When was the last time you’ve made your own sausage? I don’t know about you, but as far as sausages go, I wouldn’t trade homemade for anything else. I just love homemade sausage and the main reason for it is that I know what goes into it. The same can’t be said of commercial sausages. Do you know what’s in the sausage you’ve had for breakfast? Knowing what my sausage is made of is my main motivation for making it myself. I know the amount of calories it has, what spices are there, if the meat is fresh, and how it would taste like. If you did not make it yourself, there is no way that you’d know.
Now if you’re convinced that the best sausage is homemade before you start making your own, you have to have the best sausage stuffer. This machine will save you a lot of frustration because it helps you bag all that delicious mixture into a handy natural casing. Without a decent stuffer, making sausage is going to be like fighting against the Spartans.
#List Of Top 5 Sausage Stuffer – Editor’s Picks:
[amazon bestseller=”Sausage Stuffer” items=”5″ template=”table”]How to Choose the Best Sausage Stuffer
The way the stuffer works is simple: you place the seasoned meat into a canister, where it is pushed into a smaller cylinder by a piston. The cylinder is where you place the natural casing which will house your sausage.
When choosing a sausage stuffer, you’d want to make sure that it has features that will make the business of stuffing smooth and enjoyable. This is the only way wherein sausage making can be enjoyable instead of a chore.
Stainless steel is non-negotiable : Making sausages is a messy business. Before you know it, you’ll have meat and seasoning scattered all over the stuffer. Do you know what it will cause to appear? Rust. And that’s why you’d want to get a stainless stuffer because you don’t want to have rust getting into your food. Stainless is also less likely to stick and you can get it cleaned in record time.
Two speeds will be convenient: If you are just starting out, it’s good to use with low speed when stuffing your casing. But as your skills increase, having a second speed will hasten the stuffing process.
Air-release valve is also non-negotiable: The air-release valve will allow the air trapped in the sausage to escape through the top. Without this feature, you’ll be frustrated with casings breaking apart in the tube.
You can work with stuffers that don’t have this features and with some skills, it can be done. But believe me, the struggle is real. Once you’ve made the switch, you’d realize that you can actually spend most of your time making delicious sausages instead of fighting against the machine.
10 Best Sausage Stuffer Reviews
These top five sausage stuffers are selected based on my own experience and that of other reviewers that I trust. I have factored in features that are really useful and of course the price of each one.
1. LEM Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Stuffer
If you’re looking for a user-friendly stuffer that would make filling the natural casing actually fun, the LEM Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Stuffer is what you’re looking for. It’s so easy to use, you will run out of meat in record time. Cleaning this machine is also a breeze, its removable parts can actually be soaked and scrubbed without struggling with the little pieces of meat tucked in the piston.
It’s stuffing tube comes in a variety of sizes, you can actually design your sausages from tiny breakfast bites to bigger and lengthy Polish sausages.
- Equipped with an air-release valve for convenient filling.
- All moving gears are made of metal which will obviously last longer than plastic
- It has a variety of stuffing tubes making it easy to make designer sausages
- It runs decently fast and its operation is smooth and consistent
- Finding the right level is a bit difficult. A little trial and error with the tension is necessary
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2. New VIVO Sausage Stuffer Stainless Steel Meat Filler
If I’m looking for a stuffer I can carry around and expect to be usable when I put it down, I would pick the New VIVO Sausage Stuffer Stainless Steel Meat Filler. This machine is so durable and portable, you can just clamp it down to your counter top and start filling casings. You can remove its cylinder for easy cleaning along with the metal gear that is made of stainless steel. While the piston is made of plastic, it comes with an air-release valve which makes stuffing fun to do.
Veteran sausage makers know that smoked garlic and cheese sausages generally make cleaning the stuffer difficult, but not so with this one. It’s steel components are easy to take apart and clean separately.
- You can use it both for small and large batches
- Filling is quick making you save time
- The piston is tightly fitted into the canister, you can’t find meat coming around it.
- Leaves a lot of meat in tube
- Reloading is a bit time consuming
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3. Hakka 2 Speed Vertical Sausage Maker
If the plan is to make large batches of sausages, the Hakka Sausage Stuffer 2 Speed Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Maker is the machine for the task. This traditional dual speed stuffer operates smoothly making stuffing a breeze. The components are made from SGS food standard metal and it’s easy to clean. The air-release valve discharges air at the top instead of the bottom of the casing ensuring that there is no excess air that enters your sausages.
