22 Butcher Shop Equipment

Butcher shop equipment refers to the specialized tools and machinery used in butcher shops to process, cut, store, and display meat products. This equipment includes the following tools and appliances:

Butcher shops have been integral to communities worldwide for centuries, catering to the enduring demand for meat. Owning and operating a successful butcher shop requires specialized butcher shop equipment for meat handling. Standard commercial kitchen equipment falls short of meeting these unique requirements. High-quality butcher shop equipment ensures meat processing safety, efficiency, and hygiene.

22 Butcher Equipment You Must Have

To run a successful butcher shop, having the essential equipment is as important as sourcing quality meats. The right butcher shop equipment boosts efficiency, ensures safety, and maintains the high standards your customers expect. Each piece of equipment is crucial in daily operations, from cutting and processing tools to storage and display units. Whether opening a new butcher shop or upgrading an existing one, investing in the right 22 pieces of butcher equipment can make a big difference in streamlining tasks and enhancing product quality.

1. Meat Grinders

A meat grinder is a butcher shop tool used to grind, mince, or mix raw or cooked meat. It works by pushing meat through a hopper and pressing it against rotating blades or plates with small holes, finely cutting and shaping the meat into ground form. Meat grinders are commonly used in butcher shops, delis, and homes to make ground meat for burgers, sausages, and meatloaf. They offer control over the texture and fat content, allowing for fresher and customized ground meat compared to pre-packaged options. Grinding manually, while still valid, is an outdated option, and for the best and most standardized results, you should use a commercial meat grinder.

2. Meat Slicers

Meat slicers are the butcher shop equipment that helps you achieve repeatable standards in your slice sizes and saves you the trouble of dedicating time to slicing up your meat. This butcher shop equipment certainly gives more reliable results than a regular knife and ensures the texture of the food isn’t smashed under the pressure of a mediocre knife.

Most meat slicers, whether manual or automatic, give the user the option of adjusting the thickness of a slice. You can get super-thin pieces, which is desirable on customers’ part since it is not something they can do at home, or you can adjust the thickness to get slices up to an inch. Plus, these machines are not only used for slicing meat; you can use them for cheese or onions.

If you clean meat slicers regularly and those used for uncooked meat aren’t used for cooked foods (to prevent contamination), these machines will be your best friends. However, you should remember that these machines are not suitable for cutting bones, and trying to do so will eventually harm the blades of the meat slicer. You could invest in other butcher shop equipment to remove the bones but not cut them in the slicer!

3. Hamburger Presses

Many other establishments can use some butcher shop equipment alongside butcher shops, and hamburger presses are one of them. If you like burgers, you might even get one for your house! These machines ensure you get consistent portions of burgers and help you avoid waste. If you hope to sell pressed meat for burgers, getting a hamburger presser will be useful for your business.

While other butcher shop equipment can help you press meat somehow, investing in hamburger presses ensures a clear idea of how many burgers you can produce from the amount of meat you have and approximately in how much time. This is quite important in terms of planning and energy saving. Plus, these butcher equipment are designed for ease of use and thus possess an ergonomic design. Both your workers and customers will be delighted with by these presses.

4. Chicken Slicers

Chicken slicers are butcher equipment designed to slice chicken into even, uniform pieces. They can be manual or electric and streamline cutting the chicken into consistent portions, such as strips, cubes, or thin slices. Chicken slicers significantly ease the preparation process as functional butcher shop equipment.

While these machines are considered mainly butcher shop equipment, many commercial kitchens, such as fast-food chains and restaurants, can benefit from these products, too. Since they are designed to cut large pieces of meat in one step, they are suitable for inexperienced staff. You’ll be preventing many injuries by investing in a slicer. Yet, remember that, like meat slicers, chicken slicers cannot be used for cutting bones. Ensure the one operating the machine is aware of this to avoid any accidents.

5. Meat Saws

Meat saws chop down large pieces of meat into manageable chunks. They are designed to be very strong and resilient; thus, they can saw thick muscles and bones, making them indispensable, for it is impossible to cut through some muscles and bones with basic knives.

You must invest in a decent meat saw and pay special attention to its maintenance to ensure everything runs smoothly in your butcher shop. The strong models are referred to as band saws, and they are fairly easy to operate thanks to their design despite dealing with tough products. These butcher shop equipment are your only fast option for getting through the bone and achieving clean results.

