For those in the market for high-capacity home-use meat grinder manufactured by one of the most trusted names in the industry, the STX INTERNATIONAL STX-3000-TF Turboforce 3-Speed Electric Meat Grinder may just be what you’ve been looking for.
It’s an all-metal grinder with three speed that was designed for both efficiency and high-volume grinding. This makes it perfect for anyone who wants to handle their meat grinding in the comfort and safety of their own home.
It’s ideal for simply grinding bulk meat or game, producing your own pet food or even making high-quality sausage without commercial additives. In a nutshell, STX TF is one of the most decent electric meat grinders available today.
Basic Features and Description
One of the single biggest selling points of the STX-3000-TF is that it has a fuller sized, industry standard size 12 grinding head. This means it really was engineered to handle large quantities of meat as quickly and efficiently as possible. It also features three different speeds: high, low and reverse. This sets it apart from many other grinders on the market, many of which are of the single speed variety. This grinder also features a polished aluminum grinder head and steel cutting blades and grinding plates. It comes with three of each directly out of the box, in course, medium and fine.
The motor peaks at 3000 watts and functions normally at a full 1000 watts. This means it’s powerful enough to handle virtually anything you can throw at it (or into it), and do so quickly and efficiently. The feed tube measures 2” and the output tube is a full 2 ½”, so this is a model that is designed to keep up. Also, despite being highly powerful and efficient, this grinder is relatively light-weight and compact. This means it’s an easy-to-maneuver and store addition to any kitchen. The attractive polished aluminum body means that it looks great, too.
The STX-3000 also includes three sausage tubes and a kubbe attachment for those who want to know what’s in their sausage. It’s a package created to ensure that new owners get everything they need for full-functionality right out of the box.
Specifications
This is one little grinder with a lot of power and functionality. It’s designed to be a great addition to any workspace, whether you grind a little or a lot. Full specs include:
Weight: 12 lbs.
Dimensions: 16.5 x 6.5 x 14.5”
Model Number: STX-3000-TF
Includes a 100% replace or repair 1-year manufacturer’s warranty.
Detailed Features
1000 Watt Motor – this grinder’s motor functions consistently at 1000 watts, meaning it packs a lot of power into a small package. Peak output is 3000 watts, giving users a little extra power when they need it to help grind through tougher meat.
Attractive – polished food-grade aluminum body looks attractive and wipes clean with ease. Designed for durability, ease of maneuverability and overall appearance.
12 Size – while many comparable grinders feature only a size 8 grinder, this unit features a size 12, making it ideal for processing large quantities of meat quickly and efficiently.
Three Speeds–features three processing speeds: high, low and reverse. This allows owners to better control their finished product – even to back-out blockages for quicker grinding.
Cutting Blades – this model includes three cutting blades that were designed to be compatible with the included grinding plates. Crafted from stainless steel, they have been carefully engineered to last and to accentuate the performance of your grinder.
Grinding Plates – this unit also includes three, which are in fine, medium and coarse sizes respectively. They are manufactured from tempered steel to last for the duration and pair with corresponding cutting blades for maximum performance.
Sausage Making – includes three sausage tubes and a kubbe attachment.
Circuit Breaker – shuts down your machine to prevent damage when necessary.
Warranty – 1-year 100% replace or repair warranty.
Customer Reviews and Feedback
This grinder has over 700 reviews on Amazon.com, meaning it’s a pretty good seller. With all of these customer reviews, it has managed to maintain a 4.5 star positive rating, meaning that most owners are not just satisfied but actually pretty thrilled with their purchase. The vast, vast majority of the reviews have garnered 5 stars, and the individual comments are overwhelmingly positive.
One of the most common statements of praise for this STX model is that it is extremely powerful, particularly for its light weight and compact size. It really does power through meat as advertised. Owners are also thrilled with the quality of the ultimate ground-meat product and its consistency, regardless of what they happen to be grinding. Some customers even brag that it can power through chicken (bones and all) for the purpose of making homemade pet food with ease.
