Buying guide for best sausage stuffers
Many people love the taste of sausage, but as the old saying goes, most people don’t want to know how the sausage is made. It tastes great ... and it’s often best to leave it there. These days, though, many people really like to know what they’re eating down to the last ingredient.
If your local butchers don’t want to reveal their sausage-making formula, you have the option of making your own sausages at home using whatever ingredients you want, and for that you need a sausage stuffer. These machines simplify the process of filling the casing with your own ground meat recipes.
Finding just the right machine requires studying the various features available. We’ve done that for you and included the results of our research in this shopping guide.
Key considerations
Using a sausage stuffer is a pretty easy process. You just place the ground meat and seasonings in the canister, slide the casing over the nozzle at the bottom of the canister, then press down on the plunger or turn the hand crank to force the meat into the casing.
Electric vs. manual
Electric: For people who want to make sausage at home, an electric sausage stuffer probably is more than they need. However, if you also want to grind your own meat, some electric sausage stuffers provide this capability.
Manual: A manual sausage stuffer uses a hand crank or plunger to force the ground meat into the casing. It takes longer to make sausage with a manual machine than with an electric one, but it also costs quite a bit less.
Volume
The size of the canister determines the number of sausages you can make in one batch. Basic machines have canisters that range in capacity from 1 to 30 pounds. Commercial units are even larger. If you want to try different meats and seasonings and make various batches of sausages, a 5-pound capacity or smaller is sufficient, but if you want to primarily make the same kind of sausages over and over, a large-capacity unit is a good choice.
Vertical vs. horizontal
Vertical: For large batches, a vertical sausage stuffer is preferred because it’s easier to force the meat through this type of machine. The vertical unit also typically has a larger-capacity canister than a horizontal machine.
Horizontal: Most electric sausage stuffers are horizontal. Those units that also grind the meat are horizontally aligned, too. Horizontal manual sausage stuffers can require quite a bit of muscle power to use.
Expert Tip
Sausage stuffers made primarily of metal parts are very durable. This type of machine is also easier to clean than one made of mostly plastic parts.
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Sausage stuffer features
Here are some features to look for as you shop.
Air release valve: With a manual sausage stuffer, air builds up inside the canister as you force the meat through it. This makes the machine harder to use. An air release valve eliminates this problem.
Grinder: If you want to grind your own meat, you can find a sausage stuffer that includes this feature. It will cost a bit more because it will be electric, but it’s an efficient way to create sausage.
Clamp: Some sausage stuffers must be clamped to a table or counter. Having the unit securely clamped simplifies the process.
Nozzles: Many sausage stuffers ship with multiple nozzles with different diameters, allowing you to create sausages of different sizes. Common nozzle diameters are 0.5, 0.75, and 1 inch, but you can buy other sizes separately.
Speeds: Most manual sausage stuffers have two speed settings. You can operate the machine on the slower setting until you feel more comfortable with the process.
Stainless steel: A sausage stuffer with metal parts is easier to clean, more sanitary, and more durable than one that has primarily plastic parts.
Expert Tip
If you plan to make sausage regularly, you might want to consider using an electric machine to speed up the process.
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Sausage stuffer prices
Sausage stuffers vary widely in price. A higher price means better quality and more features.
Inexpensive: A sausage stuffer that costs less than $50 will be manually operated. Some of these have a hand crank, but most use a plunger mechanism to force the meat into the casing. Many of the sausage stuffers in this price range are made of plastic and have a limited capacity, usually a couple pounds or less.
MId-range: These sausage stuffers cost between $50 and $150 and have a capacity of up to ten pounds. These units consist primarily of metal parts, which is more durable than plastic. Many of them have a hand crank, which is easier to use than a plunger.
Expensive: High-quality sausage stuffers made for home use cost anywhere from $150 to $500. (Commercial units can cost as much as a few thousand dollars.) These units feature primarily stainless steel parts, making them durable and easy to clean. Capacity can be up to 30 pounds (and sometimes more). Some units in this price range use hand cranks and some are electric. Some grind the meat as well as fill the casing.
Did you know?
Sausage stuffers are either horizontal or vertical. Horizontal machines usually have a motor and take up more counter space than vertical machines.
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Tips
Pick a machine that’s easy to clean. Removing the leftover ground meat from inside the unit can be a significant hassle with some sausage stuffers. If the machine is difficult to clean, you’ll probably use it less often.
Larger isn’t always better. A small-capacity sausage stuffer will work adequately for many people. When using this type of machine in your own kitchen, a large-capacity stuffer means you can fill more sausages before having to refill the cylinder. If you only want to create a dozen sausages at a time, a small-capacity unit should meet your needs.
Watch your speed. Having a multiple-speed sausage stuffer is helpful for the beginner. Going slowly when making your sausages allows you to control the size and shape better than going quickly. After a little practice at the slow speed, you’ll soon be able to use the fast speed successfully.
Have fun experimenting! One of the best reasons to own a sausage stuffer is to try different recipes. Use various ground meats, seasonings, and casing styles and you can have a lot of fun with this machine while finding new favorite combinations.
Other products we considered
Our matrix provides five outstanding choices, but if you need extra features in your machine, we’ve found a few other sausage stuffers you might want to consider. For those who want to process dozens of sausages at one time, a machine with a huge capacity is a smart choice. The LEM Products Big Bite Dual Gear Sausage Stuffer has a 25-pound capacity. If you prefer a horizontal orientation, the Hakka Brothers Sausage Stuffer is a unit worth considering. It’s available in both 11- and 15-pound capacities. And then there’s the versatile Hakka Brothers 2-in-1 Sausage Stuffer and Churro Maker. This unit is easy to use and available in either a 7- or 15-pound capacity.
FAQ
Q. What are some frustrating aspects of using a sausage stuffer?
A. Pay particular attention to the way you must fill the canister with ground meat. With most units, you’ll have to remove a piece to fill the unit as well as clean it. Some of these sausage stuffers are far more difficult to fill and clean than others. If the machine is particularly difficult to clean, you won’t want to use it very often.
Q. Why would I want to make my own sausage?
A. Some people like to add their own spices and seasonings to sausage. Those who have allergies or sensitivities to certain food additives can use the machine to create their own sausage safely. If you have access to a lot of ground meat, a sausage stuffer allows you to prepare this meat in a unique way. Creating your own sausage is a good way for hunters to use wild game meat.
Q. How do I grind the meat to place in my homemade sausages?
A. Some sausage stuffers have a grinding mechanism built into them so you can grind the meat with the same machine that stuffs the casing. These units are far more complex to run and clean than standalone sausage stuffers, though. If you’d rather just have a standalone sausage stuffer, butchers and stores that sell fresh meat often will grind the meat for you.
