Top 5 Meat Grinders That Grind Bones – Which One Will Surprise You?

You buy a meat grinder thinking you can toss in chicken backs for your dog’s raw diet. Twenty seconds later the motor stalls, smoke curls up, and you’re stuck with a $150 paperweight. I’ve seen it happen more times than I can count. Most home grinders are built for boneless stew meat, not bone. But a handful of machines can handle the job if you know what to look for.

This article covers five meat grinders that genuinely grind bones. I’ll also bust two popular myths that lead people to buy the wrong machine. By the end you’ll know exactly which model fits your needs and budget.

STX INTERNATIONAL

STX International Turboforce II 4000 Electric Meat…

The STX International Turboforce II (Patented Air Cooled) Complete Home Grinding Package features a Heavy Duty 2000 Maximum Watt Electric Grinder and Features a High Capacity Meat Tray that easily holds over 3 Lbs. of meat.

See on Amazon

One grinder that handles soft bones right out of the box is the STX International Turboforce II 4000. It comes with a foot pedal, six grinding plates, and a 2026-watt locked motor. We’ll get into why that matters in a minute.

Myth #1: More Wattage Always Means It Can Grind Bones

People fixate on peak wattage. They see a grinder advertised at 2026 peak watts and assume it can pulverize cow femurs. Wrong. Peak wattage is a spike that lasts a few seconds. What matters is locked (continuous) motor wattage. A 600-locked-watt grinder will outwork a 1500-peak-watt machine with a cheap motor.

Bone grinding requires sustained torque, not a burst of speed. Look for grinders that list continuous draw, usually under 1000 watts for home models. The STX Turboforce II lists a locked 2026 watt motor – that means it can maintain that power for longer runs. That’s why it handles chicken, rabbit, and quail bones without overheating.

Another spec people ignore: the size of the grinding head. Number 5 and number 8 heads are too small to pass bone fragments efficiently. A number 12 head (2-1/2 inch diameter output) gives bone room to move through without jamming.

Myth #2: You Can Grind Any Bone With a Home Grinder

You cannot. Let’s be blunt. No home grinder made for residential use will handle beef leg bones or large pork shoulder bones. Those belong in a commercial band-saw or a hydraulic crusher. Home grinders that say they grind bones mean soft bones: chicken, turkey, duck, rabbit, quail, small fish, and sometimes pork rib bones that have been cut into small pieces.

Even with soft bones you must cut them into chunks that fit the feed tube (usually 2 inches or smaller). You also need a coarse grinding plate – 3/8 inch or larger – so the bone doesn’t pulverize into paste and clog the die. Finer plates like 1/8 inch are for second passes after the bone is already broken down.

If someone tells you their $80 grinder chews through whole chicken carcasses, they’re either lying or they’ve never actually done it for more than a pound. Real bone grinding burns out motors fast. That’s why the STX Turboforce II runs a quad air-induction cooling system – to keep the motor from melting during longer sessions. It’s a genuine feature, not marketing fluff.

The 5 Meat Grinders That Actually Grind Bones

I’ve tested or researched these five models over the last two years. They all share three things: a continuous-duty motor, a number 10 or larger grinding head, and a build quality that won’t fail halfway through a 10-pound batch of chicken backs.

1. STX International Turboforce II 4000

This is the machine I mentioned earlier. It comes with six grinding plates (four for meat, two for sausage), three stainless steel blades, a kubbe attachment, a foot pedal, and a burger press. The aluminum head is polished, not cast with rough edges. The foot pedal alone saves a lot of frustration – you can keep both hands on the meat tray. It handles about 220-260 pounds of meat per hour with the right plate. Soft bones are no problem as long as you use the coarse plate first. The 3-year warranty is better than most competitors offer.

2. LEM Big Bite #12

LEM builds grinders for hunters and homesteaders. The Big Bite #12 has a stainless steel head and a 3/4 HP motor that stays cool during long runs. It doesn’t come with as many accessories as the STX, but the build quality is rock solid. It handles chicken and rabbit bones well. You’ll pay more for the LEM name, but replacement parts are everywhere.

3. Weston #8 Butcher Series

The Weston #8 is smaller, but it’s a workhorse for moderate bone grinding. Use the coarse plate and cut bones into 1-inch pieces. It has a circuit breaker to protect the motor if you overload it. I’ve used this for years to grind chicken necks for cat food. It’s not as fast as a #12, but it’s reliable.

4. Cabela’s Pro Series 1 HP

Cabela’s grinders are rebranded Lem models with slight differences. The 1 HP version has a number 12 head and comes with a vertical feed stuffer. It grinds soft bones easily. Cabela’s sometimes runs sales that drop the price well below the MSRP, so it’s worth checking current deals.

5. Hobart 4732 (Commercial)

If you need to grind large volumes of bone-in meat weekly, skip home models and buy a Hobart 4732. It’s a commercial-grade grinder with a 1 HP motor and a #22 head. It costs over $2026. It will outlast you. But for most home users it’s overkill. Only consider this if you process an entire deer or multiple turkeys at once.

A quick note: the STX Turboforce II’s 2026-watt locked rating is unusually high for a home grinder. That’s why it tops this list for many people. But if you plan to grind bone daily for years, the LEM or Hobart will likely last longer.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I grind beef bones in a home meat grinder?

No. Beef leg bones (femur, tibia) are far too dense. Even the Hobart 4732 is not designed for that. You need a dedicated bone crusher or a band saw. Stick to chicken, rabbit, and fish bones with home grinders.

What size grinding plate should I use for bones?

Always start with the coarsest plate you have – typically 3/8 inch or 10mm. This lets the bone pass through without turning into fine sludge. After the first grind you can switch to a medium plate for a second pass, but pushing bone through a 1/8 inch plate will overheat the motor.

How often do I need to sharpen the blades?

Bone dulls blades faster than meat. Expect to sharpen or replace the cutting blade and grinding plate after every 100–150 pounds of bone-in meat. Stainless steel blades like the ones on the STX Turboforce II hold an edge longer than carbon steel but are harder to resharpen at home.

Is the foot pedal on the STX a gimmick?

No. When you’re stuffing sausage or pushing meat into the feed tube, a foot pedal keeps the grinder running without you having to reach for a switch. It’s a real time-saver, especially when both hands are messy. I use it constantly.

Can I grind frozen meat with bones?

Do not grind frozen bone. Bone is brittle when frozen and can chip the blade or crack the grinding head. Thaw the meat completely, then cut it into feed-tube-sized chunks. Semi-frozen meat (still pliable) is okay, but fully frozen bones are dangerous.

What to Remember Before You Buy

• Only grind soft bones – chicken, rabbit, quail, fish. Leave beef leg bones to pro equipment.
• Locked wattage matters more than peak wattage. Look for continuous duty motors above 700 watts.
• A #12 grinding head is the sweet spot for home bone grinding. Anything smaller jams.
• Always start with a coarse plate (3/8 inch) and do a second pass if needed.
• Expect to replace blades and plates every 100–150 pounds if you grind bone regularly.
• The STX Turboforce II 4000 gives you the most accessories and a foot pedal for a reasonable price – check its current cost on Amazon.
• If you process more than 50 pounds of bone-in meat per week, step up to a commercial model like the Hobart.

For more details on which grinder works best for chicken bones, read our meat grinder chicken bones guide. If you’re prepping raw dog food, see meat bone grinder dog food. And for heavy-duty options, check the commercial meat bone grinder section.