Are you ready to be the ultimate home cook? Granted, making sausages at home may initially come off as scary and intimidating. But believe it or not, it's not only easier than it seems but also super fun when you have the right tools. As such, we've put together this exhaustive guide on the best sausage stuffer machine so that you can add sausage-making to your ever-growing list of culinary skills.
But first...
Contents
What is a Sausage Stuffer?
As the name implies, a sausage stuffer is a kitchen tool that helps you stuff homemade sausages, brats and desserts like churros. It helps you fill up your cured meats- blended with spices and other pre-cooked meats- into a modern sausage casing or the traditional animal intestines. A sausage stuffer comes either as a stand-alone kitchen tool or an attachment to a food processor or meat grinder.
Types of Sausage Stuffers
Currently, there are three different types of sausage stuffers:
a). Horn Sausage Stuffers
These are some of the most common stuffers in many homes. The bodywork is mostly made from a strong type of cast iron, although recent models feature other materials like stainless steel, tin or even chrome. Horn sausage stuffers are operated manually and have a relatively smaller capacity, usually not more than 5 lbs. Their small and basic profile makes them ideal for starters and small families.
b). Horizontal Sausage Stuffers
These are fitted with fairly powerful electric motors and usually have large cylinders, some carrying up to 20 lbs of minced meat. Horizontal sausage makers can be either manual or electric. However, manual sausage stuffers come with a large handle that turns the crank. Therefore, they have to be placed at the edge of the table, countertop or board for you to use them effectively.
c). Vertical Sausage Stuffers
These are pretty similar to horizontal sausage makers, with the only difference coming in the position they sit. Vertical sausage stuffers are also a large capacity carrier and come as either manual or electric powered.
Why Do You Need a Sausage Stuffer?
Sausage stuffer machines are becoming more popular amongst health-conscious and budget-minded grilles for a couple of good reasons:
- No filler: Prepackaged sausages are loaded with sodium, preservatives, filler and who knows what else. Making your sausages at home means you're in total control of the meat blends, cut quality, fat content and flavor. In short, you know precisely what you're eating.
- Taste: You decide what meat to use. You also get to make the ultimate call on the seasonings and spices to have in your sausages. Plus, you can taste the mixture as you work on it until it hits your ideal mark.
- Less packaging: There's plenty of waste that comes with store-bought sausage: plastic wrap, cardboard, styrofoam, etc. Homemade sausages mean you get the best quality and taste without adding more packaging to the landfills.
- Pure fun: As much as making sausage can be a messy affair, it's equally gratifying. Feel like making turkey sausages with red pepper flakes and sage? Or two different pork cuts with some spicy seasonings and fruit? Then why not?
Which is the best sausage stuffer machine?
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Which are the Best Sausage Stuffers Overall?
1. LEM Products 1606 5-Pound Vertical Sausage Stuffer
- Cylinder holds 5 Pounds of meat; Cylinder removes easily to fill and...
- Hardened steel gears with a protective gear box; Stainless steel base...
- Includes (Two) clamps to secure unit to counter top
- Approximate Dimensions: 15" (H) x 9 1/4" (W) x 6" (Deep); Cylinder...
There's everything to love about the LEM Products 1606 Sausage Stuffer. It sports a sleek design for starters, and the carbon-steel, rust-resistant gears provide incredibly high precision when stuffing sausages. It's well suited to small and mid-sized homes with a capacity of around 5 lbs.
The gearbox cover prevents wearing out and improves reliability. The stainless steel cylinder and base provide remarkably robust bodywork for extra stability and durability. The valve features a plastic piston that protects the sausage stuffer from overheating and allows air to escape, making meat stuffing simple and quicker.
The LEM sausage stuffer comes with three different nozzles so that you can prepare different-sized sausages. Additionally, the large cylinder can be tilted at an angle for easier filling. It's also easily removable for thorough cleaning. The stuffer also comes with two clamps that firmly hold it tightly on the surface to prevent it from tumbling over while in use.