6. Meat Smokers

Meat smokers are cooking devices designed to cook meat slowly at low temperatures using smoke from burning wood or charcoal. Smoking meat is a method that has stood the test of time, and many businesses can benefit from a meat smoker. Smokers offer you a lot of options regarding capacity and flavor. You can get a machine befitting the size of your business, and for flavor, you get to choose how to fuel the smoke. You could use wood, charcoal, electricity, and other methods to create smoke and slow-cook your meat. Your choice affects how the end product tastes, so beware of making a conscious choice.

7. Meat Stuffers

Stuffers hold the casings and offer assistance in stuffing the meat and spices to get sausages. While some models come attached to the meat grinder, you can get a stand-alone meat stuffer. The choice of butcher shop equipment is up to you; you can decide based on how many sausages you hope to produce in your business. 

8. Meat Tumblers

A meat tumbler is butcher shop equipment designed to bring meat into a smoother state. These machines grew popular among butchers and customers for many reasons. Their rotating drum-like design allows them to achieve this goal and produce smooth textured meat. Vacuum tumblers marinade moisture into the meat and remove the air. The marination process helps the distribution of salt and nutrients across the piece of meat and enhances its taste. Most customers prefer tumbled meat for its smooth texture, even salt levels, or simply because it has a more consistent look.

9. Meat Butcher Knives

Butcher knives are sharpers and more resilient than regular commercial kitchen knives. You must ensure you get the best of this butcher shop equipment since knives are the most natural part of butchery, and you cannot risk working with ordinary knives. A good knife should let you work with different kinds of meats and not tire you too much when cutting.

10. Scales

You need a scale to weigh the meat before packaging it or selling it to the customers. While it is perfectly fine to go with a classic model, a touchscreen scale can prove very convenient for your workers in terms of efficiency and time-saving.

11. Vacuum Sealers

Vacuum sealers remove air from a plastic bag or container and then seal it tightly to preserve the contents. By eliminating air, vacuum sealing significantly slows down the growth of bacteria and mold, keeping food fresher for longer periods. In butcher shops and food service establishments, vacuum sealers are commonly used to store meats, fish, and other perishables, preserving their quality and extending shelf life.

Automatic or semi-automatic models provide step-by-step operation guides for the operator. Butcher shop equipment offers high-quality wrapping quickly. Some models wrap up to 25 packages per minute. They ensure no leaks in the packaging through heat bars and such. 

12. Protective Clothing

Butchery is a demanding job involving raw meat and sharp tools. You and your staff should be safe from any hazards that might arise from the nature of this job, and the meat should be safe from any germs you might bring with you into the kitchen.

While working with meat, you risk getting contaminated by blood or simply cutting yourself with a knife. Ensure everyone close to the products or the machines has protective clothing. Hairnets, clean aprons and gloves, and appropriate footwear are the most important details you should pay attention to.

13. Walk-in Refrigerators and Freezers

Walk-in refrigerators and freezers are used to store the meat, and their duties are of the utmost importance, for if the meat isn’t safe from spoilage, there is no point in planning further ahead. While shopping for commercial refrigerators and freezers, you should consider their insulations and appropriateness for your shop or kitchen. You can check out our article on these machines to find out what kind of model is the best for you (https://www.chefsdeal.com/blog/walk-in-refrigeration-units .)

14. Open Display Merchandiser

Open-display merchandisers are refrigerated units designed to store and showcase perishable goods in an accessible, open format. They are essential for displaying and preserving meat in meat stores, markets, and other food establishments.

Open-display merchandisers maintain optimal temperatures, ensuring that products remain fresh while allowing shoppers easy access. Choosing a high-quality open-display merchandiser is crucial, as it will serve as your products’ primary storage and display area until they are purchased.

15. Curved Glass Display Cases

Like the open display merchandiser, curved glass meat display cases showcase the products. They are usually placed next to counters to reach in easily and put or take effects from the display case. These cases are refrigerated to ensure your meat is safe from spoilage until it’s sold.

16. Bone Saw

Bone saws are designed to cut through bones and frozen meat easily and precisely. They come in various sizes and styles, including manual and electric options. Manual bone saws are handheld for smaller tasks in small-scale operations.

Electric bone saws offer more power and efficiency for larger pieces and quantities of meat. Bone is particularly hard to cut through, and getting precise cuts is important for a professional butcher. Regular knives and equipment will deteriorate quickly if used to cut a bun. On the other hand, the sharp, durable blades of bone saws ensure clean cuts and can last long. Regular maintenance, including blade sharpening and cleaning, is necessary to ensure the longevity and effectiveness of the bone saw.

