MEAT! Your Maker Grinder Review (2026): #8, #12, #22, #32 and Dual Grind, Compared

Buying a grinder is the moment processing your own deer stops being a chore. MEAT! Your Maker is one of the names hunters land on fast: stainless grinders sized from #8 to #42, a Dual Grind line that does coarse-to-fine in one pass, and a lifetime warranty. The question is which one is worth your money, and whether the smallest models are the bargain they look like.

We pulled every grinder MEAT! sells from its own site: price, motor, head size, stated grind speed, weight and owner ratings. Then we divided price by stated speed to see what each pound-per-minute actually costs. The answer surprised us a little: the cheapest full-size grinder is not the best deal. Every number below was checked on meatyourmaker.com on September 24, 2026.

How we reviewed MEAT! Your Maker grinders

This is a research-based review, not a hands-on test. We haven't run these grinders ourselves, and we'll update the page if we do. What we did: pulled the price, horsepower, head size, stated grind rate, weight and included parts for all nine grinders on meatyourmaker.com; read the 2,904 owner ratings MEAT! displays (summarized as stars and counts); and read the warranty, shipping and return policies line by line. Grind speeds are MEAT!'s own claims. Real speed depends on how cold the meat is, how well it's trimmed and the plate you use.

A quick primer: the number after the # is the grinder's head size. A bigger head (#22, #32) takes bigger chunks and moves more meat per turn. Horsepower is the motor. MEAT! says its grinders are built to handle deer, elk, caribou and hog. Our best meat grinders for deer hunters roundup compares them with other brands.

Every MEAT! Your Maker grinder at a glance

Prices, motor sizes, grind rates, weights and ratings from each grinder's page on meatyourmaker.com, September 24, 2026. "$ per lb/min" = price ÷ the top of MEAT!'s stated grind rate. The Dual Grind pages don't list a weight, and the 1 HP and 1.5 HP Dual Grind pages don't list a grind rate. Prices change often.

The pattern: the .5 HP models are the expensive way to buy speed. The .5 HP #8 costs $90.91 per lb/min. The 1 HP #22 costs $46.43, about half as much, because it's only $150.00 more but MEAT! rates it at up to 14 lb a minute instead of 5.5. Past the 1 HP, you pay a bit more per lb/min for extra capacity.

Every model, reviewed

Smallest full-size model

MEAT! Your Maker .5 HP Grinder (#8): $499.99

0.5 HP · #8 head · up to 5.5 lb/min · 35 lb · $90.91 per lb/min · 4.8/5 from 396 reviews on MEAT!'s site

The .5 HP #8 is MEAT!'s entry into its heavy-duty line: a 35 lb grinder MEAT! rates at up to 5.5 lb a minute (330 lb an hour), with coarse and fine stainless plates, a stainless stuffing plate with three stuffing tubes, and an accessory drawer. It's plenty for one deer a season if you don't mind a slower session. At the stated rate, 50 lb of trim takes about 9.1 minutes of pure grinding. The catch is price: it's only $50.00 less than the .75 HP #12, which MEAT! rates at up to 10 lb a minute. That's why it's the second-worst value in our chart, at $90.91 per lb/min.

Pros

• + Lightest listed weight of the heavy-duty line (35 lb)
• + Stainless plates plus three stuffing tubes included
• + Strong owner rating: 4.8/5 from 396 reviews on MEAT!'s site

Cons

• − Only $50.00 cheaper than the much faster .75 HP #12
• − Smallest #8 head, so more cutting of meat into strips before it goes in

See the .5 HP #8 at MEAT! →

Best for one or two deer a year

MEAT! Your Maker .75 HP Grinder (#12): $549.99

0.75 HP · #12 head · 7–10 lb/min · 47 lb · $55.00 per lb/min · 4.7/5 from 253 reviews on MEAT!'s site

The .75 HP #12 is where the lineup starts to make sense for most hunters. MEAT! rates it at 7 to 10 lb a minute, nearly double the .5 HP, for $549.99. It weighs 47 lb, comes with coarse and fine stainless plates, a stuffing plate with three tubes and a 9" x 13" storage tray, and works with MEAT!'s $39.99 foot pedal switch so both hands stay on the meat. MEAT! also sells a $281.99 Dual Grind throat attachment that it lists as compatible with this grinder, so you can add one-pass double grinding later. Owner reviews sit a touch below the .5 HP and 1.5 HP: 4.7/5 from 253 reviews on MEAT!'s site.

