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Plenty of grinders sold for deer processing can’t keep up with an actual deer. They heat up by the second batch, smear the fat, and turn good venison into gray paste.
This guide picks the best meat grinder for deer by what matters at home: rated speed, head size and warranty. SaltRail did not test these grinders. We compared what each maker’s page lists, and for Weston and STX what the Amazon listing states.
Where to go next: our best meat grinders hub, the meat grinder buying guide and the meat grinder size guide. Still deciding whether to process your own deer? Run your numbers in our deer processing cost calculator first, or go straight to the quick picks below.
Quick Picks: The Right Grinder for How Much Deer You Process
| Pick | Best for | Motor | Maker’s rated speed |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEM Big Bite #12 | Most hunters (1–3 deer a season) | 0.75 HP | up to 11 lb/min |
| LEM Big Bite Dual Grind #22 | 3+ deer or an elk | 1 HP | up to 13 lb/min |
| Weston Pro Series #22 | Big batches and sausage stuffing | 1.5 HP, 1,120 W (per the Amazon listing) | up to 14 lb/min (per the Amazon listing) |
| LEM Big Bite #8 | One deer a season, small kitchens | 0.5 HP | up to 7 lb/min |
| STX Turboforce II 4000 (#12) | Tight budgets, occasional use | 2,000 W peak (per the Amazon listing) | 175–225 lb/hour (per the Amazon listing) |
Rated speeds are the makers’ figures unless a row says per the Amazon listing.
Before You Buy: Four Answers That Change Your Pick
- What size do you need? Match the head size to your deer count, not your budget. Our meat grinder buying guide walks through sizing a grinder to your largest batch.
- Which plates? A coarse plate for the first grind and a fine plate for the second. LEM lists 10 mm coarse and 4.5 mm fine plates for its #8, #12 and #22; Weston’s Amazon listing shows a 7 mm coarse plate.
- How much fat? Venison is lean, so most hunters add beef or pork fat. Start with our venison burger fat ratio guide.
- How cold? Cold meat prevents smear. LEM’s manual says meat at 40°F or colder, but not frozen, grinds best. See how long to freeze meat before grinding.
How We Ranked These
SaltRail did not use or test these grinders. We compared each maker’s rated speed, motor, head size and warranty, then matched them to how many deer you process. We ordered the picks by the number of deer they suit, from one to several, starting with the size we think suits most hunters. Commission rates play no part in the order. Our method is on the How We Research page, and the full grinding method is in how to grind venison.
What each maker lists
| Grinder | Motor | Rated speed | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEM Big Bite #12 | 0.75 HP | up to 11 lb/min | 5 years (LEM) |
| LEM Big Bite Dual Grind #22 | 1.0 HP | up to 13 lb/min | 5 years (LEM) |
| Weston Pro Series #22 | 1.5 HP, 1,120 W | up to 14 lb/min | limited five-year warranty (per the Amazon listing) |
| LEM Big Bite #8 | 0.5 HP | up to 7 lb/min | 5 years (LEM) |
| STX Turboforce II 4000 | 2,000 W peak, locked-motor | 175–225 lb/hour on high | 3-year guarantee (per the Amazon listing) |
The Best Meat Grinder for Deer: Our 5 Picks
1. LEM Big Bite #12: Best for Most Deer Hunters
LEM BigBite #12. LEM lists 0.75 HP, up to 11 lb per minute, 5-year warranty (per LEM). Best for one to three deer a season.
The #12 is SaltRail’s pick for most hunters, from the listed ratings.
Skip it if you grind an elk or several deer every year. Go straight to the #22.
2. LEM Big Bite Dual Grind #22: Best for Multiple Deer or Elk
LEM BigBite Dual Grind #22. LEM lists 1.0 HP, up to 13 lb per minute, 5-year warranty (per LEM). Best for three or more deer, an elk, or a whole camp’s harvest.
LEM’s standard #22 lists 49.6 lb and 22.83 x 12.08 x 18.90 in, so measure the shelf. Torn between brands? Read LEM vs Weston.
Skip it if you only grind one deer.
3. Weston Pro Series #22: Most Power for Big Batches
Weston Pro Series #22. Amazon lists 1.5 HP, 1,120 W, up to 14 lb per minute, a limited five-year warranty, forward-reverse and a sausage-stuffing kit (funnels and spacer); 58 lb. Best for high volume and big sausage days.
It has the highest listed horsepower in this group.
Skip it if you have a small counter or want to grind one deer.
4. LEM Big Bite #8: Best for One Deer a Season
LEM BigBite #8. LEM lists 0.5 HP, up to 7 lb per minute, 28.66 lb, 18.5 x 9.13 x 15.59 in, 5-year warranty (per LEM). Best for a single deer and a small kitchen.
Grinding beef and pork as often as venison? Our best meat grinders roundup compares everyday grinders.
Skip it if you grind several deer at once.
5. STX Turboforce II 4000 (#12): Best on a Tight Budget
STX Turboforce II 4000. Amazon lists a #12 head, 2,000 W of peak output (a locked-motor figure), 175 to 225 lb per hour on high, 3 speeds including reverse, and a 3-year guarantee. That works out to about 3 to 4 lb per minute (our arithmetic on Amazon’s figure).
