Sheryl Rosen wrote:

> I found a brand new cast-iron manual meat grinder in the "ethnic" aisle
> in my supermarket. It was displayed with those big aluminum "calderon"
> pots, the tostones presses, tortilla presses, coffee socks, etc.
>
> I didn't notice the brand, but it has a price of about $18.

I'll bet it was made in Mexico, hence it's "ethnic" association.
They make some pretty decent cast iron in Mexico.
My mom just gave me her Corona wheat grinder,
made in Mexico, heavily tinned. It's pretty rugged.
You might see it on eBay in the near future.

> That seemed very reasonable--almost "too" inexpensive.

My wheat grinder is rather crudely cast. But we're
not talking about a camera. It works just fine.

> I've been thinking about getting one of these for a long time. The
> price fits right into my budget but I'm afraid that something so
> cheap won't be well-made.

If $18 means the kids don't get immunized this year,
you'd better not chance it. I would guess you'll never
break it or wear it out, though.

On the other hand, my mom also gave her cheap plastic
manual meat grinder which was purchased new about
35 years ago. Although some of the parts are barely
holding together, it still does a good job in small quantities.
I used to make pesto with it, and recently I ran a couple
pounds of dried apricots through it. (The blades and
plates are steel.)

> I'm so wishing that I taken the one my Mom had in the
> drawer for years. Unfortunately, I did not take it when
> I first moved out of the house, I didn't know I wanted it
> back then! And it wound up in a box in the basement
> that got wet...became a rusted mess and I couldn't salvage it.
>
> I am uncomfortable buying one of these second hand,
> not knowing who used it before me and the cleanliness
> being questionable.

Yeah, nobody ever figured out what happened to my
first wife. :-)

> Besides, the new ones are tinned (or otherwise coated)
> so they are less likely to rust, which I like.
>
> How much do these things go for? Is about $20 a great deal,
> or is that so cheap that the quality would be suspect?

Not if it comes from Mexico. A meat grinder isn't exactly
rocket science. (Rockets we get from China. :-)

> Have never bought one of these before, don't plan to buy
> more than one, so i want it to be a decently durable one.

If it's cast iron from Mexico, I don't think you'll be disappointed.
The kids can get those shots next year. :-)