[Neocon]

Last year I bought an inexpensive hand grinder from Northern Tool.
I cut the meat into 1/2" and smaller bits. I cooled the meat to just above freezing. Then I tried to run it through the large plate on the grinder. It worked for a little while and then the grinder stopped feeding. When I took the ginder appart I found a smushed mess. I blammed a poorly made grinder and returned it but I'm wondering if a better grinder would help. I would like to here your suggestions and I would like to stick with a hand opperated grinder.

[stooxie]

Almost sounds like you didn't put the knife in, or had it in backwards. If you cut the pieces up that small and it still didn't feed something was pretty wrong.

Sometimes, with very sinewy meat, a tangle of sinews can block the flow and you just have to clear it out and keep going.

I have used a kitchen aid grinder attachment with good results. I bought be a 1hp grinder from Cabelas, though, and you practically just drop the animal in live with that sucker.

Honestly, though, a good hand-crank grinder should do the trick just fine if you're ok with the effort.

-Stooxie