Pros

• + Nearly double the stated speed of the .5 HP for $50 more
• + Foot pedal compatible; Dual Grind throat sold separately
• + Storage tray and carrying handle

Cons

• − Rated 4.7/5, a little below the .5 HP and 1.5 HP
• − 47 lb, so it's not a grinder you'll move around casually

See the .75 HP #12 at MEAT! →

Best value in the lineup

MEAT! Your Maker 1 HP Grinder (#22): $649.99

1 HP · #22 head · 11–14 lb/min · 57 lb · $46.43 per lb/min · 4.7/5 from 711 reviews on MEAT!'s site

If you process more than one animal a year, or grind for friends and family, the 1 HP #22 is the one we'd buy. At $649.99 it's just $100.00 more than the .75 HP, steps up to the bigger #22 head, and MEAT! rates it at 11 to 14 lb a minute. That makes it the cheapest speed in the lineup at $46.43 per lb/min. At the top stated rate, 50 lb of trim is about 3.6 minutes of grinding. It's also the second-most reviewed grinder MEAT! sells: 4.7/5 from 711 reviews on MEAT!'s site. Coarse and fine plates, a stuffing horn and a storage tray are included, and it works with the foot pedal.

Pros

• + Lowest cost per lb/min of any MEAT! grinder ($46.43)
• + Bigger #22 head for faster feeding
• + 711 reviews averaging 4.7/5

Cons

• − 57 lb
• − Only one stuffing horn listed (the smaller models list three tubes)

See the 1 HP #22 at MEAT! →

Best for big seasons and group processing

MEAT! Your Maker 1.5 HP Grinder (#32): $929.99

1.5 HP · #32 head · 14–18 lb/min · 70.5 lb · $51.67 per lb/min · 4.8/5 from 760 reviews on MEAT!'s site

The 1.5 HP #32 is the grinder you buy once if you process elk, several deer, or grind for a camp. MEAT! rates it at 14 to 18 lb a minute (up to 1,080 lb an hour), calls it all-stainless with dishwasher-safe parts, and adds a safety filter over the loading chute. It's the most-reviewed grinder in the lineup: 4.8/5 from 760 reviews on MEAT!'s site. It costs $929.99 and weighs 70.5 lb, so it needs a permanent spot on the bench. Per lb/min it's $51.67, a little more than the 1 HP.

Pros

• + Most-reviewed MEAT! grinder, with a top rating
• + All-stainless construction, dishwasher-safe parts (per MEAT!)
• + Up to 18 lb/min stated

Cons

• − $929.99 and 70.5 lb
• − Costs more per lb/min than the 1 HP #22

See the 1.5 HP #32 at MEAT! →

Biggest and fastest

MEAT! Your Maker 2 HP Grinder (#42): $1,199.99

2 HP · #42 head · up to 23 lb/min · 93 lb · $52.17 per lb/min · 4.4/5 from 37 reviews on MEAT!'s site

The 2 HP #42 is MEAT!'s largest: up to 23 lb a minute (1,380 lb an hour), 7 mm and 10 mm stainless plates, three stuffing horns (23, 28 and 38 mm), a plunger and a built-in storage compartment. It weighs 93 lb and costs $1,199.99. It has far fewer reviews than the 1.5 HP: 4.4/5 from 37 reviews on MEAT!'s site. Unless you regularly grind hundreds of pounds at a time, the 1.5 HP or 1 HP gives you most of the speed for a lot less money and weight.

Pros

• + Fastest stated rate in the lineup (23 lb/min)
• + Three stuffing horn sizes plus plunger included
• + Foot pedal compatible

Cons

• − 93 lb and $1,199.99
• − Only 37 reviews so far, averaging 4.4/5

See the 2 HP #42 at MEAT! →

One-pass fine grind

MEAT! Your Maker Dual Grind grinders: .5 HP, 1 HP and 1.5 HP

.5 HP #8 $559.95, up to 5.5 lb/min, 4.4/5 (95) · 1 HP #22 $789.99, 4.7/5 (190) · 1.5 HP #32 $999.99, 4.6/5 (25)

Most hunters grind twice: once coarse, then again fine for burger or sausage. MEAT!'s Dual Grind models put a stainless first-cut plate and your choice of a coarse (10 mm) or fine (4.5 mm) second plate in the same throat, so the meat comes out fine in one pass. MEAT! pitches it as a fine grind "in half the time." Each Dual Grind costs more than the matching single-grind model: $59.96 more for the .5 HP, $140.00 more for the 1 HP and $70.00 more for the 1.5 HP.

Two honest notes. First, only the .5 HP Dual Grind lists a grind rate (5.5 lb/min, the same as the single-grind .5 HP), and the 1 HP and 1.5 HP Dual Grind pages list none, so we can't compare their speed on paper. Second, the .5 HP Dual Grind has the weakest owner score of the whole lineup: 4.4/5 from 95 reviews on MEAT!'s site. If you want one-pass grinding, the 1 HP Dual Grind #22 (4.7/5 from 190 reviews) is the one we'd pick. If you already own the .75 HP #12, MEAT!'s $281.99 Dual Grind throat attachment is the cheaper route.

