Sausage Maker Recommendations?

kbr718 · December 2017

I want to try making sausage to smoke on my Egg and I'm looking for some recommendations. I have a Kitchen Aid, but I've heard mixed things about the sausage attachment. Is the Kitchen Aid attachment good enough or are there better options for grinding and stuffing sausage?

20stone · December 2017

Stainless steel is the way to go:
https://www.amazon.com/Original-Grinder-attachment-Stainless-Kitchenaid/dp/B00XLQ322I

I had good luck with that one, and is great for the occasional 10# batch. As you will see in other threads, a separate stuffer is a good idea

EggMcMic · December 2017

I went with the kitchen aid and used it until I figured out I liked the process and what I could make and then I upgraded. Passed the kitchen aid along to my cousin who still uses it. It was definitely the less expensive route but it doesn't work as well as a dedicated unit (or have the versatility). But it is hard to justify the start up cost for it all if you don't know how much you will really use it. Just my 2 cents.

DoubleEgger · December 2017

If you buy a good LEM grinder and 10lb stuffer, you’ll use it a lot more and enjoy the process. The KA attachments regardless of brand are slow and clumsy especially on the stuffing.

lkapigian · December 2017

Welcome to the Sausage Abyss

HeavyG · December 2017

EggMcMic said:

I went with the kitchen aid and used it until I figured out I liked the process and what I could make and then I upgraded. Passed the kitchen aid along to my cousin who still uses it. It was definitely the less expensive route but it doesn't work as well as a dedicated unit (or have the versatility). But it is hard to justify the start up cost for it all if you don't know how much you will really use it. Just my 2 cents.

That is my thought going into this also.

I've never made sausage before and am not really sure if wanting to do so is an itch that just needs temporary scratching or if it will be a long term interest.

I've looked at getting a separate grinder and stuffer or just getting the grinder attachment for my Electrolux mixer.

On the other hand, the grinder I've been looking at isn't that much more expensive than the Electrolux rig.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CARNIVORE-HP-GRINDER/2122105.uts?slotId=4

I can see the usefulness of a separate stuffer but one thing about going with the mixer attachment is the variable speed motor of my mixer might make it easier for a novice to stuff the casings and not really need a separate stuffer. Dunno.

Decisions, decisions.

DoubleEgger · December 2017

HeavyG said:

EggMcMic said:

I went with the kitchen aid and used it until I figured out I liked the process and what I could make and then I upgraded. Passed the kitchen aid along to my cousin who still uses it. It was definitely the less expensive route but it doesn't work as well as a dedicated unit (or have the versatility). But it is hard to justify the start up cost for it all if you don't know how much you will really use it. Just my 2 cents.

That is my thought going into this also.

I've never made sausage before and am not really sure if wanting to do so is an itch that just needs temporary scratching or if it will be a long term interest.

I've looked at getting a separate grinder and stuffer or just getting the grinder attachment for my Electrolux mixer.

On the other hand, the grinder I've been looking at isn't that much more expensive than the Electrolux rig.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CARNIVORE-HP-GRINDER/2122105.uts?slotId=4

I can see the usefulness of a separate stuffer but one thing about going with the mixer attachment is the variable speed motor of my mixer might make it easier for a novice to stuff the casings and not really need a separate stuffer. Dunno.

Decisions, decisions.

The problem with the stuffing on a mixer is that the sausage is being cased high off of the counter and its tricky to hold everything. The piston stuffers work at counter level and its a lot easier to control everything.

EggMcMic · December 2017

+1 for the piston stuffer. While mine is manual and a little tough for me to handle alone, my wife or kids can usually be talked into turning the crank for me and with that I get variable speed. It lays it out on the counter for me and it easy to work with.

I got my grinder from Cabelas. Not the one in the link, but probably the same thing a couple generations ago. It has been a workhorse. I have the 3/4 HP model and it has had plenty of power for my needs.

CarolinaQ · December 2017

The kitchen aid grinder attachment is fine for doing 5 lbs batches. Doing pork through it is kind of annoying unless you trim it up really well. Any sinew left untrimmed gets caught on the blade and you have to stop, unscrew the cap and take the blade off
to untangle it all.

The kitchen aid sausage stuffer attachment is bad. Since it uses an auger to push the mix forward it adds a lot of heat and makes the fat smear easily. I would not recommend it. I got a Lem 5 lbs stuffer for a little over $100 and it's made stuffing easy and kind of fun.

HeavyG · December 2017

DoubleEgger said:

HeavyG said:

EggMcMic said:

I went with the kitchen aid and used it until I figured out I liked the process and what I could make and then I upgraded. Passed the kitchen aid along to my cousin who still uses it. It was definitely the less expensive route but it doesn't work as well as a dedicated unit (or have the versatility). But it is hard to justify the start up cost for it all if you don't know how much you will really use it. Just my 2 cents.

That is my thought going into this also.

I've never made sausage before and am not really sure if wanting to do so is an itch that just needs temporary scratching or if it will be a long term interest.

I've looked at getting a separate grinder and stuffer or just getting the grinder attachment for my Electrolux mixer.

On the other hand, the grinder I've been looking at isn't that much more expensive than the Electrolux rig.

http://www.cabelas.com/product/CARNIVORE-HP-GRINDER/2122105.uts?slotId=4

I can see the usefulness of a separate stuffer but one thing about going with the mixer attachment is the variable speed motor of my mixer might make it easier for a novice to stuff the casings and not really need a separate stuffer. Dunno.

Decisions, decisions.

The problem with the stuffing on a mixer is that the sausage is being cased high off of the counter and its tricky to hold everything. The piston stuffers work at counter level and its a lot easier to control everything.

Good point, hadn't thought about that.

I think I could put my largest poly cutting board on blocks to elevate it to a sufficient height if it would turn out to be too tricky to use the mixer as is. However, on the Electrolux mixers the grinder attachment is much closer to the table surface than the one on the Kitchen Aid so it might not be as tricky:

Image: https://us.v-cdn.net/5017260/uploads/editor/2t/r0axg72fui3c.png

I am thinking that about half the time I would want to just make patties rather than links anyway so stuffing wouldn't be my major concern.

Firemanyz · December 2017

Another vote for the cabelas grinder. It’s like an egg buy once, cry once. I have the 1hp grinder and had it replaced once due to a noise I did not like. They come with a lifetime warranty. It comes with some sausage stuffing tubes. They also make a patty maker attachment and a jerky slice. My dad has both and they work well. I bought my grinder with four buddy’s and we share it as needed. Mostly it’s used once a year to grind up a large hog and we make loose sausage with it. Every now and again cabelas will put these on sale. Good luck and I hope to see pics of your new grinder.

PS I also have the kitchen aid grinder and only us it if I’m grinding 1-2 lbs of meat. The cabelas grinder will run circles around the KA.

@HeavyG

Sausage Maker Recommendations?

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