made some Italian sausages

Canugghead

Used the Italian sausage recipe in the book recommended by @SGH, added oregano, thyme and basil in addition to ingredients in the recipe.  Came out quite nice.  No cooking pics since egg wasn't used.



Finally got a chance to set up my new toy properly.  Counter sunk stainless bolts in an old cutting board to hold the stuffer, then clamped the board to the table  Worked really well, I can now stuff sausages without assistance.  The most time consuming part is making the links, the stuffer extrudes efficiently like a caulking gun, had to slow down by cranking no more than 1/8 to 1/4 turn at a time. Also easy to take apart for cleanup.
  
Wanted to get one with metal gears but it's way too big, this 5-lb unit is perfect for my need.

Some folks complained the nylon gears are prone to cracking, apparently it's often caused by peep that kept cranking even after the piston has hit the bottom ... I put rubber band as a temporary visual reminder to stop, plan to put a stop screw or collar later.

I also wonder if mix that's too stiff (e.g. lack of cold water or other liquid in the recipe) could put too much stress on the nylon gears?



It's a game changer for me, no dripping liquid (sign of over handling the mix) like when using meat grinder sausage attachment. 

Chubbs

My man. Killin it. Nice work

Canugghead

Thanks @Chubbs !

SGH

Phenomenal looking brother. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the book.  

Davec433

What is this book because those look good.

Sammi

Nicely done, let me know when you have a venison version to sample / share.

Canugghead

Davec433 said:

What is this book because those look good.

SGH Posts: 18,813

December 2015

@Darby_Crenshaw - Darby if you have never read it, I highly recommend this book. It probably will not tell you anything that you don't already know when it come to curing, but it contains a plethora of old school methods. Truly a wealth of good, solid info on all things related to curing and preserving  

Canugghead

SGH said:

Phenomenal looking brother. Glad to hear that you are enjoying the book.  

Thanks, it tastes way better than store bought!

Canugghead

Sammi said:

Nicely done, let me know when you have a venison version to sample / share.

Thanks but I doubt I'd be making venison or any game meat anytime soon, since I shop at boring supermarkets and I don't hunt 

bgebrent

Home run!! Great sausages brother!

Canugghead

Thanks @bgebrent !

blasting

@Canugghead   Looks great, and it sounds like you are now set up.  

I've got sausage on the brain, as this is going to be my own next adventure.  

Fred19Flintstone

AWESOME!

https://youtu.be/2kXX0xxuF3A

caliking

Looks like your new toy beats stuffing  them by hand with a wee funnel

Canugghead

@blasting @Fred19Flintstone Thanks!
@caliking wee funnel still has its place - finish stuffing the last lump of mix from the bottom of the cylinder   

Davec433

Canugghead said:

Sammi said:

Nicely done, let me know when you have a venison version to sample / share.

Thanks but I doubt I'd be making venison or any game meat anytime soon, since I shop at boring supermarkets and I don't hunt 

Check out Www.ElkUsa.com you can have farm raised game shipped to your door.

@sgh thanks

Canugghead

@Davec433 Looks like a great place, I doubt they ship to the GWN though.

Little Steven

You can come to my place anytime shoulder is on sale and we can make some together using my grinder/stuffer. Too fast for one pair of hands

Canugghead

Little Steven said:

You can come to my place anytime shoulder is on sale and we can make some together using my grinder/stuffer. Too fast for one pair of hands

Great idea but my freezers are bursting at the seams 

sheetmetalpete

Sausages look great. 

I have the same stuffer.  I know what you mean about the bad reviews on the gears.  I don't have a problem with them.  When I feel the plunger hit bottom, I stop.

Davec433

What is a good inexspensive stuffer without plastic gears?

Davec433

Canugghead said:

@Davec433 Looks like a great place, I doubt they ship to the GWN though.

Yeah called them they don't.

johnmitchell

@Davec433My Buddy and I have a LEM which has metal gears..I will try and find a pic or you could find them on line.. Great products..

blasting

johnmitchell said:

@Davec433My Buddy and I have a LEM which has metal gears..I will try and find a pic or you could find them on line.. Great products..

This is the newer one.  It was on sale for $224, but I missed it.  Waiting to see if it drops again.




http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00474HCK6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_7&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Griffin

Nicely done. Those things make sausage making so much more enjoyable. Way better than using the meat grinder. I got he 5lb one from LEM (I think it was at Academy) for a Christmas present years ago and I think it has the metal gears. You should be fine with those gears as long as you stop when you get resistance or have a really thick and tacky stuffing. I need to break mine out but lifes been busy the last year with the kid.

Canugghead

@johnmitchell @blasting
Yes LEM 5 pounder has metal gears but you get what you pay for, especially in the GWN, I paid CAD $69 for my Kitchener at a local Princess Auto, same model sold by northerntool.com

LEM 5 pounder price:
amazon.com USD $127.49 with free shipping
amazon.ca CAD $354.40 + $44.62 shipping

http://www.amazon.com/LEM-Products-Stainless-Vertical-Sausage/dp/B000SQDTRC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452749302&sr=8-1&keywords=lem+5-lb+sausage+stuffer 

http://www.amazon.ca/Products-Stainless-Vertical-Sausage-Stuffer/dp/B000SQDTRC/ref=sr_1_9?ie=UTF8&qid=1452749553&sr=8-9&keywords=lem++sausage+stuffer 

Canugghead

@Griffin Thanks. Compared to meat grinder attachment this is indeed a game changer for me, sure there are better units out there but I can hardly keep up with this. Hope all is well with your family, glad our kids raising days are 'over'!

hondabbq

I had the same stuffer from PA I blew it out in a year.

Of course there will the guys that abuse it and do the things you mentioned by pushing the plunger too far, but to that I will also add that if using a binder it makes the mixtures stiffer when plunging putting extra stress on the plastic gears.

When just using it for non cured applications it will be just fine.

The sausages look great by the way.

Davec433

blasting said:

johnmitchell said:

@Davec433My Buddy and I have a LEM which has metal gears..I will try and find a pic or you could find them on line.. Great products..

This is the newer one.  It was on sale for $224, but I missed it.  Waiting to see if it drops again.




http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00474HCK6?psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=ox_sc_sfl_title_7&smid=ATVPDKIKX0DER

Thanks, I'll have to add it to my wish list.

Canugghead

@hondabbq  Thanks for the kind words and sharing, I do mostly fresh sausages that extrude too fast like silicone from a fresh calking tube so hopefully I should be safe for a while. Also, since you are in catering(?), you probably made more sausages in one year than I would in 5-10 years, lol!  Did you bother replacing the plastic gears?

Canugghead

@Davec433  before you order the 15 pounder I recommend you 'kick the tires' at a  brick and mortar store if possible.  I went in to get the 15 pounder with metal gears but the thing was ginormous, that's why I settled on the 5 pounder with plastic gears instead.  Good thing LEM 5 pounder has metal gears too.