Thread: just wanted to share tonight's dinner with you guys..

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I know that it's bigger and stronger than I needed. The main thing was being able to use my dies and knives from the Chop Rite. I have #22 dies with holes ranging from 3/4" down to 1/8". Besides for the price, I couldn't go wrong.

Something that was a Very Pleasant Surprise was that it came with a 'Ice Pack' that is put in the freezer overnight and then can be wrapped around the snout before grinding. Also the snout can either just have the pack put on or it can be refrigerated in advance. This pretty much eliminates any chance of 'smear'. I love this grinder. I only wish I had it when I helped a friend at church grind 100 lbs of meat by hand (twice) with the Chop Right to make German Sausage with his families recipe. Stuffing took awhile with my little 4# stuffer but damn was that sausage good!

An ice pack is a great idea. I've never thought of that. But some form of flexible gel pack might be useful during the process.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

An ice pack is a great idea. I've never thought of that. But some form of flexible gel pack might be useful during the process.

I've always put the chop-rite in the frig overnight to help keep things cool but this ice pack attachment is Great!

To me the best grinding meat is 1/2 to 3/4 frozen already so I don't understand the need for an ice/gel pack on the grinder.

Seems like a marketing scam to me.

Originally Posted by 32t

To me the best grinding meat is 1/2 to 3/4 frozen already so I don't understand the need for an ice/gel pack on the grinder.

Seems like a marketing scam to me.

First and Foremost/the Gel pack was a bonus as I didn't know that the grinder came with one.

I agree that heavily chilled meat is great to grind, however it's not always possible given the circumstances. For instance, I live in a small apartment and it's 72 degs or so when I grind. So having the bonus of the pre-chilled snout helping keep the meat cold is very nice.

Is it 'Necessary' ? NO! Is it Nice To Have'? YES!

Forty years ago my uncle had retired from supervising a small time meat processing company and ran the meat market for his daughter and son in law's Mom and Pop Grocery Store.

I used to go up and help him when he had an order for custom cut locker beef.

Uncle Harold had his grinder set up in the cooler even though there was more than enough room in the cutting area. I asked 'Why'? He said, it helps keep the meat cool so it grinds better.

So I'm sure that the Gel Pack isn't a 'Marketing Scam' but indeed a useful and helpful 'Tool'. One that I'm sure my Uncle Harold would appreciate.

Originally Posted by 32t

To me the best grinding meat is 1/2 to 3/4 frozen already so I don't understand the need for an ice/gel pack on the grinder.

Seems like a marketing scam to me.

I'll have to see how a more powerful grinder operates but my attachment version struggled with the fine plate unless you ground it twice. The mix can and might warm up by the time I could run it through twice.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I'll have to see how a more powerful grinder operates but my attachment version struggled with the fine plate unless you ground it twice. The mix can and might warm up by the time I could run it through twice.

The first picture is venison and the second is fatty pork to mix with it.

Cool the meat and you don't have to play any games with gel packs.

Originally Posted by 32t

The first picture is venison and the second is fatty pork to mix with it.

Cool the meat and you don't have to play any games with gel packs.

Yeah, I get that but take a look again at the pic of your grinder and recall that yesterday I was using this. It chews through meat like an old man with dentures.

Hey, I've seen some very tenacious and determined old men with dentures kill a steak

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Hey, I've seen some very tenacious and determined old men with dentures kill a steak

LOL, yeah maybe. But I think you see my point.

Originally Posted by Dieseld

Hey, I've seen some very tenacious and determined old men with dentures kill a steak

My wife doesn't have any teeth, and I can tell ya she can chew up some meat.!![emoji56]