The most amazing thing about this machine is that it feels so stable and sturdy, you don’t have to make any adjustment before using it.
- The stuffer is stable and sturdy with securely welded joints
- Air-release valve makes operation faster because it prevents blowouts
- Easily to load meat with the tilting tub
- It’s a bit generously greased from the company, you have to clean the machine oil before you can use it
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4. Hakka Horizontal Sausage Stuffer Machine
If you’re looking for another heavy duty stuffing machine that can stand large batches of meat, the Hakka Sausage Machine 2 Speed Stainless Steel Horizontal Sausage Stuffer is a contender.
Unique from all the reviewed machines, this has a horizontal configuration making it an eye catcher. It features two speeds making stuffing large amounts of meat a breeze. You have to be careful with the handle though since it doesn’t have a reverse lock, it can spin backward if you let it go in the middle of stuffing.
- The dual speed gears allow for faster and versatile operation
- The metal gear the came with the machine is durable and sturdy
- Easy to clean with all the stainless steel component
- There is no reverse lock, the handle can spin backwards
- The cavity can store a bit of meat
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5. STX INTERNATIONAL Electric Stuffer
If you’re working solo, the The Powerful STX Turboforce Classic 3000 Series Electric Meat Grinder & Sausage Stuffer is the machine for you. This stuffer which is designed for commercial use is so easy to operate you will have no problem stuffing huge quantities of meat on your own.
It’s easy to fill and clean, and the pressure-release valve makes it impossible to blow up a casing, you don’t have to repeat yourself.
Since this is designed for commercial use, you can expect it to serve you well for the years to come. The only caveat to this stuffer is the price.
- The piston is made of food grade plastic and it’s too easy to clean
- The stainless canister is also easy to wipe clean
- The overall compact design takes up less space on the counter
- There is little meat left in the cavity
- Reassembly is bit difficult due to the pegs for the cylinder
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6. Weston Manual Vertical Sausage Stuffer
Making your own sausage is not only fun, but it can also save you a lot of money. This is especially true if you grind up your own deer meat. Some people even sell the sausage that they make, earning them quite a bit of extra money in the long run. Because of this, it’s important to find a reliable sausage stuffer.
This Manual Vertical Sausage Stuffer by Weston is one of the most impressive sausage stuffers on the market today. Not only does it have an upright stainless steel canister with a seven pound capacity, as well as a coated stainless steel housing with rubber feet for added stability. The steel gears are heavy duty with dual speed for quick loading and pressing.
The canister in this sausage stuffer from Weston tilts out to make the job of loading the meat and easy one. Thanks to the pressure release valve, which controls the flow of meat, you’re able to make perfect sausages with this sausage stuffer. If you’re looking for a Manual Vertical Sausage Stuffer that disassembles for an easy clean up, then this sausage stuffer from Weston would be the perfect choice for your home.
- Easy to clean
- Has two different speeds
- No clamping needed
- A bit too large for some
- Not a great option for larger quantities of meat
- Small tube is too big for thin sticks
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7. Sausage Stuffer Horizontal Kitchen Machine
As we discussed before, choosing between an electric sausage stuffer and a manual one is all about personal preference. If you’re looking for a reliable, easy to use manual sausage stuffer, then this manual horizontal sausage stuffer by Master Feng might just be the right one for you.
This sausage stuffer is made with silicone pistons to ensure that there air doesn’t get trapped within the sausage casings. It also includes a suction cup base to make sure that it has a secure grip to your kitchen table or countertop. This sausage stuffer is made out of aluminum food grade, and the crank is made out of chrome plated steel with a polypropylene handle.
Don’t worry about not having enough strength to use this sausage stuffer, either, because it can be easily used by just one person and takes very little time to operate.
This horizontal sausage stuffer comes with four different filling nozzles, including a 14mm, 18mm, 21mm, and a 25mm. This sausage stuffer can hold two pounds of meat, so it’s absolutely perfect for making hot dogs, bratwurst, sausages, and hot links. If you’re looking for a reliable sausage stuffer that’s extremely easy to use, then this sausage stuffer by Master Feng might just be the right choice for you to make.
