Grinding beef bones is an easy way to utilize leftover bones from roasts and steaks. The ground product has a variety of uses from enhancing your pet’s diet to fertilizing plants. With the right grinder and technique you can turn beef bones into a fine powder or coarse meal at home.
Things You Should Know
-
Use a cleaver to split the bones into sections that are about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) long to make them easier to grind.
-
Feed the bones into an electric or manual meat grinder and catch the powder in a bowl. Or, blend the bones in a blender with a splash of water for consistency.
Picking a Grinder
When selecting a grinder for beef bones, you’ll want one that can handle hard bones without getting damaged. Here are some options
-
Electric meat grinder: Choose a heavy-duty electric grinder made specifically for bones. Look for steel components and a powerful motor. Expect to pay $100-300 for a good electric bone grinder.
-
Manual grinder: Vintage cast iron manual grinders can be found at antique stores or online. They require more work to operate but get the job done on beef bones.
-
Stand mixer attachment: A metal grinder attachment for a stand mixer with a strong motor will work. These cost $60-150.
-
Blenders: Only use a dedicated blender for bone grinding. The blades will dull over time. Add water to help blend beef bones to a fine powder.
Preparing the Bones
Follow these steps to get beef bones ready for grinding:
-
Select uncooked beef bones, like femurs, knuckle bones, oxtails, or marrow bones. Avoid cooked bones, which splinter.
-
Use a large knife or cleaver to cut bones into 2-3 inch sections. Cutting makes them easier to feed into the grinder.
-
For electric grinders, place a bowl under the grinder to catch the ground product. Protect surfaces from potential leaks.
-
If using a blender, add bones and 1-2 cups of water before blending to a paste.
Grinding the Bones
Feed bones through the grinder one at a time:
-
Turn on grinder and drop in first bone. Allow it to fully grind before adding the next.
-
For stand mixers, insert grinder attachment and proceed similarly. Let mixer run until bone is pulverized.
-
Grind all bones, stopping to remove bone fragments if needed. Add more bones as space permits.
-
Collect finished ground product in bowl (for grinders) or blender jar.
Storing and Using Ground Bones
Once beef bones are ground, use or store the bone meal properly:
-
Place ground bones in sealed containers. Refrigerate for 1-4 days or freeze for longer storage.
-
Use within 6 months for optimal quality. Discard if odor or appearance changes.
-
Mix 1-2 tablespoons into your pet’s raw or homemade cooked food for added calcium.
-
Sprinkle meal around plants or till into gardens and flower beds to provide organic matter and nutrients.
By using the right kitchen tools and taking your time with the process, you can easily turn leftover beef bones into a versatile bone meal for pets or gardening. Monitor your grinder’s performance when processing hard beef bones to avoid damage.
Grinding Bones for Your Pet’s Nutrition
Grinding bones is a great way to provide essential nutrients to your pet’s diet. Adding ground bones to your pet’s food can help their health and well-being whether they are a dog, cat, or other meat-eating animal. This guide will show you how to grind bones at home so you can make sure your pet is getting the food they need.
Prior to going into the specifics of how to grind bones, let’s talk about why this is good for your pet. You can get a lot of calcium, phosphorus, and other minerals from bones. These minerals are important for keeping your bones and teeth strong. Additionally, chewing on bones can help keep your pet’s teeth clean and their jaws strong.
When you grind bones, you make the nutrients easier for your pet to get. This way, they can get the benefits without the risks that come with eating whole bones, like having stomach problems or splinters.
Choosing the Right Equipment
When it comes to grinding bones, having the right equipment is crucial. You’ll need a heavy-duty grinder that is specifically designed for processing bones. You should look for a grinder with strong blades and a strong motor to make sure it can do the job well.
Now that you have the necessary equipment, it’s time to get started with the grinding process. Follow these steps to grind bones for your pet:
- Begin by selecting high-quality raw bones from a reputable source. Don’t give your pet cooked bones because they can break apart and choke them.
- Break up the bones into smaller pieces that are easier to handle and can fit into the grinder.
- Put the bone pieces into the grinder, making sure to follow the safety instructions provided by the manufacturer.
- Put the bones in the grinder and carefully feed them through so that the machine can turn them into a ground form.
- Once the bones are ground to the texture you want, put the ground bone meal in airtight containers and freeze them to keep them fresh.
Grind Raw Chicken for Dog/Cat Food
FAQ
Can a meat grinder grind beef bones?
Can you grind bones for dogs?
How to make bone meal from beef bones?
Can you grind cooked meat before grinding?
Grinding cooked meat can also be a daunting process, given that you will have to shred or cut the meat into chunks, and most importantly remove the bones before the grinding process. How to Prepare the Meat Before Grinding?
How do you grind meat in a food processor?
Cut all the meat into 1-inch cubes to make it easier to grind. Freeze the meat in a single layer until stiff on the edges and corners, but still pliable in the middle. Freeze the food processor blade. Only fill your food processor half-full when grinding — work in batches if needed.
Do you need a bowl to grind bones?
Use a clean mixing bowl or even a plastic bin to catch large batches of bones. You will need a bowl if you plan on grinding the bones with a meat grinder or stand mixer, but not with a blender or food processor. Some grinders are prone to leaking moisture. To prevent a mess, set the grinder on some paper towels or a vinyl tablecloth.
How do you grind chicken bones?
A good meat grinder or blender will turn soft bones, like those from chickens and other small animals, into powder. Ground bones are great as a source of calcium in raw cat and dog food or as an organic fertilizer for plants. Use a cleaver to split the bones into sections that are about 2–3 inches (5.1–7.6 cm) long to make them easier to grind.