LEM Big Bite Electric Meat Grinder Review — Power, Precision & Long-Term Value
Grinding meat at home gives you complete control over texture, quality, and ingredients. The LEM Big Bite #8 Electric Meat Grinder is a standout choice for serious home cooks, hunters, and sausage makers. With a robust motor, efficient design, and quality stainless-steel components, this grinder brings professional-grade performance into a countertop unit.
Meat Grinder Review
At the heart of the LEM Big Bite #8 is a 0.5 horsepower (HP) permanently-lubricated induction motor. This motor design emphasizes both reliable power and long-term durability, allowing the unit to run for extended grinding sessions without overheating. Its stainless-steel housing lends robustness and resists corrosion, giving the grinder a professional feel.
One of LEM’s signature innovations is its Big Bite auger. Unlike standard augers, the extended auger aggressively draws in large chunks of meat, reducing the need to manually force cuts into the grinder. That means less physical effort and faster, smoother feeding. As LEM describes it, this design helps meat “churn quickly through the grinder with no clogging or bogging down” — a major advantage if you’re processing multiple pounds in one session.
In tests and practical use, the grinder lives up to its claim: it can process approximately 7 pounds of meat per minute, which is impressive for a home-style unit. With the right preparation (meat well chilled or partially frozen), the machine maintains steady throughput.
Included accessories enhance its versatility: three stainless-steel grinding plates (fine, coarse, and a dedicated stuffing plate), a stainless-steel knife, three plastic sausage tubes (½”, 1″, and 1⅜”), a meat stomper, and a tool to remove the auger bushing. These components make it possible to handle a wide array of tasks — from coarse grind for chili to fine burger patties or sausage.
A thoughtful detail is the storage drawer beneath the grinder head, designed to hold the plates, tubes, knife, and other small accessories. This helps keep everything organized and within reach — unlike some cheaper grinders where parts are easy to misplace.
LEM backs this model with a 5-year warranty, indicating confidence in its build quality and longevity. For home processors, hunters, and sausage makers, that kind of support is a meaningful plus.
1. Meat Grinder Capacity
Capacity for a meat grinder means two things: how much meat it can process efficiently, and what kinds of meat (and at what state) it can handle well.
Throughput
Grinding Speed: Rated to grind up to about 7 lb/min under ideal conditions, making it well suited for batch processing.
Large Meat Pan: The stainless-steel feed tray (or meat pan) is large enough to hold a significant amount of meat, reducing the need to constantly reload during heavy use.
Meat Types & Cuts
The grinder can handle a variety of meats:
Standard Cuts: Beef, pork, poultry, and more are easily processed, whether for burgers, meatloaf, or sausage.
Partially Frozen or Chilled Meat: Thanks to the Big Bite design’s strong auger, semi-frozen meat (common in many home-processing workflows) feeds well and reduces smearing.
Soft Bones: While not designed for heavy-duty bone grinding, many users report it can handle fairly soft or small bones when trimmed carefully.
Game Meat: For hunters, this grinder is well suited for processing venison, elk, or other game. Proper trimming and cooling ensure smooth operation.
Sausage & Specialty Work
With the included stuffing plate and tubes, you can confidently make sausage in different sizes. The grinder’s rifled head (spiral design inside) supports double grinding or transitioning into sausage mode without excessive reassembly. This makes it especially valuable for small-batch charcuterie or homemade sausage production.
Long Sessions
Because of its induction motor and efficient cooling, this grinder can work in long, steady sessions. Combined with a large pan and aggressive auger, it’s capable of handling serious meat-processing jobs — not just small 1–2 lb batches.
2. User-friendly design and cleaning
Ergonomic & Practical Build
Meat Tray & Auger: The wide stainless tray allows easy loading, and the auger pulls meat in efficiently, reducing reliance on manual pushing.
Meat Stomper: Included to safely push meat into the feed throat, keeping hands away from the auger.
Storage Drawer: The drawer inside the base provides a tidy place to store plates, tubes, and the knife — minimizing the risk of losing parts or making a mess.
Controls & Operation
The grinder comes with a simple on/off switch.
It features a built-in circuit breaker, so if the grinder stalls or is overloaded, it safely shuts down to protect the motor.
