Why does meat turn black in a meat grinder?

When passing meat through a meat grinder, housewives may encounter an unpleasant phenomenon: the product changes color. Read about the sources of the problem and ways to avoid it in our material.

Causes of blackening of meat

There are several explanations for the changes taking place. Let's look at them.

• When using the meat grinder for the first time on a metal surface of the product technical oil begins to come off. It is applied in a thin layer and is used to protect parts.
• If the color changes with each subsequent application, this indicates resulting metal oxide fragments. They appear after exposure to liquid, fat, or meat juice.
• Used in production low-quality material from recycled materials containing zinc, lead and arsenic. Food technologies allow this, but in the end it happens oxidation.

REFERENCE. Old meat grinders were made of cast iron or silumin (aluminum alloy). In modern production, if a high level of quality is maintained, silumin is used. It is protected from the external environment by a special coating (anodized layer) and serves for a long time.

• Oxides occur regularly if the unit is made of aluminum and not alloy.

Similar effects may appear after washing the product in the dishwasher. It uses an alkaline composition - soda ash, which comes into contact with the metal and causes a black coating. It can destroy the varnish coating of parts, after which they turn black.

IMPORTANT! Minced meat that has changed color must be disposed of; do not consume it.

How to use a meat grinder to prevent meat from turning black

Having listed the reasons, let's move on to what needs to be done to avoid this phenomenon, and what to do if blackening does occur.

Preventive measures

• Before first use Prepare the meat grinder: wash it thoroughly with detergent and wipe dry.
• Before processing the product skip a little stale black bread or onions.
• Use frozen meat, if permitted by the instructions. This will prevent juice and fat from getting on the metal.
• After preparing the minced meat, rinse and dry the product; for better cleaning, you can use baking soda.

IMPORTANT! If the reason lies in the material itself (aluminum), then it is advisable to refuse to use such a meat grinder.

• After washing, leave the parts to dry completely. You can further protect them by lubricating them with vegetable or butter (unsalted) oil.

Remedies to help prevent blackening of meat

If a color change has already occurred, you can use one of the methods to get rid of the unpleasant phenomenon.

• We pass through the unit sour apples, The quantity is taken depending on the size of the meat grinder. Place the resulting slurry in a container, then lower the meat grinder into it and soak for several hours.

ADVICE! Instead of sour apples, you can take tomatoes, fresh or salted. Green ones will give the best results.

According to user reviews, the method works flawlessly, no blackness appears.

• Divorce citric acid based on a packet per liter of hot liquid. We keep the meat grinder in the prepared solution for 2-3 hours.
• Blackened parts can be processed tooth powder.
• Soaking in vinegar for 20 minutes helps. Then we thoroughly wipe the metal.

Useful tips

• Do not put the meat grinder in the dishwasher. This prohibition is stated in the product instructions. Its violation will lead to the fact that all cleaning products will be useless in the fight against the resulting blackness.
• Buy products only from trusted manufacturers.
• If color changes (due to the manufacturer's fault) occurred during the warranty period, the goods can be returned by law within the first two weeks. At a later date, an exchange for a high-quality copy is possible.

In most cases, the problem that has arisen can be dealt with. When you cannot eliminate the unpleasant consequences, you should think about repairing or purchasing a new meat grinder.