Sausage question for Deb/NePas

TentHunter

Moderator
I am really enjoying the sausage making especially now that I've done some smoked sausages, but its time to upgrade my equipment.

Deb I see, based on the pics you've posted, that you're using a vertical sausage stuffer to stuff the casings.

What's the advantages/disadvatages of using that type of stuffer versus a stuffing attachment on a grinder? Do you guys prefer one over the other?

Thanks in advance for advice on this!

Tent
 

FLBentRider

New member
I'm not a sausage person (yet), but I've witnessed countless people going down your path. Grinders grind, stuffers stuff.

The advantage is that it works much better. I actually have a stuffing attachment for a KA grinder that I have been trying to give away.

The only disadvantage I see is you have another tool to store.
 

Deb

New member
I tried using the stuffer attachment for the kitchenaid - once was enough - it works but it's painfully slow and frustrating, the feed tube is too small. I know some people use a grinder with a stuffer attachment but from what I have read the vertical is better , I'm thinking I have read that it's faster - I don't have any first hand experience so it's just based on what I have read.

I have a 5lb. grizzly vertical stuffer... I think it was about $69 plus shipping .... it has plastic gears but it works fine for what I do and I know others that are happy with theirs too.. Some people prefer the LEM which has metal gears and is probably double the price of the grizzly. I think Nepas had/has an LEM but may have just upgraded to something larger than a 5lb

I use the kitchen aid attachment for grinding but after this weekend am considering a meat grinder. The con on the kitchen aid grinder is that the feed tube is very narrow so it takes time to push allthe meat through.
 

nepas

New member
The KA is a decent grinder for small 2 to 5 pound batches but its a lousy stuffer. I had a plastic gear stuffer but after 350 lbs the teeth went 2x. So i got the LEM 5 with metal gears and a water stuffer. Prob looking at 450 to 500 lbs this year with it.

So more cons with the KA as a stuffer.
Get the vertical stuffer.
 

TentHunter

Moderator
The KA is a decent grinder for small 2 to 5 pound batches but its a lousy stuffer... ...Get the vertical stuffer.

I tried using the stuffer attachment for the kitchenaid - once was enough

...Grinders grind, stuffers stuff. The advantage is that it works much better...


Makes sense to me. I figured there must a reason Deb used a vertical stuffer and not her KitchenAid... Really glad I asked!



I'm looking at a #10 Dedicated meat grinder that's suppose to handle larger batches. I am getting one that has all metal gearing & stainless blades/plates.


NePAs, Thanks for the advice on metal gearing stuffers too. I plan on using this stuff for a long time & don't want something that might break.



Thanks for all the input; I knew I came to the right place!

You guys are tops!
 

vesteroid

New member
If you can catch the small cabelas commercial grinder on sale, its a GREAT unit. I use mine all the time. I make bulk homemade chicken sausage that we cook like breakfast sausage, or use as a hamburger type meat. I have ground both chicken and turkey for chili and we make stuffed sausage about once a month or so.

Beats the heck out of my older 100 dollar plastic model (they all look alike)

One additional thing, it you can put accessories on it, I use the jerky slicer and it takes all the work out of cutting strips.
 

TentHunter

Moderator
Thanks Vesteroid! I just looked up the cabelas commercial units and they do look pretty nice. I do like the attachment options. It gives me another option to consider.
 
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