Grinder No. 5, No. 8, No. 10: what does the number mean?
The number of a meat grinder, no. 5, no. 8, no. 10, no. 22, is probably the most misunderstood piece of information in the aisle: it is neither power, nor capacity, nor a product range. It is a standardized size, inherited from butcher shops, which designates the diameter of the body of the device and, consequently, that of all the parts that fit into it: grates, knives, sausage funnels.
Understanding this number means knowing in thirty seconds which device is right for your kitchen and, above all, which spare parts to order without making a mistake. This guide decodes the system, size by size.
The number of a meat grinder: a standard inherited from butchers
This numbering system dates back to the first cast-iron hand-crank grinders, mass-produced at the end of the 19th century, and it has survived all developments: many motorized grinders, such as those in our collection of electric meat grinders, use the same screw, knife, and grate principle. The number follows the inner diameter of the neck, where the screw, knife, and grate are housed. The higher it is, the wider the passage and the more meat the device swallows per minute.
| Number | Grate diameter | Indicative throughput | Typical use |
|---|---|---|---|
| No. 5 | About 54 mm | Small quantities | Couples, occasional grinding |
| No. 8 | About 62 mm | 1 to 2 kg effortlessly | The family standard |
| No. 10 / no. 12 | About 70 mm | Several kilos | Large meals, homemade sausages |
| No. 22 | About 82 mm | Sustained production | Semi-professional |
| No. 32 | About 100 mm | Large daily volumes | Butcher shop |
The indicated diameters are rough estimates: depending on the manufacturer, there are a few millimeters of tolerance, but the logic of the standard remains the same everywhere. Above all, remember the hierarchy: each higher number widens the grate, and therefore the throughput.
Grinder no. 5 or no. 8: the right format for a family kitchen
For domestic use, the choice is almost always between these two sizes:
- no. 5 is suitable for those who occasionally grind small quantities, 300 to 500 grams for meatballs or a stuffing, with a compact device that fits in a drawer;
- no. 8 is the reference format for family kitchens: wide enough to pass 1 to 2 kilos of meat without straining, compact enough to stay on a countertop, and it is the size for which you will find the largest choice of grates and accessories.
It is also on these two sizes that the choice between a hand crank and a motor arises: in no. 5 and no. 8, the manual cast-iron version is more than enough for the pace of a family, the electric version providing comfort during large sessions. Both formats are found in our collection of meat grinders, from the cast-iron table-mounted model to motorized versions.
No. 10, no. 12, no. 22: the sizes for large productions
Beyond no. 8, we change logic: these sizes are intended for those who process several kilos at once, for homemade sausages, batch stuffings, or the cutting of game. The wider passage accepts less trimmed pieces, the more massive screw maintains the throughput over time, and the weight of the device, often more than ten kilos in the professional version, ensures stability during the effort.
No. 22 and no. 32 are trade sizes: you find them with butchers, hunters, and livestock farmers who process their animals. It is also the size for tender poultry bone sessions for animal rations, a precise use that is framed by our article on the bone grinder. For an individual, they only make sense with a real regular volume, and the budget follows the size.
Grates and knives: order parts in the right size
This is where the number becomes truly valuable. A grate or knife wears out and is replaced, and the number guarantees compatibility in principle: a no. 8 grate fits on a no. 8 grinder, regardless of the brand of the device, since the diameter is standardized. Before ordering a part, therefore check the number of your grinder, engraved on the body or indicated in the manual, or simply measure the diameter of the current grate.
Be careful not to confuse two measurements that have nothing to do with each other: the grinder number gives the outer diameter of the grate, its disc size; the diameter of the holes in the grate, from 2 to 12 millimeters, determines the fineness of the grind. A no. 8 grinder thus accepts a whole range of fine or coarse grates, all at the same diameter of 62 millimeters. The choice of holes according to the dishes is the subject of our article on which grate to choose for a meat grinder.
Are grinder grates compatible between brands?
When replacing a worn part, the question of the brand almost always comes up.
Yes in the vast majority of cases, that is the whole point of the system: a no. 8 grate fits no. 8 grinders from all brands. Only precaution, the knife: its central cut, most often square, must correspond to the axis of your screw, a point to check on older models.
One number, three pieces of information
The number of a grinder tells you everything that matters: the throughput the device can handle, the space it will take up in the kitchen, and the exact size of the parts to order the day a grate wears out. For almost all households, the answer lies in one number: no. 8, the family standard for over a century, sturdy enough for homemade sausages and compact enough for the drawer. The rest, fineness of the grind and choice of cut, is played out in the grate and at the butcher.
For a no. 8 without electricity, to be fixed on the countertop, our collection of manual meat grinders brings together cast-iron and aluminum models.
Discover our entire range on Hachoir Cuisine.