Pros

• + Coarse or fine in one pass, no second grind
• + Both 10 mm and 4.5 mm secondary plates included
• + Foot pedal compatible

Cons

• − Costs $60–$140 more than the single-grind version
• − Only the .5 HP lists a grind rate
• − .5 HP Dual Grind has the lowest rating in the lineup (4.4/5)

See the 1 HP Dual Grind → .5 HP Dual Grind → 1.5 HP Dual Grind →

Countertop option (out of stock)

MEAT! Your Maker 500 Watt Grinder (#12): $189.95

up to 4 lb/min · 16 lb · grind, stuff and reverse settings · 4.8/5 from 437 reviews on MEAT!'s site

The 500 Watt #12 is MEAT!'s kitchen-sized grinder: up to 4 lb a minute, 16 lb, with coarse and fine plates, a stuffing plate with three tubes and a reverse setting. It's the highest-rated grinder MEAT! sells, and on paper it's cheap speed ($47.49 per lb/min). It was out of stock on MEAT!'s site when we checked, so treat it as a "watch for it" option for occasional grinding, not a whole-deer machine.

Pros

• + Cheapest MEAT! grinder by far
• + Best owner rating in the lineup
• + Light enough to store in a cabinet

Cons

• − Out of stock when we checked
• − Up to 4 lb/min, slow for a whole deer

The warranty and return fine print

Limited lifetime warranty. MEAT! warrants its products against defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product. Read the limits before you count on it: it covers the original owner only and isn't transferable, the grinder must be bought new from MEAT! or an authorized retailer, and it excludes commercial use, normal wear and tear, misuse and cosmetic damage. MEAT! also defines "lifetime" as the life of the materials and components, measured by use and care, not age. For a warranty claim you ship the grinder to MEAT! prepaid, and MEAT! pays the return shipping if the claim is covered.

Returns. Products in new condition and original packaging can be returned within 30 days of arrival. You pay return shipping, and refunds are issued less shipping and handling. Returns go to American Outdoor Brands in Columbia, Missouri, MEAT!'s parent company address. In practice: once you've run meat through it, plan on keeping it. Orders ship by FedEx or USPS ground to the lower 48, Alaska and Hawaii.

Which MEAT! Your Maker grinder should you buy?

One deer a year, limited space: the .75 HP #12. It's nearly twice the stated speed of the .5 HP for $50 more.

A couple of deer, a hog or two, or grinding with family: the 1 HP #22. Best cost per lb/min in the lineup and a bigger head that feeds faster.

Elk, several animals, or camp-scale processing: the 1.5 HP #32. It's the most-reviewed model, highly rated and all stainless.

You hate grinding twice: the 1 HP Dual Grind #22, or add the Dual Grind throat attachment to a .75 HP. Whatever you pick, the $39.99 foot pedal switch is worth adding if your model supports it.

Weighing MEAT! against the other big hunting grinder brand? Our MEAT! Your Maker vs LEM comparison lines them up head size by head size. And for the rest of your fall prep, see our fall hunting prep list.

Frequently asked questions

Is MEAT! Your Maker a good grinder brand?

Owners rate it well. On MEAT!'s own site, its grinders average 4.4 to 4.8 stars across 2,904 reviews, led by the 1.5 HP #32 (4.8/5 from 760). Those are seller-hosted reviews, so treat them as a guide. The limited lifetime warranty is a real plus, within its limits.

What size MEAT! grinder do I need for deer?

For one deer a year, the .75 HP #12 (7–10 lb/min stated) is enough. If you process more than one animal or grind with family, the 1 HP #22 (11–14 lb/min) costs only $100 more and is the best value per lb/min. The 1.5 HP #32 is for elk and multi-animal seasons.

What's the difference between the #8, #12, #22 and #32?

The number is the head size. Bigger heads take bigger chunks and move more meat per turn. In MEAT!'s heavy-duty lineup they also come with bigger motors: #8 = .5 HP, #12 = .75 HP, #22 = 1 HP, #32 = 1.5 HP and #42 = 2 HP, from up to 5.5 lb/min on the #8 to up to 23 lb/min on the #42.

Is the MEAT! Dual Grind worth it?

If you always double-grind for burger or sausage, it saves a full second pass. You pay $60 to $140 more than the single-grind model. The 1 HP Dual Grind #22 has the stronger reviews (4.7/5 from 190). The .5 HP Dual Grind is the lowest-rated grinder in the lineup (4.4/5).

What does the MEAT! lifetime warranty cover?

Defects in materials and workmanship for the life of the product, for the original owner, if bought new from MEAT! or an authorized retailer. It excludes commercial use, wear and tear, misuse and cosmetic damage. You ship the item to MEAT! prepaid, and MEAT! covers return shipping if the claim is approved.

Can I return a MEAT! grinder?

Within 30 days of arrival, if it's in new condition and the original packaging. You pay return shipping, and refunds are less shipping and handling. A used grinder isn't returnable, so choose your size before the first grind.

The bottom line

MEAT! Your Maker grinders are well built, well reviewed and backed by a lifetime warranty, which is why hunters keep recommending them. The trick is buying the right size. The 1 HP #22 is the value pick at $649.99: the lowest cost per pound-per-minute in the lineup and enough speed to turn a deer into burger in one evening. Step down to the .75 HP only if space or budget is tight, and step up to the 1.5 HP if you're feeding a camp. That's buy once, cry once.

Shop MEAT! Your Maker →

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