This vertical sausage stuffer is a reliable tool with superb performance. The solid construction means it's highly durable, while the rust resistance ensures that your food is protected from impurities. Plus, it has a 2-year warranty to give you total value for your money.
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2. Hakka 2-in-1 (7LB/3L) Sausage Stuffer
- Equipped with Two fill rates system , easy to use and quick.
- 2-Speed used more quick and smoothly.
- 5 different diameter S/S nozzle (Φ10 mm, Φ16 mm, Φ22 mm, Φ32 mm,...
- 3 different size for Churro Maker Parts.
- All parts that contact food directly are reach up SGS food hygiene...
This Hakka Sausage Stuffer is made of durable stainless steel, which is rust-resistant to keep your meat clean and healthy. The stainless steel build means the stuffer is quite lightweight, thus easier to carry around the kitchen. It also features 2-speed options, so it's easier to control how you prefer your sausages to come out.
This stainless steel vertical sausage stuffer is perfect for uninterrupted filling since the gears are reinforced with resin and supported by two long-threaded rods. The chrome-plated crank handles are coated with polypropylene which gives you a firm grip. The steel piston has air valves that release the air trapped in the sausages for easy stuffing while also preventing heat from building up.
It comes with four different stainless steel nozzles so you can get your preferred thickness. This Hakka sausage stuffer has two filling rates, so you can either do it slower or faster depending on how many pieces you want to make. The sturdy build, tailored with impressive features, make this sausage stuffer a great choice for preparing your own sausages at home.
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3. Fantes 2-Pound Sausage Maker with Suction Base
- Fante's Uncle Attilio’s Sausage Maker for easily creating homemade...
- Made from aluminum and plastic; suction base secures to any nonporous...
- Create thin, regular and plump Links with 3 nozzle sizes (15, 19, and...
- Fill Canister with sausage meat, slide casing onto the nozzle and turn...
- Suction base and crank handle for easy use; Includes instructions and...
If you want a small, premium sausage stuffer, this might be the one for you. It's a horizontal model, measuring 16.5x4x inches and weighs around 2.2 pounds. It's arguably the most portable sausage maker on this list and the best suited for people who don't need to make plenty of sausages at a time. In addition to the ideal size for home use, the relatively smaller profile also means it offers easy cleaning and storage. Furthermore, you can also bring it along for an outdoor picnic and enjoy your tasty sausages everywhere you go.
This sausage stuffer is made of aluminum with plastic components, making it pretty durable as well as easy to clean after use. It comes with three different-sized nozzles, so you can vary the size of the sausages you'll be making. Its suction base holds on to the surface firmly for stability so that the stuffer doesn't fall over while in use.
This is a reliable, convenient and powerful sausage maker designed for the average user. It's pretty user-friendly and quite easy to assemble and take apart for cleaning. The Fantes Sausage Maker is an absolute bargain for its price and a worthwhile investment for your kitchen.
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4. Super Deal 3L Sausage Filler & Stuffer
- The sausage stuffer is 90 degrees tiltable barrel designed; Capacity:...
- 4x Stuffing Tubes(2/3",3/4",1-1/4",1-1/2")
- This sausage filler has manual two speed (slow / fast) for quick...
- Steady base plate with 4 nozzles ensures better stability
- Package Content: 1x Manual Sausage Stuffer, 1x Hand Crank, 1x Locking...
The Super Deal 3L Sausage Filler & Stuffer features two manual meat speeds for meat processing, fast or slow, depending on how many sausages you're making. It comes with a removable cylinder for easy stuffing and emptying. This also makes it fairly easier to clean after use.
The sausage stuffer has a solid base plate with four nozzles that provides a firmer grip on the surface for stability. It also has four stuffing tubes with different diameters to help you choose how thin or thick you want your sausages to be. The metal piston gears and metal rods are ideal for withstanding high pressure over a long period without losing their quality and reliability.
One thing that stands out on this sausage stuffer is how it's built for both right- and left-handed people since it's not limited to one specific handset. More so, the barrel tilts at 90 degrees to make it easier to fill up its 3-pound capacity. Its impressive ease of operation makes this sausage stuffer an excellent tool for professionals and newbies as well.
