To grind or not to grind

[renoman]

Do you guys grind your own beef for snack sticks or just buy ground beef? Is there any noticeable difference?

[Tenpoint5]

I have done both. Just more convenient to use a 10 pound tube from the store.

[OU812]

The only difference for me is the price tag

Allota times I came get chuck roasts cheaper than ground beef, so I buy a boat load of roasts and grind them

[devo]

I will buy extra lean which is suppose to be 90-10 as per canadian standards. The butcher shop I buy from has  it packaged in 1 lbs. packages and you can buy ten 1lbs. packages for a discount so I will pick that up and use just what I need. If I need a finer grind I will run it through the grinder with my smallest plate. Unless I can get a hunk of beef cheap I just buy ground.

[renoman]

Is the ground beef that you buy run through a 1/8" plate or is it courser?

[devo]

I'm guessing on this but I would say yes. The nice thing about having a friendly butcher is you can phone ahead and tell him what you need. Most times I just buy what he has.

[drano]

I like chuck if I can get it for close to ground beef price. 
I cut the meat into strips, mix in spice, and grind--so the grinder mixes it in. 
If I bought ground, I'd have to mix it in.
OK, I'll admit, I'm lazy.   ;D

[Saber 4]

I like to grind my own for everything including burgers.

[smoke em if you got em]

I grind my own. I can usually find chuck roast cheaper than ground beef. Plus I Like to know exactly what's in my ground meat.

[renoman]

I like to grind my own for everything including burgers.

Saber, how course do you grind for your burgers?

[Saber 4]

I like to grind my own for everything including burgers.

Saber, how course do you grind for your burgers?

We like more bite so I usually use the 7mm plate and grind once, I do that for breakfast sausage also.

[pz]

I like to grind my own for everything including burgers.

X2 - for both flavor and food safety reasons

[Saber 4]

I like to grind my own for everything including burgers.

X2 - for both flavor and food safety reasons

Just picked up a 20lb whole chuck for $2.98/lb at Sam's, going to grind it and package it in the next couple of days so I can start on some of these neat meatball recipes I've been seeing.