Universal Food and Meat Choppers

[MRAHoffman]

While cleaning out my basement, I found 2 Universal Food and Meat Choppers (my grandmothers and one I believe my father had and this one I will put in my garage sale for $5.00), but I was wondering if anyone knows what they are used for and what it might be handy for? Thank you. Take care and God bless.

[frugalfranny]

Is the 'universal' the brand? electric? or hand grinder?

this is one for grainlady......I have faith that she will know.

I remember my mother using the kind that hooked to the counter for lots of things in the summer. Fruits of all kinds for jam as she would rather 'grind' than mash...part of this was the power it took to mash....she was too crippled to mash.

[Grainlady]

My mother gave me a Universal Food & Meat Chopper No. 1 when our daughter was born to use it for grinding baby food (1971), and I use it to this day. This was before food processors came along.

I hope yours are in good condition with little to no rust and clean-up for you.

Mine has 3 cutters:

Coarse: (3 prongs) This is used for chopping all kinds of vegetables, fresh or dried fruit, salt pork, suet, cooked meat, and all other atricles which one desires chopped into rather large pieces.

Medium: (12-prongs) Use this cutter for chopping all kinds of cooked meat, vegetables, and all other articles of food which are desired rather fine or medium. For cutting meat see that the wing nut is screwed pretty tight. (Note: This is the cutter I use for ground roast beef for making roast beef salad sandwiches, bologna or ham for "ham" salad sandwiches.) If you grind raw meat for burger or sausage, it grinds easier if it's semi-frozen. Meat is also easier to cut if it's semi-frozen.

Fine: (19 prongs) Use for pulverizing dry bread (for bread crumbs), almonds, Spanish nuts, dried mint/parsley, and also meat and vegetables if they are desired very fine.

Take care where you attach it. You may want to place a sponge or piece of leather where the chopper sits on the flat surface, and something where it tightens on the under side. It WILL damage a flat surface.

Hubby built me a rolling cart with a thick wooden top where I clamp my mills and grinders and don't worry if the top is mared from use. That's what it's for. But don't clamp it to grandma's antique maple table.... Homes used to have an under-counter, pull-out bread board and that was a common place to clamp a grinder.

If you have one of those flimsy rubber jar openers (the kind that helps you get a grip on a lid), they work well to help prevent the chopper from slipping during grinding. Do NOT tighten the wing nut or ring nut too tightly. The chopper handle should move freely.

When I'm done grinding meat, I like to grind a piece of bread (usually a heel) to help clean the cutter. I dismantal the chopper and thoroughly wash it in hot soapy water. You may need a toothpick to poke food through the holes on the body of the grinder where the augur goes through. I make sure it's thoroughly dry before storing. I lay the pieces in the oven with the light on in the oven (several hours) to make sure it's thoroughly dry. If I haven't used the grinder in awhile, I'll also run a piece of bread through it before I start grinding.

If you have to store it in a damp area of the house, you might want to wrap it in an old towel and then vacuum-seal it in a FoodSaver bag to keep the iron from oxidizing (rusting). OR, stick it in a large plastic bag zip-lock bag and put some moisture absorbers in the bag (those silicone "pillows" you find in packages, supplements, a new purse, shoes, etc.).

If a cutter blade gets a little rust, you can crumple up a piece of aluminum foil and rub it off, or use a stainless steel scrub pad. If your cutters are very rusty, stick them in a small zip-lock bag and add a portion of regular Coca Cola (enough to cover) and let it sit overnight. That will take rust off nearly ANYTHING! Wash and dry.

If you find a bargain on pork, you can grind your own sausage. I like to Mix 1 T. "Breakfast Sausage Seasoning" (from Penzeys Spices - http://www.penzeys.com/cgi-bin/penze...breakfast.html) into 1# ground pork.

[MRAHoffman]

Yes, Universal is the brand and it is hand crank. Both are in very good condition (instruction books and replacement part sheets in both) and I have about 6 blades (I need to look them over in comparison to the manual). The only thing I remember my mother using it for is carrots for carrot cake, but you have opened up a whole new world to me You gave me SO much info and I am so excited. Regarding: "Homes used to have an under-counter, pull-out bread board and that was a common place to clamp a grinder." my home STILL has this and I will definitely use it for this. Thank you SO much again Take care and God bless.