Meat Grinders Vs. Food Processors

Both meat grinders and food processors are kitchen tools used to change the texture and size of the food that goes into them. The task will determine which to use.

Function

Traditional hand-cranked meat grinder

Used to mix and grind, both food processors and meat grinders are handy with various meats and vegetables. While the grinder will produce a better controlled size and shape to these products, the processor can also shred cheese, puree sauce, or knead dough.

Features

Standard food processor

Standard food processors can chop, slice, puree or shred foods that are hard, soft or liquid with the change of a blade -- but the size of the chop is difficult to control. Either appliance can evenly distribute add-ins, such as spices to sausage. The meat grinder better controls texture with interchangeable dies, and it handles larger volumes.

Considerations

Large grind in sausage.

Both food processors and grinders present cleaning and storage issues, yet both are efficient and relatively easy to use. The product resulting from the grinder is of uniform size and texture, such as is necessary for country-style sausages. However, processors can do much more and are far greater multitaskers. If the task at hand is to make sausage, though, the processor will likely make an overly smooth product, such as for pate.

References

• Consumer Report: Food Processors