If your meat grinder has pieces of meat stuck in it, run a piece of bread through it to remove the pieces before you wash it.
By Lisa
Here are the questions asked by community members. Read on to see the answers provided by the ThriftyFun community.
I have an old metal meat grinder. How would I go about cleaning it so that I can start using is? Thanks.
Pam from Wichita, KS
Just soak in super, super hot water with 1 tablesspoon bleach per 1 gallon of water for about an hour and then wash well with soap and water in the sink or place on the top rack of a dishwasher ...
Most food grinders I have seen can be taken apart to be cleaned. The front part usually unscrews to expose the blade the meat comes through, and you should be able to pull out the blade as well. Just watch how you take it apart, so you can get it back together.
It may have a little rust on, use an old tooth brush to clean in the little places. Don't let it soak in water long. Rub a little cooking oil, shortening on them, then wipe it off. Seasoning the metal. Old kettles, appliances, tools always did best when cared for with a little 'lard'ing.
Try putting some slices of bread through the meat grinder to take off the surface rust inside the grinder
I am giggling from my toes ;-) Those old metal meat grinders would "maybe" rust if they've been left out in the rain for a decade or more ;-) I still have my mom and dad's old meat grinder that they received as a wedding gift in 1953 and, believe me, those puppies can take great abuse ;-) They're like the old Timex watch ads, "They take a licking and keep on ticking." :-) Die-hard cooks still demand them and they are still produced ;-)
Just soak it in the bleach and water as I mentioned below and then soap clean and all the bacteria and possible gunky build up of food particles will definitely be gone :-)
Oh, and chris t makes a good point about taking them apart ... I am glad chris mentioned it :-)
I haven't tried this but I remember older relatives talking about putting bread through the grinder to clean it. Hope it works!
