Butchering Equipment
Home Butcher Equipment List
A modern butcher has far more options than past generations had. Long ago people butchered with a sharp stone. Though we aren’t butchering with a stone anymore, you can still keep the cost down. The amount of equipment needed will depend on what you are butchering. If you are butchering a few chickens, your equipment list will be far less than that of butchering beef. Some of the tools are household, some of them are specialized. With the current interest of self sufficiency, the specialized tools are easy to find. Let’s take a low cost look at the essential items needed for butchering meat at home!
Five Essential Items to Butcher
Now you may be asking yourself: what do I need to begin butchering at home. There are several key items needed when butchering to make your experience a success. Here are 5 low-cost essential items needed to make butchering at home smooth and simple.
1. Knives
No doubt, knives are essential, but finding a good quality knife is the key. A great knife will sharpen easier, stay sharp longer and they will last a lifetime. You may find your grandfathers knife in fine shape and useable, but they were made of carbon steel and rusted easily and didn’t hold an edge long. Look for high-carbon stainless steel knives. These will last a lifetime.
2. Sharpeners
Knives often dull when cutting large sums of meat. Having a butcher’s steel nearby is handy during butchering. At other times a powered sharpener or a hand sharpening system is essential for maintenance.
3. Cutting Boards
Cutting boards are as essential as knives. You cant have one without the other. The old timers used butcher blocks chopped into smaller pieces for years. For beginners, large synthetic cutting boards are fine. Smaller ones are nice for smaller amounts of meat. Larger boards for bigger cuts.
4. Bone Saws
Saws are necessary for cutting large carcasses such as pork and beef. A handheld butchers saw will do the trick and are simple to use. There are different sizes, and they are affordable. However, a butcher’s bandsaw is the best choice for large animals and a great investment. A bandsaw will save you time and makes cutting through bones much easier.
5. Workspace
Tables. A strong and sturdy table is necessary for cutting up large animals such as pigs, or beef. A kitchen counter works fine for smaller animal like chickens. Eventually you may obtain stainless steel tables and countertops. This is a nice addition to a butcher room and can often be found used online. But for beginners, a sturdy table with a thick vinyl tablecloth works perfectly for years.
Large Machinery - Skid loader or Tractor
Lets just note that large machinery might be necessary when butchering beef and pigs. Not essential but the use of a skid loader or a tractor is helpful to hang the animal in order to skin and quarter it. Butchering can be done without, but it becomes more work and make the job difficult. Borrowing a neighbor’s equipment or asking a neighbor to share in the meat with you for trade might be an option if purchasing large machinery is not possible.
Our Favorite Butcher Tools for Chickens
Killing Cones
What kind of killing cones should you buy and how many cones do you need? We will guide you help you make the best decision.
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Butcher Block
Finding the best method for butchering chickens can be a challenge. Butcher Block is old fashioned but efficient.
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Knives
A humane way to kill a chicken is the hanging method. Find the best way to accomplish this method.
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Our Favorite Butcher Tools for Pigs
Bone Saws
Bone Saws make cutting up pigs easier and efficient. A handheld or eclectric bone saw is essential for butchering pigs.
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Boning Knife
Finding the best method for butchering chickens can be a challenge. Butcher Block is old fashioned but efficient.
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Sticking Knife
What kind of killing cones should you buy and how many cones do you need? We will guide you help you make the best decision.
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Our Favorite Butcher Tools for Beef
Bone Saws
Electric Ban Saws designed for butchering are essential for cutting up beef. Hand saws are not enough for cutting beef.
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Boning Knife
With hours of cutting ahead of you, a carbon steel boning knife is essential for cutting up beef.
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Meat Grinder
You cant butcher beef without making ground beef. Plan on 40-50# of hamburger per quarter.
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Learn How to Butcher
Butchering at home is a work of art, having the right equipment for the job is essential. Luckily there is an easy way to achieve success with butchering at home with the best equipment. The hardest part is probably narrowing down the best knives for the job.
Check out this link for our recommendations for great butcher knives. It doesn’t have to be complicated. The Victorinox knives mentioned earlier are still in the hands of the old guys we butcher with. These knives are low cost and last for what seems like forever.