Hand Mincer

**DaavG** · 12-03-2019, 10:10

Good morning All,

I am looking at a hand mincer. The common brand available is Global - anyone with any feedback on how good this is? Any specific make to buy?

My volumes are not significant but mainly to make wors at home - thinking of #22 size as not overly pricey (R800 roughly)?

Is it worth spending more for one of these electric mincers?
https://www.takealot.com/kenwood-140...r/PLID17259249 (1400W)
https://www.takealot.com/bosch-meat-...r/PLID41406643 (1600W)
https://www.takealot.com/taurus-1200...y/PLID42990792 Don't know this brand

Thank you.

**Ds J** · 12-03-2019, 14:04

The hand mincers are really slow. The only upside is that one can often mince and fill the casing in one step, whereas the casings rupture with an electric mincer.

Even a cheap electric mincer is usually fast enough that it is worth the extra money. I'll vouch for Kenwood - mom's lasted 22 years of baking, mincing, mixing etc seven daays a week.

**DaavG** · 12-03-2019, 15:45

Thanks Ds J. Only would be looking at around 10kgs at a time - is the #22 hand to much of a mission?

**Ds J** · 12-03-2019, 17:16

Originally Posted by DaavG

Thanks Ds J. Only would be looking at around 10kgs at a time - is the #22 hand to much of a mission?

This is a question you need to answer for yourself. Take things such as time, effort and affordability of an electric machine into account. I have learnt the hard way that in most cases, time equals money. It is cheaper to use electricity in the long run.

Maybe try to borrow one from a neighbour or cousin and give it a try? I doubt that you would prefer hand over electric.

I have enough experience with large electric mincers to prefer them, and the recollections of hand mincers from my childhood are of tannies complaining. Doing just 10kg at a time might prove my wrong.

What I do have enough experience with are the differences between hand tools and electric hand tools. The nostalgic feelings of a hand tooled table or knife are out the window when the speed of electric tools come into play.

**DaavG** · 13-03-2019, 08:04

Originally Posted by Ds J

This is a question you need to answer for yourself. Take things such as time, effort and affordability of an electric machine into account. I have learnt the hard way that in most cases, time equals money. It is cheaper to use electricity in the long run.

Maybe try to borrow one from a neighbour or cousin and give it a try? I doubt that you would prefer hand over electric.

I have enough experience with large electric mincers to prefer them, and the recollections of hand mincers from my childhood are of tannies complaining. Doing just 10kg at a time might prove my wrong.

What I do have enough experience with are the differences between hand tools and electric hand tools. The nostalgic feelings of a hand tooled table or knife are out the window when the speed of electric tools come into play.

Thanks Ds J agreed on your points, so will look at a home electric version. Andrew also raises the point of mincing 3 times for a batch which is a point I definitely didn't think of.

**Sean KZN** · 12-03-2019, 17:42

Go electric, I have the Kenwood 1400, decent machine with lots of attachments.

As Ds J mentions, ease of operation is great. Doing 10 kilos with a hand mincer is going to put you off so much that you will try to avoid doing it.

Good luck which ever you decide on, home made tastes better than shop bought.

**Ds J** · 12-03-2019, 17:56

Originally Posted by Sean KZN

Good luck which ever you decide on, home made tastes better than shop bought.

Agree with this^. While you are at it, please consider mixing your own spices. It makes for delicious and healthier eating. Recipes and recipe books are available.

(Side note: I am health conscious and therefore particular as to what I eat.) "Ouma & Oupa wors spice" from company xyz or "Klippan wors mix" from company abc - basically all the favourite mixes from the known catering companies do not bring out the particular flavour of the meat. It gives a specific taste to anything one mixes it with. I have long said that I would like to throw a packet of xyz spice at a piece of donkey loin. It would probably taste exactly the same as that same spice thrown at the best available A-grade rump steak. so what is the use of mixing it with your hard earned venison? Rant over

**DaavG** · 13-03-2019, 08:10

Originally Posted by Ds J

Agree with this^. While you are at it, please consider mixing your own spices. It makes for delicious and healthier eating. Recipes and recipe books are available.

(Side note: I am health conscious and therefore particular as to what I eat.) "Ouma & Oupa wors spice" from company xyz or "Klippan wors mix" from company abc - basically all the favourite mixes from the known catering companies do not bring out the particular flavour of the meat. It gives a specific taste to anything one mixes it with. I have long said that I would like to throw a packet of xyz spice at a piece of donkey loin. It would probably taste exactly the same as that same spice thrown at the best available A-grade rump steak. so what is the use of mixing it with your hard earned venison? Rant over

Agreed, I do make my own sausages. I use these 3 books which are superb:

Charcuterie - The Craft of Salting, Smoking, and Curing - Michael Ruhlman, Brian Polcyn
River Cottage Curing and Smoking Handbook - Steven Lamb
Make Your Own Biltong and Droewors Paperback – Hannelie van Tonder

**GAZZAMCK** · 14-03-2019, 09:11

Originally Posted by Ds J

Agree with this^. While you are at it, please consider mixing your own spices. It makes for delicious and healthier eating. Recipes and recipe books are available.

(Side note: I am health conscious and therefore particular as to what I eat.) "Ouma & Oupa wors spice" from company xyz or "Klippan wors mix" from company abc - basically all the favourite mixes from the known catering companies do not bring out the particular flavour of the meat. It gives a specific taste to anything one mixes it with. I have long said that I would like to throw a packet of xyz spice at a piece of donkey loin. It would probably taste exactly the same as that same spice thrown at the best available A-grade rump steak. so what is the use of mixing it with your hard earned venison? Rant over

considering they found donkey, water buffalo, kangaroo, goat etc in some major chain stores wors, my old man always said stay away from the "ouma" or "farm famous" brands haha

**DaavG** · 13-03-2019, 08:06

Originally Posted by Sean KZN

Go electric, I have the Kenwood 1400, decent machine with lots of attachments.

As Ds J mentions, ease of operation is great. Doing 10 kilos with a hand mincer is going to put you off so much that you will try to avoid doing it.

Good luck which ever you decide on, home made tastes better than shop bought.

Thanks Sean, will look at the unit. How long have you had it and is it meeting your expectations?