Does a meat grinder save money in the long run?

Steel_2

I'm thinking of getting a decent steel meat grinder to do my own turkey mince with. I can get a good new steel catering quality meat grinder on eBay for around £30 with postage and would consider it a long term investment.

Ideally I'd be looking to find good bargains in the supermarkets on turkeys and break them down, remove the meat, make the mince to freeze and use when needed and then use the carcass for soup.

Does anybody currently do this and does it save money in the long run over the price of mince in the supermarket? How much meat can you get off a large turkey anyway for the money and how much is actually carcass?

I've never dealt with a whole turkey before (oven ready turkey breast at Christmas usually) so anyone have any advice or suggestions (apart from don't wear it on your head and shimmy like Monica in Friends:D )?

emma396

i think this would be a good idea for you. i don't do it myself, but my dad always tells me not tobuy mince from shop as they mix in fat and water, unless u buy the really posh stuff which is expensive. we don't eat mince often, but my parents do have one, and theyll do their own beef, pork or prawn mince to make meatballs etc. healthier and definitely cheaper in the long run.

rosieben

I have a metal one (Spong) which I bought especially for sausages and burger making etc., and its useful for mince dishes too of course. I do buy mince from our local butcher occasionally and its very good (he sells local meat and can tell you which farm your meat came from), but its nice to know exactly what's gone into your sausages or pies!

daysieblue

I don't know if this is just me being mad, but I through my meat into the food processor if I want it "mince-like", in fact I often through mince into it too!

Does anyone else do that?

Bogof_Babe

Lakeland do one for £23.99 http://www.lakeland.co.uk/product.aspx/!10118

If you make your order up to £45 the postage is free.

MRSMCAWBER

Hi there
They are brilliant..i had my eye on an electric shark mincer/sausage maker for a while and being a foodie and cookaholic i gave in and got one :-)....even though my hubby rolled hi eyes at the thought of another item of kitchen equipment appearing..lol... still as soon as the first batch of sausage appeared on his plate -smiles all round.
At least you know exactly what is in your mince...
hope you find it as usefull as i do..

lil_me

I don't have one because I go to the butchers (farm shop and meat is reared on the farm) I select the cuts I want and he minces it in front of me. I would like one it's just where to put it!

niccy

when we moved here 9 years ago, a farmer offered us a cow he was shooting. (LONG STORY) anyway i bought a grinder/mincer from a butcher i knew (£200) and it saved us a fortune. Still got it as well.

tagz

If you are going to buy one get a good metal one which clamps onto the worksurface and not a plastic one with a suction cup on the bottom (I speak from experience!). I love knowing exactly what goes into my food!