Best Meatball Maker Reviews : Top 5 Picks for 2022

Are you cooking spaghetti? Put some meatballs in there. Oh, you’re making mashed potatoes?

Great, throw in some meatballs. Honestly, it’s hard to think of a carb-rich dish that doesn’t taste amazing with meatballs. And they taste the best when you make them at home.

Yes, it’s easier to buy them from the store. But then you have to spend more, they’re not exactly healthy, and it’s much less fun.

To make some bomb meatballs at home, you’ll need the best meatball maker. And if you’re not familiar with these things, we’ve got you covered.

5 Best Meatball Maker Reviews on The Market

You’ll be surprised with how many kinds of meatball makers you can find. Some look like scissors, and some look like ice cream scoops. You’re probably here to find out which one you should get, so here are our top five picks reviewed.

1. QMOEH 2 Pcs None-Stick Meatball Maker with Detachable Anti-Slip Handles

“Wow! These look like ice cream scoops attached to scissors.” If that was your first reaction, you’re absolutely right.

There are two half-spheres on the two ends of this item, and the handles operate like your average scissors. It’s pretty simple to use, and we love it.

First off, you oil the head so the ground meat doesn’t stick. Then you put the meat into the scoops and press down on the handles. There’s a hole on one side through which the excess meat comes out. And voila! You have a meatball.

The manufacturers have used 304-grade stainless steel, which is food-safe. On top of that, it’s pretty easy to clean.

Just wipe off the grit with water after use. If you’re handling raw meat, we suggest you disinfect it as well.

Ease of use is a particular focal point on this thing. You can put it in the dishwasher without a worry.

Its design is quite simple, too; it works just like a pair of safety scissors. The handles have a firm rubber grip, and they don’t slip easily either.

Last but not least, you’ll get two different sizes in this pack. In terms of meatball diameter, one pushes out 1.38 inches, and the other does 1.89 inches. Depending on the dish you’re cooking, either may come in handy.

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2. Shape+Store 32 (1-oz) Master Meatball Making Tool

Have you ever wondered if there’s an ice-cube tray for meatballs? You could just put ground meat into it and put it in the freezer. And when you bring it out, you’ve got a tray full of meatballs. Surprisingly, this product does just that.

There are 32 cutouts on this tray, and the lid matches the same design. All you need to do is put ground meat on it and close the lid. As soon as you reopen it, you’ll find 32 delightfully consistent 1-oz meatballs.

You can freeze them for later cooking or put them on the stove right away. You can put the tray in the freezer, too, since it’s completely flexible food-grade plastic. Since each ball came from an identical mold, they cook evenly as well.

This silicone tray can hold up to 2 lbs of meat. The meat might stick slightly on the edges if you extract it before you freeze it. A smart solution is to apply a thin layer of edible oil on the surface before making the balls.

As any experienced cook will know, multi-tasking is a strength in the kitchen. Well, you can use this product for storing and dividing cookie dough, pesto, sushi, and even protein balls. Space management is an art, and you’re in control.

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3. YOTIPP Non-Stick Stainless Steel Meatball Spoon Meat Baller

It’s amazing how creative companies have gotten over the years. You can find just about any utensil at the most affordable price now. A great example is this meat spoon with a hole in it that comes with an extra spoon.

Here’s how it goes. Take a lump of minced or ground meat. Press the meat spoon (the one with a hole in the middle) on top of it with moderate force.

You’ll see a ball of meat rising through the cutout. Now scoop out the meatball with the other spoon.

You might say that was pretty easy. And that’s the whole point. To make things better, this tool’s makers have used non-stick stainless steel to ensure easy clean-up. You could throw it in the dishwasher too if you want. Don’t worry about stains or rust.

We know that it looks reminiscent of an oversized pimple popper. It operates in a pretty similar way too.

But the design is well thought out. The handle is long and thick enough to hold comfortably, and the angle of the spoon face is at an ergonomic angle.

One thing all of us appreciate is good value for money. And this item is incredibly affordable, especially looking at the quality of service it provides.

But a low price tag comes with its issues. In this case, the spoon might easily bend even though it doesn’t rust.

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4. Meatball X Press Master Meatball Maker

Time is money, and rolling meatballs by hand take time. We suggest that you take that money and invest it in the best meatball maker you can get. You won’t have to spend that much to get the perfect balls in minutes if you get this product.

This box opens and closes. And within just four steps, you can prepare 16 perfectly round 1-oz meatballs.

Open the lid, put some ground or minced meat inside, and close the lid again. As soon as you open it again, you’re good to go.

What sets this item from others is the great result it gives. Each ball is perfectly round and consistent in density.

You’ll appreciate their form when you’re cooking because they all cook evenly at the same rate. And you can reuse the extra meat between meatballs.

