates of the grinder, which will cause a huge mess.
These scraps of beef are perfect for a crock pot meal. Because the meat is cooked at a lower temperature for a longer period, the tendons soften and make for a tasty supper.
Keep A Sharp Edge
Sharpening the meat grinder’s blades is another good maintenance practice. Dull blades don’t ground the meat, they only smear it all over the other metal parts of the grinder. You can have a professional sharpen your grinder’s blade, or you can do it yourself with a sanding stone, but be careful!
Fend Off Rust
Preventing rust from accumulating on the grinder parts and inside your machine is essential if you want to get the most out of your investment.
To achieve this, fill a spray bottle with mineral oil that is safe for human consumption. Spray it on the nails, blade, grinding plates, and top. Relax and let it sink in.
After a while, you should clean and disinfect the meat grinder’s moving parts before reassembling it. A bleach solution (1 tablespoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water) should be sprayed over the components using a spray bottle. Finally, wash them in a large amount of warm water to remove all bleach. They can then be stored until the next time they’re needed.
For optimal results, repeat these two procedures once every month.
Keep the parts from rusting by storing them with rice in a plastic bag or airtight container. This will absorb some of the moisture and slow down the rusting process.
Do Not Put It In The Dishwasher
Last, but not least, remember to never wash the meat grinder attachments in the dishwasher. It’s best to err on the side of caution, even if the manufacturer specifies that the components can go through the dishwasher. Metal components can be damaged by the abrasiveness of dishwasher soap and by the oxidation and rusting caused by extended exposure to hot water.
How To Store The Parts Of A Meat Grinder?
- Put some rice in a separate bag for each component. Put the components of your grinder into separate, sealable plastic bags. Then, put some rice in each bag. The rice is optional, but it’s a good idea if you plan on storing your parts in the freezer and/or if you live in a particularly humid place because it will absorb any moisture, both current and future.
- The refrigerator or freezer, if you have one, is the best place to keep the components. When the cutting blades and grinding plates are very cold, they will cut through foods without any issues and will stay cold until you’re ready to use them.
- The motor needs to be stored in an area that is dry, cool, and protected from moisture and extreme temperatures. A gallon of warm water with a spoonful of bleach added can be used to clean your meat grinder. Remove the oil and disinfect the components by washing them in this water and bleach solution.
Frequently Asked Questions
How difficult is it to clean a meat grinder?
Parts of meat grinders are designed to be removed so that they can be cleaned independently. To prolong the life of the components, wash them with mild soap and dry them with a towel. However, you shouldn’t clean them in the dishwasher.
Does a meat grinder need oil?
Preventing rust from accumulating on the grinder parts and inside your machine is essential if you want to get the most out of your investment. To achieve this, fill a spray bottle with mineral oil that is safe for human consumption. Spray it on the screw, blade, smoothing plates, and cover.
To what end does meat grinding serve?
When you grind your meat, you eliminate the possibility of contamination and enjoy greater control over the finished product’s cut, fat level, and texture.
Final words
A meat grinder is an investment that requires regular care and attention to ensure its long and reliable service life.
Sadly, many people don’t make the effort to maintain and clean their equipment, so they wind up having to buy a new one after only a few uses. If you follow the advice given above, you can avoid this from happening.
Your meat device will supply each owner with wonderful, home-cooked sausages, hot dogs, meatballs, and other creations if the owners take care of their appliances and do the necessary maintenance.
I hope that now you know: how to properly clean a meat grinder.
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