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5. New VIVO Vertical Sausage Stuffer
- Metal construction - stainless steel cylinder and spout, as well as...
- Airflow and filling - Piston includes an air release valve to allow...
- Nozzles - 4 plastic nozzles included: 10 mm ( 0. 4 inch), 20 mm (0. 79...
- Disassembly - disassembles in seconds for easy cleaning and convenient...
- One Year manufacturer - sturdy stuffer comes with a Limited 1-year...
The New Vivo Sausage stuffer has a metal build made of stainless steel that can hold up to seven pounds of meat. Its metal gears are also rust-resistant, so you really get a durable machine that will stand the test of time. As far as great value for money goes, the high-quality material certainly hits the mark. Additionally, the small size makes it quite portable and easy to store even if you have limited room in the kitchen.
The stuffer on the cylinder can tilt backward, making it easier for you to fill the tray without making a massive mess in the kitchen. The aluminum piston has an air release valve that allows air to escape, and at the same time, prevents the stuffer from overheating. The piston also has a rubber gasket that ensures the meat doesn't seep through, hence reducing overall wastage.
It comes with four plastic stuffing tubes that allow you to make your sausages in different sizes, casings or mixes depending on your preferences. Filling up the 7.9-inch cylinder is pretty easy since it has a large capacity. Plus, the plastic covering on the handles gives you a firmer grip so that it's also easy to crank. And the rubber base offers improved stability to prevent this stainless steel vertical sausage stuffer from toppling over the surface.
The Vivo sausage stuffer is remarkably user-friendly. Taking the parts is straightforward, so you won't have any difficulty cleaning the machine after use. This simple yet elegant sausage stuffer makes the process quite efficient and less tedious.
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Factors to Consider in the Best Sausage Stuffer Machine
1. Manual vs. Motorized
Sausage stuffers are either manually or electric powered. A manual sausage stuffer needs a bit of elbow grease to operate since you'll have to turn the crank by hand. That said, they are more affordable, smaller and practically waterproof -so you can dip them in water for cleaning. More so, a manual sausage stuffer tends to last longer because it lacks any electronic parts.
On the other hand, electric stuffers do most of the work for you, hence easier and less-intensive to operate. In addition, they typically feature an on/off foot pedal, allowing you to use both hands so you can work faster.
2. Capacity
The ideal size of a sausage stuffer largely depends on how much sausage you'll make at a time. This entails the size of the cylinder rather than the actual size of the sausage stuffer. In other words, can the machine carry as little or as much meat to feed your family and guests, occasionally?
If you have a relatively large family and prefer to make your sausages all at once, you might be better off with a horizontal sausage stuffer. It generally holds up to 20 lbs of meat, which should suffice for most households. A vertical sausage stuffer is more suited to families that use between 5 and 15 lbs of minced meat for their sausages.
However, if you normally only have to make sausages for yourself, or maybe a friend or two now and then, you can opt for a horn sausage stuffer. It's lightweight and easy to use, and pretty basic with only a few necessary features. Plus, it doesn't require electricity to operate.
3. Material
The material used to make the sausage stuffer determines its durability and ease of use. As you would expect, metal products are more long-lasting than plastic ones. Therefore, if you want a durable, high-quality sausage stuffer, we recommend aluminum, stainless less, tin, chrome or refined copper. However, it's worth noting that aluminum is less durable than stainless steel; it has a higher likelihood of breaking down.
You also want good bodywork on your machine. So on top of high-quality materials, it's also advisable to look out for a sturdy build to ensure you have a reliable tool that gets the job done well.
4. Ease of Operation
Ease of operation is another crucial element to consider when you're looking for the best sausage maker. A manual stuffer means you have to turn the crank by hand, which can be fatiguing when you're stuffing large quantities of sausage at a time. On the other hand, an electric sausage stuffer does most of the work for you, cutting down on time and weariness.