This is the budget pick, not the speed pick. Amazon’s other bullet gives 220 to 260 lb per hour, so we use the figure on the high-speed bullet. More options at this price: best meat grinders under $200.
Skip it if you grind several deer a season.
Not Recommended for Deer: The KitchenAid Grinder Attachment
It’s fine for a pound of chuck on burger night. KitchenAid’s support page says, “We do not recommend grinding more than 3 – 5 pounds in one session,” and that the mixer “must rest for a minimum of 45 minutes in between each session.” Our buying guide covers whether a KitchenAid attachment is enough in more detail.
Who This Is Not For
If you take one deer and grind a few pounds, a #8 is plenty and any larger machine is more than you need. If you grind several deer at once and want a stuffer too, read LEM vs Weston first. If you want to grind bones for pet food, LEM’s manual says not to. If you want the lowest price, the STX is cheapest per its listing but it is the slowest rated here (about 3 to 4 lb per minute).
Sizing and Rated Speed
LEM rates its #8 at up to 7 lb per minute, its #12 at up to 11, its #22 at up to 13 and its #32 at up to 17. The meat grinder size guide has the plate sizes.
Budget grinders often print peak wattage in large type. STX’s Amazon listing calls 2,000 W its locked-motor peak and gives 175 to 225 lb per hour, while LEM lists pounds per minute, so the two are not like-for-like.
Choosing a Grinder for Deer: Plates, Reverse and Where It Lives
- Plates: LEM lists a 10 mm coarse and a 4.5 mm fine plate for its #8, #12 and #22. Weston’s Amazon listing shows a 7 mm coarse plate.
- Reverse: reverse is listed on the Weston and the STX (per their Amazon listings); LEM’s pages do not mention it.
- Where it lives: LEM lists the #22 at 49.6 lb and the #8 at 28.66 lb (per LEM); Weston is 58 lb per Amazon. Measure the shelf before you buy.
- Cleaning: LEM’s manual says its grinders are “NOT DISHWASHER SAFE (discoloration may occur)”. See how to clean a meat grinder.
SaltRail Practice: Workflow for Ground Venison
- Chill first. LEM’s manual says meat at 40°F or colder, but not frozen, will grind best. See how long to freeze meat before grinding.
- Trim silver skin. LEM says meat should be free of bone, gristle and sinew. Our deer butchering guide shows how to trim it before grinding.
- Add fat. Get the venison burger fat ratio right, and read where to buy beef fat for venison.
- Coarse plate first. Run the coarse plate, then the fine one.
- Label every package by animal. See how to label frozen meat.
Does a Meat Grinder Pay for Itself?
A grinder is one piece of a home setup, along with knives and a vacuum sealer. Our deer processing cost calculator totals your gear against your processor fees. For the trade-offs beyond money, read Is It Worth Processing Your Own Deer.
Food Safety While Grinding Venison
- Keep it cold. Keep cold food at or below 40°F, per USDA FSIS. FSIS says ground meat should be stored at 40°F or below and used within 2 days, or frozen.
- Cook it through. The FSIS temperature chart gives 160°F for ground meats and 165°F for ground poultry. The chart does not name venison, so use the ground meat figure.
- Clean right away. University of Wisconsin–Madison Extension says to clean all knives, equipment and cutting surfaces with hot soap and water after use and disinfect them with a 50/50 solution of household bleach and water. That is its CWD guidance, so check your state wildlife agency.
- CWD and equipment. A 2025 study in Emerging Infectious Diseases found CWD prion seeding activity on knives, polyethylene cutting boards and multiple parts of meat grinders, including on CWD-negative muscle passed through a contaminated grinder. Bleach solutions of 10% and 40% left no detectable activity on grinder parts, while dish soap and Virkon-S did not always. The authors note that seeding activity does not directly imply infectivity, and they highlight the importance of testing cervids before processing.
- Where CWD is present, follow your state wildlife agency’s rules for testing and handling, and ask whether the processor handles your deer individually.
Per the CDC, strongly consider having the deer or elk checked for CWD before you eat the meat, and if it is processed commercially, consider asking to have your animal processed individually.
Meat Grinder for Deer: Quick Answers
Can you grind bones in a meat grinder?
LEM’s manual says not to grind bones, while LEM’s website says its #12 and larger models can handle raw chicken bones; follow the manual. Details: can you grind bones in a meat grinder.
Should you grind venison twice?
Many recipes grind twice. See should you grind meat twice.
Can you grind partially frozen venison?
LEM’s manual says meat at 40°F or colder, but not frozen, will grind best, and says not to grind hard-frozen food.
Is a KitchenAid attachment enough for a whole deer?
KitchenAid says not to grind more than 3 to 5 pounds in one session and to rest the mixer for at least 45 minutes between sessions. Our buying guide explains when a KitchenAid attachment is enough.
LEM or Weston?
The sourceable differences are listed speed, motor and warranty. We compare them in LEM vs Weston.
The Verdict: The Best Meat Grinder for Deer for Most Hunters
For one to three deer a season, the LEM Big Bite #12 is SaltRail’s pick, from the listed ratings. If you process three or more deer or an elk every year, step up to the LEM Big Bite Dual Grind #22 or the Weston Pro Series #22.
Related grinder guides: best meat grinders under $200, LEM vs Weston and LEM BigBite #32 reviews.
