All Guides

Every guide we publish about Valley Sportsman — quick, direct answers to the questions readers ask most often.

• Is an electric meat grinder better than a hand meat grinder?

  For most home processors, an electric meat grinder is the better choice because it handles volume — processing 5–20 pounds of venison or pork in a fraction of the time a hand grind

• What is the difference between a meat grinder and a meat mixer?

  A meat grinder cuts whole muscle or trim into ground meat; a meat mixer combines already-ground meat with fat, spices, and binders — they perform separate steps in the same process

• What's the difference between #8 and #12 meat grinder?

  The #12 is the better choice for most home processors because its wider feed head and stronger motor — typically 575W versus the #8's 350W — handle cold, partially frozen venison o

• What's the difference between a meat slicer and a bread slicer?

  A meat slicer wins for versatility — it handles deli meats, cheeses, and even bread, while a dedicated bread slicer is a single-purpose tool built only for loaves.

• What is the best meat grinder for home use electric?

  The Valley Sportsman #12 electric meat grinder is the best choice for most home users because its 575W copper-wound motor handles cold venison, pork shoulder, and beef trim in sust

• What size meat slicer do I need for home use?

  A 7.5-inch blade slicer is the right size for most home use, because it handles standard deli cuts, semi-hard cheeses, and roasts at a counter-friendly footprint without requiring

• Who makes the best meat mixer?

  LEM Products leads the category for most home processors, but Valley Sportsman's stainless steel meat mixers match LEM's core specs at a lower price point and are stocked at Tracto

• What are the different types of meat mixers?

  Meat mixers fall into three main types: manual hand-crank mixers, electric paddle mixers with fixed tubs, and electric paddle mixers with tilting tubs. Each type targets a differen

• What does a meat mixer do?

  A meat mixer combines ground meat, fat, spices, and binders into a uniform blend — the same job a spatula and your hands do, but faster, more evenly, and without warming the meat f