If you prefer a manual sausage stuffer, get a unit with a 90-degree crank arm, rubber feet and a wide base. These features let your work faster, safer and more comfortably. Conversely, if you opt for the electric version, look for a unit with an on/off switch. This allows you to control the stuffer with a foot pedal, so both of your hands can get busy with the sausages.
5. Nozzles
Typically, a sausage stuffer comes with at least four different nozzles, ranging from as small as 2/3 inches to 1 1/2 inches in diameter. Thus, you can make tiny snack-sized sausage links, chunky brats and even uniquely-sized churros that you can have for lunch. The cherry on top is, you can buy additional nozzles with different diameters for your sausage stuffer if the packaged ones don't suit your needs and preferences.
6. Speed
Most sausage makers have two-speed options. The first one allows to speed up the piston filling the cylinder with meat, while the other one is mostly for stuffing the casings. These speeds come in handy for different reasons, so look out for a machine that features both.
7. Safety Features
Every machine has its risks of injury, and the same applies to a sausage stuffer. You must ensure your preferred unit has passed rigorous testing to protect you and your loved ones, especially children. A quality electric sausage stuffer should come with appropriate safety precautions, including a gearbox casing to protect your hands from accessing the gears when they are rotating the crank.
8. Cleaning & Maintenance
Your machine will inevitably need to be washed and cleaned. Therefore, we recommend looking for a sausage stuffer that is easy to disassemble. You won't have a hard time separating and cleaning the individual components; the sausage stuffing tubes, body cylinder and pistons.
An aluminum sausage stuffer has to be hand-washed, as aluminum is not recommended for dishwashing. Conversely, stainless steel is dishwasher-safe, which makes cleanup quick and easy. You simply take the components apart, detach the cylinder from the base of the sausage stuffer and put them in the dishwasher.
9. Warranty
Lastly, it's also important to check if the sausage stuffer comes backed up by a solid warranty. The best sausage stuffers usually have a one-year warranty that covers damaged parts.
How to Use a Sausage Stuffer
Owning the best sausage stuffer machine is a good thing, but using it effectively is quite another. So how do you maximize your new kitchen tool?
1. Pour out the ground meat into a relatively large bowl.
2. Add a generous amount of your preferred spices, like black pepper, minced garlic, cumin, smoked paprika, etc., to the ground meat.
3. Add a tablespoonful of salt for each pound of ground meat to taste. Sprinkle it generally.
4. Mix the ground meat, spices and salt using a wooden spoon or spatula.
5. Once the mixer is well done, pour all the bowl contents into a sausage stuffer.
6. Use the plastic tube(s) to thread the sausage casing and start filling.
7. As the sausages are coming out of the stuffer, continue to twirl them.
8. Once you're done stuffing, tie a knot at the end of the tiny sausage casing that's left.
9. As you squeeze the sausages tightly, twirl the links of each sausage using two hands.
Tips and Tricks You Might Need
First, soak your sausage casings in warm water for approximately an hour before you start working on them.
- Change the water every couple of minutes to keep the sausages warm.
- Right before adding the sausages into the cylinder, add some water to the mixture.
- It's also recommended to test your seasoning before you start the final preparations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on Sausage Stuffers
1. What types of meat are suitable for sausage stuffing?
You can use any meat for sausage stuffing as long as it doesn't have bones. Just mince your preferred type of (boneless) meat, mix the ground with your preferred spices and get on with making those delicious sausages.
2. Can I add fat to sausage preparation?
Yes! Animal fat is one of the basic ingredients for making sausages. In fact, the juiciest sausages are usually the ones with high fat content. Nevertheless, you still need to be cautious since too much fat can ruin your sausages. Like most things in life, moderation is key if you want to keep your sausages healthy, juicy and delicious.
3. Am I better off with an electric sausage stuffer than a manual one?
Short answer, yes. Electric sausage stuffers are generally faster than manual stuffers. As such, you can prepare lots of sausages within just a few minutes. Besides, putting together and taking apart electric sausage stuffers is a pretty straightforward endeavor.