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Great control over the speed of stuffing
- Operating instructions are a bit difficult to understand
- Plastic filler tubes aren’t properly tapered
- Moves a little bit while in use
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8. LEM Sausage Stuffer Reviews with Stuffing Kits
When it comes to grinding up your own meat, you want to make sure that you use a heavy duty, reliable sausage stuffer. Using anything less than worthy will only cause you frustration and exhaustion. Luckily, there are fantastic products like this Big Bite 5-Pound Stainless Steel Dual Gear Vertical Sausage Stuffer from LEM Products. Thanks to the huge drive gear, notched piston rod and all metal gears, this vertical sausage stuffer was built to withstand the pressure needed to stuff even the smallest of sausages.
The four solid stainless steel bars were designed to create a sturdy frame that won’t bend or bow under pressure. This sausage stuffer is capable of going two different speeds.
While the high speed raises the piston quickly for filling the cylinder, while the low speed is used for stuffing casings. Thanks to the air release valve included with this sausage stuffer, the consumer is promised even pressure and much better results.
The stainless steel cylinder is removable so you’re able to remove it for easy filling and cleaning. If you’re looking for a sausage stuffer that won’t let you down after a few uses, then this is the perfect piece of machinery for you to consider purchasing.
- Comes with four stainless steels tuffing tubes
- Easily operated by one person
- Easy to clean
- Paint may come off
- Meat squeezes out around the plunger
- Handle may break off
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9. Super Deal Stainless Steel Sausage Stuffer
Unless you know exactly what you’re looking for, it can be quite difficult to find the perfect sausage stuffer. Luckily, this Vertical Stainless Steel Meat Sausage Stuffer from Super Deal takes all of the guesswork out of finding the right piece of machinery.
The frame, stuffing tubes, and cylinder of this sausage stuffer is constructed out of stainless steel, so you can rest easy knowing that it won’t bend or warp while using it. The aluminum piston has a durable rubber gasket that keeps the meat from leaking around the canister.
Thanks to the air release valve that is built into the piston, you’re able to avoid air pockets in your casings. This sausage stuffer has two different speeds, a high speed for raising and lowering the piston and normal speed for stuffing the machine with meat.
The fact that this sausage stuffer is so compact allows for it to be easily used and stored just about anywhere, including on a table for convenient filling. If you’re looking for a sausage stuffer that will make your life a whole lot easier, then this might just be the right piece of machinery for you to add to your collection of household appliances.
- Comes with four stuffing tubes
- Easy to use
- Easy to clean
- Meat tends to come out of the back of the O ring
- Doesn’t come with cutting blades
- Rubber feet are a bit wobbly
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10. ZENY 3L 7lbs 2 Speed Sausage Stuffer
Some people refuse to buy anything unless it’s a high quality product, which is why it’s sometimes difficult to settle on the right appliance. ZENY understands what consumers want, which is why they created this incredible sausage stuffer.
The frame, base plate, cylinder, and stuffing tubes of this sausage stuffer are all constructed out of stainless steel. Also, all of the parts that come into contact with food are accepted under the SGS Food Hygiene Standard. This product comes with four different sized filling tubes to ensure that you can use it efficiently for all of your needs.
The air release valve is located in the piston, which controls the flow of the meat to create absolutely perfect sausages. This two speed sausage stuffer is extremely easy to use and to clean, which is perfect for those of you who don’t have the extra time to get frustrated with kitchen appliances. Thanks to the fact that this sausage stuffer is equipped with stainless steel gears, you can quickly load and press the meat.
This also means that this product is durable and antirust. If you’re looking for a reliable sausage stuffer that will last for quite some time, then you should consider adding this product to your shopping list.