A reverse function helps clear jams by reversing the auger direction — a helpful feature if meat packs too tightly.
Cleaning
Disassembly: The head can be removed by loosening a ring, then the auger, knife, and plates slide out cleanly.
Washing: All metal components (grinding head, auger, knife, plates) can be washed by hand with warm soapy water. It’s best to clean right after use to avoid meat residue hardening.
Drying: After washing, parts should be thoroughly dried to prevent rust, especially on plates and the knife.
External Cleaning: The stainless-steel motor housing can be wiped with a damp cloth — no need to submerge.
Storage of Parts
After cleaning, the storage drawer under the head is ideal for keeping all attachments organized and accessible. This helps reduce setup friction for the next use and keeps your workspace tidy.
3. Safety Features and Durability
Safety Features
Circuit Breaker: Prevents motor damage by disconnecting power if the motor is overloaded or overheats.
Reverse Mode: Allows you to back out jammed meat safely without disassembling the entire unit.
Meat Stomper: Designed to protect your hands, it helps feed meat into the throat without risking finger injury.
Sturdy Construction: The stainless body and heavy base reduce vibration and tipping risk during operation.
Durability
Induction Motor: The 0.5 HP induction motor is designed for long life, with no brushes to wear out.
Big Bite Auger: Its extended design aggressively pulls meat, reducing strain and improving efficiency.
All-Metal Gears: Built with roller-bearing gears (per LEM’s specs), increasing reliability and reducing maintenance.
Stainless Steel Components: Knife, head, and plates are made from stainless steel, resisting corrosion and wear.
5-Year Warranty: LEM backs this model with a five-year parts-and-labor warranty, indicating confidence in build quality.
User Insights
Some users note that grinding very sinewy cuts (like silver skin) may clog certain plates unless trimmed or double-ground. > “I tried grinding a deer … the silver skin would clog the plate almost instantly.”
Several recommend chilling grinder parts and meat before use for optimal performance and to minimize wear or clogs. > “Make sure your meat is cold, semi-frozen … Would help to freeze/chill your grinder parts beforehand.”
There are a few reports of auger looseness over time. > “My auger is sitting slightly loose… maybe a bushing issue.”
Despite these occasional caveats, many long-term users praise the grinder’s resilience: > “I do 30-40 lb batches … grinding is always the fastest part.”
4.Conclusion
The LEM Big Bite #8 Electric Meat Grinder is a powerful, reliable, and thoughtfully designed appliance for meat processing. It strikes a solid balance between performance and practicality, making it suitable for hunters, home sausage makers, and anyone who processes moderate-to-large volumes of meat.
Strengths:
0.5 HP induction motor for strong, consistent power
Big Bite auger pulls in large chunks efficiently
High throughput (~7 lb/min) for serious grinding tasks
Stainless steel grinder head and durable plates
Useful accessories: 3 grinding plates, 3 stuffing tubes, meat stomper, and more
Storage drawer to keep parts organized
Safety features like circuit breaker and reverse mode
Five-year warranty for parts confidence
Ideal For:
Home processors grinding burgers, sausage, or game cuts
Hunters processing field game
Sausage enthusiasts producing mixed-link batches
Anyone wanting a durable, long-term meat grinder solution
Things to Consider:
The unit weighs nearly 29 lb, so space and handling should be planned
Requires regular cleaning and drying to maintain performance and hygiene
Very sinewy meat may require trimming or double grinding to avoid clogging
Initial investment is significant, but long-term value is strong for frequent users
In summary, the LEM Big Bite #8 is more than just a home grinder — it’s a workhorse built to handle real meat-processing demands with efficiency and durability.
5.FAQS
How powerful is the motor?
A: The grinder is equipped with a 0.5 HP induction motor, offering strong torque and long-term reliability.
How fast can it grind meat?
A: It is rated to grind up to about 7 pounds of meat per minute under ideal conditions.
What grinding plates are included?
A: Three stainless steel plates: fine (4.5 mm), coarse (10 mm), and a stuffing plate for sausage.
Does it come with sausage-making tools?
A: Yes — it includes three plastic stuffing tubes (½”, 1″, and 1⅜”) to create different sausage sizes.
Is there a reverse function?
A: Yes. You can reverse the auger direction to clear clogs without disassembling.
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