Of course, no product makes 100% of the people 100% satisfied 100% of the time. There have been a handful of critical reviews posted, as well. There have been a couple of customers who had issues with the grinder kicking off during heavy use. This is actually a safety feature. If your grinder gets too hot or performs in such a way that it may become damaged, it is designed to shut off automatically. A few owners were dissatisfied that the aluminum parts are not dishwasher safe, something that is clearly stated by the manufacturer. Finally, one person loved the grinding but disliked the sausage attachments.
Practical Tips and Tricks
There are a few things that should be kept in mind when using this grinder that will make your grinding experience much more positive. One of the most fundamental is to start out with cold meat – even almost frozen or partially frozen. This is especially important if you are grinding something fatty/gristly. Keeping the meat cold keeps it firm, which can prevent your blades from clogging and speed up production.
The feed tube features a 2” diameter, so you are going to want to cut whatever meat you are feeding down to an appropriate/manageable size. It can really speed up your grinding if you do prep-work first. Remember, this is a high-speed grinder capable of grinding 225 lbs. per hour on high speed. Chances are you aren’t going to be able to cut fast enough to keep up and feed meat through at the same time. Increase your efficiency. Do your prep work first.
One of the chief customer complaints is that that aluminum parts aren’t dishwasher safe. This is something that should be kept in mind. The aluminum parts will have to be washed and dried thoroughly after each use to prevent tarnish. Keeping them lightly oiled can keep them in newer condition and prevent corrosion as well. There are also specialty brushes on the market that make cleanup of hard to reach areas much quicker and more efficient.
Price Point and Comparisons
This model runs from just about $300 to just under $180, depending on where you choose to do your shopping. This is a fairly large price discrepancy, so it goes without saying that some comparison shopping can be really prudent and even save you over $100.
It’s also fairly lightweight, so shipping prices shouldn’t be too high if you choose to purchase it online, but depending on your source they could add to the overall out of pocket cost. Again, look around for a few minutes before purchasing for the best deal.
One of the most comparable grinder models on the market would have to be the STX 3000 air-cooled motor model. It is essentially the same grinder with an air-cooled motor. It runs about $30-50 more and overall is rated roughly the same, performance-wise, by owners. Also, something to keep in mind is that the air-cooled model expressly warns users not to put any parts in the dishwasher. Something to consider, for sure.
Conclusion and Recommendation
- High volume grinding
- Metal design
- Steel grinding plates and cutting blades
- Three speeds
- 1000 watt motor
- 3000 watt peak power
- Attractive addition to workspace
- Easy to use
- Included sausage attachments
- Steel blades/plates dishwasher safe
- Grinds up to 225 lbs. per hour on high
- 100% 1-year warranty
- Aluminum parts must be hand washed
- Noisy
- Some plastic gears
At the end of the day, the STX INTERNATIONAL STX-3000-TF Turboforce 3-Speed Electric Meat Grinder is a very efficient and high-quality grinder, especially for personal, home use. Its price point is highly competitive, especially if you manage to snag one in the lower price-range.
There are some commercial grinders on the market that are rated for grinding 700+ lbs. of meat in an hour, and if you are looking for something to handle meat at that volume, you may want to look for something designed for that purpose. However, this model was engineered to handle a full 225 lbs. of grinding in an hour, which is generally more than efficient for personal use. It is very well reviewed and the complaints are few and far between. It is even backed by a 100% repair or replacement warranty, so you can be assured the manufacturer stands behind their product.
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The feed tube features a 2” diameter, so you are going to want to cut whatever meat you are feeding down to an appropriate/manageable size. It can really speed up your grinding if you do prep-work first. Remember, this is a high-speed grinder capable of grinding 225 lbs. per hour on high speed. Chances are you aren’t going to be able to cut fast enough to keep up and feed meat through at the same time. Increase your efficiency. Do your prep work first. Chef Vivarais H. Hightower
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