17. Commercial Meat Tenderizer

Commercial meat tenderizers break down the fibers into tougher pieces of meat to make them more palatable and easier to cook. This piece of equipment is the secret to the success of many restaurants since untenderized home-cooked meat won’t ever match the softness and enjoyment of tenderized meat.

There are two main types of commercial meat tenderizers: mechanical and manual. Mechanical tenderizers are used in large-scale operations with more budget and often feature blades or needles that pierce the meat. Manual tenderizers are used by neighborhood butchers with limited budgets and typically have a mallet-like design with textured surfaces. Acquiring a tenderizer isn’t essential, but tenderized meat’s improved texture and flavor can significantly boost your sales.

18. Work Tables with Cutting Boards

Work tables with cutting boards are essential workstations for meat processing tasks, built to handle rigorous daily use. Constructed from durable materials like stainless steel, these tables offer smooth, easy-to-clean surfaces and sturdy designs, often featuring integrated waste chutes for efficient scrap disposal.

Many work tables have additional features such as hooks, storage shelves, or built-in scales to enhance productivity. Customize it through a manufacturer if your table lacks specific features. Since most butchering tasks are performed on these tables, cleaning and sanitizing them regularly is vital to maintain hygiene standards and prevent cross-contamination.

19. Wrapping and Packaging Supplies

Wrapping and packaging supplies preserve the freshness and quality of meat. Butcher shops benefit from various materials, including butcher paper, plastic wrap, and packaging materials. Butcher paper is a breathable product that allows the meat to retain moisture without becoming soggy, like regular wrapping paper. This is an important feature that protects meat.

Plastic wraps provide airtight seals, which help prevent contamination and extend shelf life. These two products are often used together for storage and delivery purposes. Additional packaging materials, such as foam trays and vacuum-sealed bags, are also commonly used. They offer further protection and convenience for customers and retail stores. You should invest in high-quality wrapping and packaging supplies to ensure your meat reaches your customer base in the best possible condition.

20. Meat Hooks

Meat hooks are used for hanging and transporting large cuts of meat. Large cuts of meat are hung to drain the blood or to treat the meat. The piece size can vary, so it is crucial to get durable hooks made of stainless steel. Stainless steel is a great choice since it is strong, easy to clean, and resistant to rust and corrosion. The two most common types are S-hooks and gambrel hooks, each designed for specific tasks. S-hooks are versatile and commonly used for hanging smaller cuts, while gambrel hooks are ideal for suspending whole carcasses.

21. Storage Containers

Storage containers organize and store meat and other items in a butcher shop. These containers come in various sizes and materials, including plastic, stainless steel, and polyethylene. You can decide on the size of the boxes based on your products. To maximize their efficiency, look for airtight seals, stackability, and easy-to-clean surfaces in your containers. Investing in high-quality storage containers helps ensure that meat remains fresh and safe for consumption.

22. Cleaning Equipment and Tools

Cleaning equipment and tools for butcher shops must maintain a clean and sanitary environment for food safety and quality. In the right conditions, meat can last long, but the wrong conditions can quickly lead to serious public health and safety violations. Essential cleaning equipment and tools you should acquire include sinks, food-grade cleaning solutions, cloths and sponges, floor scrubbers and mops, and protective gear to handle the meat.

• Sinks: Large, durable sinks are necessary for washing hands, cleaning tools, and sanitizing equipment.
  
  
• Cleaning Solutions: A range of cleaning solutions, including detergents, sanitizers, and disinfectants, eliminate bacteria and other pathogens. It’s important to use food-safe cleaning agents that are effective yet non-toxic to protect you and your customers.
  
  
• Cloths and Sponges: Microfiber cloths and sponges are useful for wiping down surfaces and ensuring they are contaminant-free. Plus, microfiber decreases scratching on your surfaces and improves their longevity.
  
  
• Floor Scrubbers and Mops: Floor scrubbers and mops are essential for keeping the floors clean and free of slippery substances that could cause accidents. Make sure to keep your storage spaces free from slipping hazards and contaminants by cleaning any drips immediately.

FAQs About Butcher Shop Equipment

Conclusion For Butcher Shop Equipment

Meat is a rather complicated type of food that requires special care. Butcher shop supplies are tailored to meet the demanding nature of this job, and getting the right meat shop tools and equipment can make or break your business. The butcher shop equipment list we put together will help you lay a strong foundation for your meat store and ensure you have everything you need to deal with meat in the healthiest and safest possible way. Whether you are opening your butcher shop or creating a meat market section in your superstore, you will have no trouble if you check off the butcher shop equipment on this list based on the needs of your establishment.