- Can be easily taken apart
- Easy to use
- Great for making large batches
- O-ring seal doesn’t make a perfect tight seal
- Base may rock a bit
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Top 10 Best Commercial Sausage Stuffer Comparison Table
Product Title | Brand | Color | Item Dimension | Material | Review |
LEM Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Stuffer | LEM Products | Steel | 16.3 x 10.3 x 8.1 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
New VIVO Sausage Stuffer Stainless Steel Meat Filler | VIVO | Red | 20.08 x 12.7 x 10 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Hakka 2 Speed Vertical Sausage Maker | Hakka | Silver | 22.05 x 9.84 x 12.99 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Hakka Horizontal Sausage Stuffer Machine | Hakka | Steel | 17.52 x 10.31 x 10 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
STX INTERNATIONAL Electric Stuffer | STX INTERNATIONAL | White | 20 x 12 x 11 inches | High Impact Polystyrene, Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Weston Manual Vertical Sausage Stuffer | Weston | Black | 13.75 x 13.75 x 22.5 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Sausage Stuffer Horizontal Kitchen Machine | Lawei | Steel | 10.5 x 5.3 x 4.4 inches | Stainless Steel | 4/5 |
LEM Sausage Stuffer Reviews with Stuffing Kits | LEM | Silver | 19.5 x 14 x 9 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Super Deal Stainless Steel Sausage Stuffer | Super Deal | White | 27.6 x 14.7 x 12 inches | Stainless Steel | 4.5/5 |
Benefits of Purchasing a Sausage Stuffer
As you can see, there are some great products on the market today. While the ones we’ve discussed today are quite impressive, there are plenty of other options to choose from if you weren’t satisfied with any of the products we talked about. Now, it’s time to talk about some of the benefits of using a sausage stuffer at home!
Great Tasting
When it comes to making sausage at home, you can pretty much be guaranteed that it will taste much better than anything you find in the store, especially since you can season the meat to your liking.
Choose for Yourself
When you buy sausage at the grocery store you can run the risk of it having nasty fillers inside of it. When it comes to making your own, you can completely avoid adding fillers and extra fat.
Feel Good About Yourself
If you’ve ever made sausage before you understand how much work goes into making the perfect links. Making your own sausage gives you a sense of accomplishment, which is great for your confidence.
Save Money
If you’re a fan of sausage you can understand how expensive it can be to purchase. When you make your own sausage at home, you don’t have to worry about spending entirely too much money on sausage with nasty fillers inside of it.
How Does a Sausage Stuffer Work?
Now that you understand the benefits of owning your own sausage stuffer, let’s talk about the process of actually using one. Follow these step by step instructions and you’ll soon be stuffing sausages with ease.
1. Put the ground meat in the holding canister.
2. Use the handle to force the meat out of a small tube and into the sausage casings.
3. Tie up the end of the sausage casing.
Cook, smoke, or cure the end product.
Pro Tips On Using Sausage Stuffer
Use cold meat: Spread the meat on a cookie sheet, cover it with plastic and let it stay in the freezer for a few hours. What you’re looking for is a meat that is a bit hard to touch without being frozen. Doing this will preserve the cellular structure of the meat, resulting in juicy and flavorful sausages. The grinder also works better when the meat is cold.
Warm the meat when using the stuffer: Meat that is warmer than room temperature moves smoother down the tube. If your mixture is too thick, you can thin it out by adding a little bit of water. This will make stuffing down the casing smoother with little chances of blowing out.
Don’t be stingy with the casing: The casing is what makes a sausage a sausage. Without the casing, all you’ve got is a mixture of ground meat and spices. This means that if you need to spend extra on high-quality and all-natural casing, do so. They are more durable compared to artificial ones and more flavorful too.
Tilting canister is easy to refill: Avoid non-tilting canister stuffer designs. This will make reloading a pain and when you’re working with huge quantities, you’d want to remove all possibilities of pain.
Types of Sausage Stuffers
If you enjoy making your own sausage at home, then you already know that you need to have a legitimate sausage stuffer to make the job a whole lot easier for yourself. If you’ve been thinking about purchasing a sausage stuffer for yourself, keep reading to discover the different types of sausage stuffers available on the market today.
Horn Sausage Stuffer
This type of sausage stuffer is usually made of cast iron plated with tin or chrome, but you can also find models that are made out of stainless steel. Since these stuffers are only available in manual models, it’s generally the perfect choice for someone just starting out making their own sausages or for those that only make small batches.
Horizontal Sausage Stuffer
This type of sausage stuffer is available in manual or electric models. They have a large piston-like cylinder to contain the ground meat that is mounted horizontally. The stuffer forces the meat from the stuffing tube at the end of the cylinder when you turn the crank or turn on the motor. The only drawback of this type of stuffer is that it needs to be placed at the end of a counter in order to turn the crank.
Vertical Sausage Stuffer
Vertical sausage stuffers are the most commonly used sausage stuffers for at home use. They’re great for beginners or professionals, and they can be purchased in manual and electric modes. Like the horizontal sausage stuffers, this type of stuffer uses a large piston-like cylinder, but the cylinder is mounted vertically, instead
Manual vs. Electric Sausage Stuffer
When it comes to choosing between a manual sausage stuffer and an electric one, you have to take the advantages and disadvantages of each into consideration.
