Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I almost let 1 star reviews talk me out of getting this great little meat grinder. Instead of repeating what other happy users have said, I'm going to respond to the majority of 1 star review claims, and provide solutions to their problems. Claim 1. Meat & juices get inside the unit. I cannot see how this is even possible. The grinder screw securely attaches to the motor shaft. Even with an improperly installed grinder screw, there's a secure seal to stop this from happening. If this is happening to you, you're either doing something really wrong or you got a really bad unit. But this is almost certainly due to user error. Make sure all the grinder parts are moving before you try grinding meat. Claim 2. The metal parts rust/aren't dishwasher safe/isn't commercial grade. This might be true. Read the (admittedly sparse) instructions. Don't use bleach. Don't put the metal parts in the dishwasher. Clean & dry by hand. Cleanup isn't exactly a breeze but it's designed to be as easy as possible. A website suggested storing the metal parts in a ziplock bag with some uncooked rice to absorb moisture. It's worked for me so far. They also recommend forcing some bread through the grinder to help clean the unit when you're done. It's an amazingly helpful tip. As for commercial grade...it's a $60 grinder meant for sporadic home use. Don't be delusional about what it is and who it's for. Claim 3. Terrible customer service/grinder broke under warranty. I'm only 3 months in so I have not needed customer service and my machine works great. But every claim of bad customer service has a response saying that the company replaced parts or entire units still under warranty in a timely manner. The majority of complaints seem to stem from improper use so...don't improperly use or clean this grinder. And most of the people complaining haven't bothered to contact the manufacturer. Claim 4. There are no instructions for that thing I want to do. Yes, the instructions are a bit of a joke. The blade is counterintuitive (the cutting edge sticks outward, not inward). But it's 2015. There are easily a half dozen YouTube videos showing you how to use this specific grinder if you have any doubts. If you're not sure how to use the sausage-making attachments, you're probably not ready to make sausage yet. Watch some videos or google it. The information is out there and the grinder doesn't deserve 1 star because it doesn't come with a 100 page handbook. Do your part and learn what needs to be learned. I've used this unit exclusively for sausage making and I couldn't be happier with the results. Claim 5. The grinder clogs. Again, this is obviously from people who don't do research. Your meat should be close to frozen. Not just "out of the refrigerator" cold. If it's properly chilled, it won't clog. If your meat isn't cold enough, it'll clog this or any other grinder. Take your cubed meat out of the fridge, freeze it for about an hour and then use this magical machine. Claim 6. The shipping box says it's a meat grinder. It does. I was visiting my parents a few days before Christmas when it arrived. Ruined the surprise. But that's ok. It's a heck of a grinder for the price and comes with all the attachments necessary to make sausage, pasta, or kubbe. If you already know what you're doing or are willing to learn the very basic things you should know before using this (or any) grinder, you'll be thrilled with the results. If you don't assemble it correctly (it's actually harder to assemble it incorrectly) or don't know what you are supposed to be doing, you'll be frustrated with this grinder, any grinder and probably life.