Gourmia GMG525 Meat Grinder Review

We purchased the Gourmia GMG525 Meat Grinder so our reviewer could put it to the test in her kitchen. Keep reading for our full product review.

Whether you want to up your burger game in summer with freshly ground meat in an airy burger patty or you want to make sausages from the extra bits and bobs from a whole hog you purchased from a local farm, a meat grinder, like the Gourmia GMG525, is a helpful piece of kitchen equipment. Freshly ground meat has a more open texture that results in better browning and a richer flavor. Furthermore, being able to grind meat to a specific grind comes in handy when you want to make kebabs or a shrimp mince for shrimp dumplings. From choosing the cuts of meat to process for grinding to deciding how much fat you want in it, a meat grinder gives you total control over the quality and grind of the meat.

However, with limited countertop and storage space in the kitchen, I am always wary of adding single task dedicated appliances. Versatility wins the day, and that was one of the key things in my mind as I tested the Gourmia GMG525 Meat Grinder.

How did it stand up to the grind for testing for power, performance, versatility, and efficiency? Read the meaty report.

Setup: Quick and easy

When I first looked at all the separate parts, I thought it would be overwhelming to set up the Gourmia Meat Grinder. After I cleaned everything, I found the setup process to be fairly straightforward and the instructions provided in the manual very clear. After using the grinder a couple of times, the setup was easy to remember, and I didn’t need to look at instructions to set it up again.

I started by attaching the head tube into the inlet and turned it counterclockwise to secure it. There are clear markings on the head tube for this purpose, and I found them handy. Once the head tube is secure, the feed screw goes in. One thing to note about this step is that you can’t see where the long end of the feed screw is going, so you have to feel for the click when it locks into the head and then turn it clockwise to secure it. That was as difficult as it got. After this, the process was even easier.

Next, I attached the cutting blade with the cutting side facing out. Then I chose my grinding plate from the three provided and secured it inside the two notches on the head tube. The tightening ring was a two-hand process, with one hand securing the blade and the plate in place and the other securing the ring around them in a clockwise direction.

The process was the same for the sausage attachment and the kibbeh attachment, except I had to mount the sausage horn before securing it all with the ring, and for kibbeh, there was no need to attach any plates.

Design: Compact but challenging to store

With its sleek lines and curved edges, the Gourmia Meat Grinder isn’t exactly what you expect a meat grinder to look like, but it is exactly the kind that looks cute on the kitchen counter if you are going to use it with some regularity. The appearance is matched by its grinding power and efficiency. The feed tube measures slightly more than 1.5 inches in diameter, so when I cut the meat into 1-inch cubes, it went through with room to spare. The hopper plate has a decent capacity to hold meat for feeding into the tube.

What I think needed more thought in terms of design is that the attachments need to be stored separately, and the cord just dangles along with nothing to hold it in place. It was a bit of a challenge to store it in my kitchen cabinet. Another thing I didn’t love about the grinder was the pusher. While grinding meat, it was good enough to use, but it felt flimsy when pushing down meat for sausage making and seemed unsteady.

Features: Plentiful attachments

I absolutely loved the fine grinding plate included with this grinder. Although it isn’t something I would use for grinding meat for burgers, it was definitely handy for making forcemeats. The Kibbe attachment worked perfectly, and despite the fact that it was my first-time making Kibbe, I would say I did pretty well thanks to the Gourmia Meat Grinder. The sausage horn is only one size, and I wished there was another thinner one to make breakfast-size links.

The grinder comes with simple on and off and reverse switches. I didn’t need to use the reverse switch, but it is a good feature to have, especially if you are going to process game meats that can sometimes jam the grinder.

Performance: Loud, but it does the job

It is a meat grinder, first and foremost. It grinds meat rather efficiently. I ground up chicken along with its skin to test if the blades might get jammed, but the grinder just kept on going without stalling and ground up 4 pounds of chicken in a flash. I cut up lamb into 1-inch pieces to make kibbeh and froze them slightly before processing it with the medium-coarse plate. I was able to get some airy ground meat with fat evenly dispersed, just the right texture for making kebabs or kibbeh. The grinder went through strips of pork for sausages without overheating. I was impressed with how little meat was left behind while grinding and the quantities I could process in one sitting.

The sausage-making wasn’t as smooth as the grinding. There was a lot of meat left behind while making sausages, and the food pusher required a lot more force to push food down. When I pushed the meat down, the entire unit moved around, which made it a bit unsafe.

The grinder is noticeably loud, which although not unusual, is something to watch out for especially when using it with kids and pets around.

To test the versatility a bit more, I also used the grinder to grind vegetables for making veggie patties for burgers. Bell peppers and onions came out in a lot of juice, mushrooms became fine chunks, and cooked beans processed into a coarse paste. The results were not as good as a food processor, but if you are already using the blender to grind meat, it is just convenient to use the grinder to make sofrito or onion paste to go into the sauce.

Cleaning: Needs proper care

The first thing I noticed in the instructions for care was that the attachments are not dishwasher safe. While this isn’t unusual for most meat grinders, it is something to plan for before you start to grind the meat. As soon as you finish processing the meat, you have to clean the parts of the grinder. Since the manufacturer warns not to leave the parts in water for too long, a quick wash with warm soapy water and then drying with a towel are recommended.

I found rinsing the plates under cold water removed the fat and meat much quicker. And then soaking in warm water for a few minutes helped remove the built-on grease. I found it surprising that the grinder did not come with any brush or tools to clean it, considering how much food is left behind, especially after sausage making. I used my trusted brush cleaning set to clean the feed tube that has an L-shape and the sausage horn.

Price: Budget-friendly

Retailing for around $90, this is an entry-level meat grinder. It works fairly well for a grinder of its size and price range. If you don’t have large quantities of meat to grind, this grinder will do the work needed to feed a small family with delicious tacos, chilis, meatloaves, or burgers. It's fast and efficient.

Competition: You have a few choices

The Gourmia GMG525 is a good standalone meat grinder and is fairly versatile as well, however, it only offers one horn for sausages and is a tad bit difficult to use for sausage making.

Cuisinart Electric Meat Grinder: The Cuisinart Electric Meat Grinder is a robust meat grinder, which is slightly more expensive than the Gourmia. It comes with two sausage-making horns if sausage-making is something you are looking to do more often. It also has great cord storage, so keeping it tucked inside the cabinet when not in use will be easier.

KitchenAid Metal Food Grinder Attachment: If you already have a KitchenAid stand mixer, the Metal Food Grinder Attachment for KitchenAid Stand Mixers is also a good choice. It comes with three plates, two sausage horns, and a cleaning brush. The good thing about it is that it is not a stand-alone appliance, and if you are only going to grind small quantities of meat, it does the job rather well.