Best Electric Meat Grinder in Egypt: For Kofta, Kibbeh, and Eid Meat

The Wattage on the Box Isn't Everything

Most grinders write a big number in bold, but that number is usually the "maximum capacity" the motor reaches when strained, not what it draws while running. The Bosch MFW3612A, for example, is listed with 500W consumption and 1600W max capacity, and the Black & Decker FM3000 is listed with 600W running and 3000W max capacity. It's better to compare by productivity: how many kg per minute. The Moulinex HV8 Plus is listed at 2.6 kg, and the regular HV8 at 1.6 kg. And if this number isn't listed, read the reviews and see if people are complaining about slowness or not.

How Big of a Grinder Do You Need?

• 1 or 2 kg a week: Any good grinder with a reverse function is enough, and don't pay for attachments you won't use.
• Kibbeh and sausage at home: The kibbeh attachment (the funnel that makes the hollow tube) and sausage funnel must be listed in the box contents.
• Eid meat: Here, productivity and the body material matter. A grinder that does 2 kg per minute or more with a metal body will finish faster and withstand more.

Discs and Fat

The fine disc (about 4 or 5 mm) is for kofta, kibbeh, and stuffing. The medium is for hawawshi and pasta meat. The coarse (about 7 or 8 mm) is for burgers and anything where you want a clear texture. And bulgur kibbeh is usually ground twice on the fine disc before being kneaded. Kofta and hawawshi come out juicier if there is some fat, so grind the fat with the meat in the same batch, not alone afterwards. And if you're grinding onions for kofta, put them in at the end and in a small amount because their water makes the mixture too soft, and add salt and spices while kneading, not inside the grinder.

Reverse and Gears

The reverse function turns the auger backwards to untangle veins and cartilage wrapped around it, and without it, you'll have to take the grinder apart frequently. And in many models, there is a plastic gear or connector between the motor and the auger designed to break if something gets severely stuck and protect the motor. This is not a defect in itself, but make sure spare parts are available at the service center. Metal gears withstand more, but the grinder is heavier.

Eid Meat: How to Grind a Lot Without Straining the Motor

• Cut the meat into long strips or small cubes, and remove bones, cartilage, and heavy veins.
• Put it in the freezer for half an hour until it firms up just on the outside, because cold meat grinds cleaner. Do not grind rock-frozen meat.
• Use the pusher, don't press too hard with your hand, and let the grinder pull the meat on its own.
• Work in batches, read the manual for the maximum continuous running time, and rest the motor between each batch.
• If fat starts accumulating on the disc and the meat starts coming out slowly, stop, clean the disc and blade, and continue.
• If the quantity is very large, divide it over two days, or have the butcher grind the bulk and you grind what you need fresh.

Cleaning and Before You Buy

Take the parts apart and wash them with warm water as soon as you finish before the fat solidifies. Aluminum parts turn dark in the dishwasher, so wash them by hand and dry the blade and discs well. And before buying, make sure of:

• Whether the warranty is local or "international", and who the seller is on Amazon.
• The grinder is 220 volts, and its plug fits your outlet.
• Box contents: whether the discs and kibbeh and sausage attachments are listed, and count them as soon as the order arrives.
• Spare parts: the blade, discs, and gear are available for this model in Egypt, because they are the first things to change.