The LEM #12 BigBite is the step up for serious processing. LEM rates it at about 11 pounds a minute, half again as fast as the #8, and #12 plates are the size most butcher-supply shops stock. At $599.99 and 33 lb, it's more grinder than you need for burgers, but it's the one to buy if you grind 25 pounds or more at a sitting.
Key specs
| LEM #12 BigBite | |
|---|---|
| Price | $599.99 list |
| Size | #12 |
| Motor | 0.75 HP |
| Output (maker) | 11 lb/min |
| Plates | 4.5 mm, 10 mm, stuffing |
| Weight | 33 lb |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Notable | Bigger throat and plates than the #8 |
How it grinds
A 0.75 HP motor drives the same rifled BigBite head design as the #8, with a larger auger and plate. LEM claims about 11 pounds a minute; restaurant supplier KaTom puts typical #12 output at 4 to 5 pounds a minute, which shows how much the motor and the BigBite feed design matter.
Build
Stainless head, auger, knife and plates, a stainless meat pan and a storage drawer. It weighs 33 lb. Like the #8, it comes with fine (4.5 mm), coarse (10 mm) and stuffing plates.
#12 or #8?
The #12 costs about $180 more than the #8 and weighs four pounds more. On paper, 50 pounds of trim takes about 7 minutes of grinding on the #8 and under 5 on the #12. In practice, cutting, loading and clearing sinew take most of the day, and the #12's bigger throat and plate help there: larger chunks, fewer clogs. For one deer, the #8 is plenty. For three deer or a hog, the #12 earns its price. See LEM #8 vs #12.
Price and warranty
$599.99 list. Five-year warranty and lifetime customer support.
After grinding
Ground meat keeps one to two days in the fridge, so freeze what you won't cook. Pressed flat in vacuum bags, it freezes and thaws fast; our sister site has a guide to vacuum sealing meat. Grinding for jerky? Ground jerky has to reach 160°F; see ground beef jerky on The Dehydrator Report.
This review is based on LEM's published specifications and on independent tests where they exist; we name whose test each finding comes from. We haven't run our own timed tests on this model yet and will add hands-on notes when we do.
Questions
Do #12 plates fit a #10?
Many makers share plate sizes between #10 and #12, but check the diameter before you buy. See grinder plate sizes.
Is it too big for a kitchen?
It's heavy and tall with the pan on, but it fits on a sturdy counter. Most owners store it in a garage or pantry between seasons.