The material of this thing is superior to many others you will find. You can microwave it, freeze it, and even keep hot food in it.

Since the plastic is food-grade, you won’t have to worry about harmful substances. And the lid closes shut well, which helps avoid freezer burn.

Another interesting feature is that you can use the box for several kinds of uses. It’s not exclusive to meatballs.

Whether you want to store cookie dough, gelatin, or any other kind of food, it’ll shape them up and store them just fine.

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5. Norpro Stainless Steel Meat Baller

Norpro is well-known for its innovative kitchen utilities and bakeware, and it’s for a good reason. This company makes some of the highest-quality products that fail to disappoint. So, we’re ending the list with their meatball maker that’s arguably the best on the market.

Like the first one on the list, this one also has a scissor-handle design. However, it’s stainless steel all through and much less likely to break. Scoop us some meat into the bowl and squeeze it. That’s it; there’s the meatball.

Some excess meat will come out of the hole and leave you with a 1.75-inch ball of savory goodness. (Of course, we recommend cooking it first before you eat it.)

The steel isn’t likely to be sticky. Still, experience tells us that it’s best to apply a coat of edible oil beforehand.

Since you’re making each ball with the same utensil, you’ll get the same results each time. That means they’ll all cook at virtually the same rate. If you want to use this thing for other purposes, like making bath bombs or brownie pops, you’ll still get excellent results.

The rivet on the joint makes for easy squeezing and comfortable handling. One concern is the hard steel build that can hurt if you’re holding it for too long.

A decent solution to this problem is wearing thick latex gloves when you’re working long.

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Meatball Maker Buying Guide

Unlike tools like a meat grinder, a baller isn’t that common and well-heard-of. That means it can be tough to know what you’re looking at in terms of functioning and quality. To make your buying decision easier, here are the things you’ll need to consider.

Consider Your Budget

While these products don’t exactly break the bank, you don’t want to spend too much on them. It’s a small tool for a small job, and that’s what you should base your budget on. Ideally, anything under 50 dollars is a good price.

Even then, you may be looking for something minimally priced. In such a case, try opting for a plastic-built box that makes many meatballs at once. These spend less on construction and focus more on the result.

Meatball Size

If you’re an enthusiast, you already know that there’s more than just one kind of meatball. The size will depend on the dish you’re serving. And, therefore, your meat baller will need to be able to roll up the perfect size.

As a reference, Swedish and spaghetti meatballs tend to be big (about 1.75 to 2 inches).

Medium sizes, ones you’d find in a sub-sandwich, are 1 to 1.25 inches. As for appetizers, 3/4^th of an inch in diameter is enough.

Consistent Results

Suppose you balled up two pounds of ground beef, but they’re not cooking evenly; you’re going to have a stressful time in the kitchen.

The culprit is often the varying size and density of the meatballs themselves. Nobody wants that.

You might face these problems with a baller that doesn’t have a measured scoop-bowl. Better ones will turn out consistently similar results. Your best bet is to use one of the trays we’ve reviewed. In the end, you’ll have equal cook-time for every meatball.

Is It Sticky?

Sticky utensils are the age-old villain in the kitchen. If it sticks, the whole meatball can break apart. That’s no good. Usually, steel or cast iron with a bad finish sticks to meat a lot. Even plastic can be the culprit at times.

To ensure your meatball’s integrity, lean towards options that mention “non-stick” in the name.

If you don’t want to pay the extra bit of money for the non-stick feature, try to make a habit of applying edible oil on the baller before use.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long can I keep my meatballs?

Ideally, meatballs are fine for consumption for 3 to 4 days of refrigeration. You can extend their storage if you freeze them in an airtight container.

Is it better to fry or bake meatballs?

Baking usually retains more flavor and keeps the meatballs juicier. Frying requires far more oil to cook. Aside from the obvious health concern, we suggest baking over cooking because of ovens’ heat distribution technique.

Can you leave meatballs in sauce overnight?

If you’re marinating, it’s fine to leave it in sauce through the night. However, the balls will end up soggy and might fall apart. If you’re cooking in a crock-pot in sauce, don’t leave them in for over six hours.

How do you tell if baked meatballs are done?

While baking, once the outside of the balls have browned and the center registers a temperature of 165⁰F, you can take them out.

Is it OK if meatballs are a little pink inside?

If the inside of the meatball is still pink, it is undercooked. It’s not safe to eat undercooked meat. We suggest you put the dish back in the oven to cook properly.

Final Thoughts

It’s hard to find a hearty meal without meatballs. For the home cooks trying to make them at home, the best meatball maker is essential. We’ve handpicked our favorites and reviewed them for your convenience.

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