Sausage-making with a KitchenAid

Botch

I just ran across this video, and I learned some things.  
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ye6o3bWyOCc
 
I've made sausage with my KitchenAid grinder for about two years now.  Still using the OEM grinder but with 3rd-party grinding plates.  I tried using the stock grinder to also stuff, and that never worked well at all, ended up getting a small LEM piston-style stuffer.  Guy in the video admits too that the stuffing function for this attachment is less than desirable.  Three of the things I wasn't aware of before:

1.  Cut the raw meat/fat into 1/2" cubes before starting.  I had always gone to 1" cubes, and the auger had no problem sucking them in, but it makes sense that the motor will work much less hard if the cubes are smaller.  
2.  The second, and biggest, thing I learned was to mix the ground meat/fat with the paddle attachment, until its texture changes and becomes more homogeneous and "sticky"; that, I've never done before.  And I bet that will make a big difference in my own sausages.  Anxious to try this.
3.  The third major thing I learned was how to prep/load the natural casings.  I had a devil of a time with those; he puts some baking soda into the soaking water, and it sure looked like the casings slid on so much easier than I was able to do.  Also, poking a hole in the casing before starting the stuffing (to let air escape) makes so much sense, but not something I've done before either.  (I did learn another technique from another video recently.  I used to try to attach the end of the casing to my kitchen faucet, and get water to flow thru the full length of the casing.  That never worked; instead, I should've been just squirting in about 6" worth of water*, and then pushing it thru the full length with my fingers.)
 
Thought this might be useful to some here, and I'm anxious to try these things with my next batch.   
 
 
* I claim bonus points for being the first engineer to measure water in inches.    

lkapigian

When I first started I was going to go the KA Route, found a stand alone grinder @ Harbor Freight for $50.00 ....everything on the channel is very informative and Eric will answer any questions you have .....kind of cool he will call and run things by me at times , I just make things up as I go LOL