- Manual Sausage Stuffer
A lot of people choose to go with a manual sausage stuffer because of how simplistic the design is, as well as, the fact that they’re the smaller of the two options. Since there are no electrical components, the tend to be under a foot tall and weigh just a few pounds. They also don’t need to be plugged into an electrical outlet, meaning you can grind meat just about anywhere! While a manual sausage grinder is less expensive and smaller than an electric meat grinder, they can also be quite difficult to use. This is especially true if you have a lot of meat to grind. Having to grind through meat and bones on a regular basis can be quite exhausting, especially if you lack upper body strength.
- Electric Sausage Stuffer
On the other hand, electric sausage grinders are extremely easy to use. All of you have to do is plug it in, load your meat into the feed tube, and turn the grinder on. This process makes it extremely easy to grind up bones, or tougher meat like deer or elk. While they may be easier to use,the best electric sausage stuffers have their own drawbacks. One of the biggest disadvantages of having an electric grinder is the fact that the electrical components can wear out over time. Having the plastic gears strip over time is not only inconvenient to replace, but it can also be on the expensive side.
FAQ Section On Sausage Stuffer
What is a Sausage Stuffer?
A sausage stuffer is a machine used by people in their homes, or by professionals in restaurants, to make their own sausage, bratwurst, or fun-sized snack links. Sausage stuffers are typically extremely easy to use, so most people are comfortable using it right on top of their kitchen table or countertop.
How Do You Manually Stuff Sausages?
1. Mix up your sausage mixture.
2. Soak casings in warm water until they become soft and pliable. Lay them on a towel when they’re done.
3. Tie a knot at one length of the casing and cut it off at the length you choose. TIP: When making sausages by hand, you should only fill a few at a time to make it easier on yourself.
4. Pull one end of the casing over the tube end of your casing funnel and gather it up until just a few inches are hanging off at the end.
5. Gently pack the sausage into the funnel.
6. Gently fill the casing with the sausage mixture until there are three inches left at the end.
7. Tie of the end of the casing and twist the sausages into place according to how big you’d like them to be.
8. Cook or store as needed.
Do You Remove Skin From the Sausage?
No, you don’t necessarily need to remove the skin from the sausage because it is edible. If you see people removing the casing from their sausage, it’s most likely because they want the meat of that particular flavor, but not in the form of sausage. Meaning they want to eat the meat crumbled up on a dish.
How Do You Cook Sausage Without Burning It?
To ensure that you cook the sausage all the way through without burning the outside, make sure to poach in simmering water for eight minutes. Drain the water
Cook in a frying pan over medium heat until they’re light brown, but don’t pierce them or they’ll dry out.
Increase the heat to high. Occasionally turning them to ensure equal heating, continue cooking until the sausages are a nice golden brown.
Can You Eat Raw Sausage?
This answer depends on whether or not your sausages are raw or ready to eat. If they’re entirely raw, then, no, you don’t want to eat them raw. You run the risk of a variety of food borne illnesses when it comes to eating raw meat. If they’re ready to eat, they’ve already been cooked, so you could eat them “raw” if you’d like.
Is Raw Sausage Dangerous to Eat?
There isn’t really a good answer for this because sometimes it’s okay and sometimes it will make you sick. The difference between the two is whether or not the sausage has pathogenic organisms in them like Salmonella bacteria. Because you can’t be sure if the meat you have is contaminated, it’s better to be safe than sorry and avoid eating raw sausage altogether.
Can You Deep Fry Sausages?
You can definitely deep fry sausages, but there are a couple of things you need to remember before trying to do so. First, you have to remember to poke holes into the casing or they can explode while they’re being cooked. Also, you might want to add a breading of some sort to keep it all together.
Conclusion
Although all of the sausage stuffers performed as expected, the LEM Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Stuffer really stood out for me. The simple design that made it easy to clean is a real killer to boot. The tilting canister makes refilling too easy even when working with huge quantities of meat. Although it’s a bit expensive compared to the New VIVO Sausage Stuffer Stainless Steel Meat Filler which is unbeatable price wise, I really don’t mind paying the extra buck for a well-designed machine.
Do you have any of these sausage stuffers at home? Do you mind sharing your experience with any of these? Share your thoughts about this review by leaving a comment in the section below.