Cabela's Meat Grinder issue

[wyoelkfan15]

Has anyone ever had an issue with an electric meat grinder where bearing grease will contaminate your meat? I just got done grinding my antelope and noticed what looked like a bunch of bearing grease on the back end of the auger spindle. Is this food safe grease, did I just contaminate my whole burger off my antelope? I've never noticed this issue in past years. Thanks!

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

It should be food grade grease, however your one photo looks like there may be metal filing mixed in with it? If that is the case I would be worried...

You may want to give cabela's a call and see if they can shed any light on it being food safe or not.

Also, have you seen any black grease in the meat? If you don't see, I wouldn't worry about it and assume it stayed in the grinder. You should for sure look into solving this issue before the next round of grinding.


I have read before in manuals that if you push your meat down too hard while feeding it into a grinder, it can bypass the seal and cause issues like this. Would you say you were force feeding your grinder too much?

 

[Irrelevant]

Return that thing.

 

[sbhooper]

I would send it back to them, but you may be over-pushing that little grinder. It will do the job, but at a slower pace.

 

[Millsworks]

Sounds like possibly the bearing seal has failed.
But all grinders are typically greased with a bio/ food safe grease.

 

[406LIFE]

I would send it back to them, but you may be over-pushing that little grinder. It will do the job, but at a slower pace.

This would be my guess as well. I use food safe silicone with my 3/4hp. I'd look at returning and seeing if you can upgrade by paying the difference.