The stuffer I use belonged to my Grandmother. Given my age that makes it very old. I worry about using it and damaging it. I would like to pass it on to my Granddaughter one day.
So I'm in the market for a new stuffer. A manual stuffer is fine. I don't need one that grinds. Any suggestions would be welcomed. I going to cap the price at $500.00. I don't want a monster stuffer, as storage now is a problem.
I'm more interested in quality and ease of clean up.
Thanks
Olds
Now this is a different stuffer for sure... http://www.dakotahsausagestuffer.com/
Not a bad price... http://www.sausage-stuffer.com/W51521_sausage_stuffers.htm
Looks the same as above.... http://www.davisonsbutcher.com/Product.asp?ProductID=1426
A little pricey for my needs.... http://www.hessmm.com/prodbody.php?id=93&catid=41
Gears look to be stainless.... http://www.butcher-packer.com/pages-productinfo/category-27_117/product-412/sausage-stuffers-f-dick-hand-sausage-stuffers-f-dick-gmbh-f-dick-hand-sausage-stuffer-12-lbs.html
Interesting stuffers on this page... http://www.texastastes.com/p39.htm
Got mine at the Sausage Maker. Five pound version was plenty good enough.....
Arcs_n_Sparks
This is funny... over the years had two of these mixers given to me. I have the main attachment (a *cough* grinder) and now I see a stuffer attachment... interesting and very cheap. In fact one of these mixers has never been used and has been in my garage for years. I don't want it to re-grind when stuffing so I wrote to kitchenaid to find out. On low speed it turns very slow and I don't see a problem with feeding it while stuffing... but I would get Susan to keep it fed as I stuffed... just an idea.
(http://www.shopkitchenaid.com/imagesEdp/p23496z.jpg)
Edit: Arcs_n_Sparks you posted as I was doing this posting .... thanks for your input.
Quote from: Oldman on July 23, 2007, 05:44:31 PM
Now this is a different stuffer for sure... http://www.dakotahsausagestuffer.com/
Check out the recipes on this site, there are smoked sausage recipes there to look at, there may be some useful ones.
I also have the big Kitchen Aid mixer and was eyeing the grinder and stuffer kit.
Cheers,
A
Oldman,
Used the KitchenAide attachment for a number of years. Finally, the housing cracked and I moved up to a Cabela's grinder and Sausage Maker stuffer. For the KitchenAide, if you remove the plate and knife, you will not regrind when stuffing.
Arcs_n_Sparks
kitchen aid seems to fit the bill for here and there use just fine. The attachment is not the quality you may be looking for. Anyway, Olds, i enjoyed the links you posted. the 11 lbs hand crank on the side looks pretty neat and it seems like it does not leave a lot in the cylinder. The high end commercial like units may leave more in the cylinder that would be good if stuffing just a few pounds at a time. I dont know but may be a point to look at while shopping. Thanks for the posts.
I have the 10 pound Dakotah water stuffer; and now wish I purchased the 5 pound model. I generally only make 5 pounds at a time. I went with the 10 pound model because of the clear tube.
I use a 5 quart Kitchen Aide to grind my meat. It you purchase you 5 quart model from Sam's Club, you will get a more powerful motor. People who have the 6 quart, have had problems with the bowl. If you are not careful, the 6 quart bowl tends to dent and bend if you are not careful. If the bowl becomes dented or bent, generally you can't use them. The grinder works well for 5 pound of meat or less. I generally grind at speed setting #4.
I used the stuffer attachment until I purchased the Dakotah. As for the stuffer attachment, I found that because the motor gets very hot, at times I had trouble preventing smear, and the smear is hard to detect when the meat is going into the casing. Also, because it was so high up my arms would get tired, because I had to hold them at that height for a long period of time.
Interesting. I like the idea behind the Dakota but don't like Habs problems with heat. Heat + ground sausage mixture = broken sausage.
-Brian
Hi Brian;
The heat problems that I had was with the KitchenAid stuffer attachment. You will never have that problem with the Dakotah water stuffer unless you turn on the wrong faucet. :D
Oh, ok. Makes more sense. After reading the Dakota web page, I didn't remember seeing anything about a motor :P
So you would recommend the Dakota, huh?
-Brian
I like the Dakotah and use that stuffer the most, but I have a few issues with it; as I do with most products I buy. It's mainly directed to the 10# stuffer. You would probably like it because it looks as if you always make large batches.
These are minor issues for me, but I like to point out these issues before someone chooses to make this purchase. These issues may be a greater problem for someone else.
My issues with the 10# stuffer (But I have just as many issues with my vertical stuffer):
It's not practical for amounts less then 4 pounds. The 5# model would have been better for me. When I grind 10 pounds of meat, I like to divide it in half, sometimes thirds and make different sausages. Not just 10 pounds of the same.
You really should not fill the stuffer with sausage directly out of the refrigerator. It's difficult for it to push the meat out, and too much pressure can build up. It'sbest to stuff right after the primary bind.
You are some what limited on setting it up where the water source is located.
You only have two tube sizes (excluding the jerky kit), but that fits all my needs.
Hab,
I've seen the web site for the Dakota Stuffer but one part that eludes me is the hook up at the other end (the sink).
Are you limited as to the type of faucet you can hook up to? ???
I've got a faucet that has a pull out handle and a built in reg/spray head and am not entirely sure how I would hook up to that.
Thanks
Scotty-G
Gotta do a complete Kitchen remodel, Scotty......
;D ;D ;D
You can go to any hardware store, or one of the big box stores (Lowes or Home Depot), and purchase a faucet adapter that will accept a garden hose. Here is a link to Allied Kenco to show you what it looks like, but they are much cheaper if you purchase it at a local store. Just be careful to get the correct type to attach to the faucet. Some faucets have inside thread, and others have outside threads.
http://www.alliedkenco.com/catalog/product_info.php?products_id=2457
My kitchen faucet doesn't allow for an adapter, will have to consider another option.
Dakota may not be a viable option for me. :(
That will limit your options. If you don't have a standard (inside or outside threaded) aerator I don't know of any other adapters. Does the head of the spray come off, and if so would that thread connection be standard? I would check with someone at your local hardware store, to see if there are any adapters for that type of faucet.
Other then running the intake hose from another faucet, and having it drain out of the kitchen sink, I can't thing of any other options.
Thanks Habs. I've got a few more to look into as well.
I like to make smaller and a variety of batches, like you, on occasion. The small batches work well as long as there are no neighbors, family members or friends sniffing around. I'm always amazed at how fast 10 pounds of sausage goes out the door :'( It's a nice compliment but you can't eat compliments ;D
-Brian
Quote from: Stickbowcrafter on November 28, 2007, 09:42:17 AM
Thanks Habs. I've got a few more to look into as well.
I like to make smaller and a variety of batches, like you, on occasion. The small batches work well as long as there are no neighbors, family members or friends sniffing around. I'm always amazed at how fast 10 pounds of sausage goes out the door :'( It's a nice compliment but you can't eat compliments ;D
-Brian
You are so right. Every time I make a small batch that is when everyone seems to find out about it; and I only end up with a couple of links for breakfast. :)
Ah yes, our lovely, aroma filled smoke that we hold so dear is a double edged sword. :-* Maybe we can come up with a way to attach some kind of filter to keep the pleasing aroma from reaching the neighbors. :D
-Brian