Are LEM grinders overated

[BC Buck]

I'm curious about this also. Has anyone used their grinder as the stuffer also? I have not tried it as I've always ground then used a dedicated stuffer.

If you have, did you put the stuffing tube on with the grinding plate and stuff as you ground, or did you grind, then insert the "bean" pass through plate with the stuffing tube and then run the meat through again to stuff?

My second grind I use a medium grind plate with stuffing tube. My grinder is slow but stuffing tube has nothing to do with that. Going to keep meat cool, moist and smaller in diameter than feed throat to try speeding feed process.

 

[old sarge]

I would do the 2d grind seperate from stuffing then use the stuffing plate with stuffer. Should go quicker.

 

[biteme7951]

My hunting party just bought the #22 LEM grinder.

Considering we will be processing about 200 lbs of trim (with 200# of pork mixed in) , 400 lbs total finished product......what I'm gathering is we will need a separate stuffer? Or is it realistic that we could use the grinder we have to stuff sausage casings?

Grinders are engineered to grind meat fast. Stuffers are engineered to stuff meat fast. It's all about having the right tools for the job at hand, and since you are talking about 100's of pounds of meat, consider buying the biggest stuffer that your budget will allow.

Barry.

 

[old sarge]

X2 on Barry's post.

 

[JckDanls 07]

My theory is... When using the grinder to stuff, you are essentially grinding a third time.. myself... I only regrind half (through small plate) of all the first grind (coarse) and then mix the two grinds back together... I have a Cabelas commercial 1/2 hp grinder (it's a beast) and it has the stuffing attachment with a funneled down tube that also has an auger in it... The attachment has never been touched with meat (never used)...

So I would agree with a community stuffer at camp and then have personal stuffers at home... another advantage to this is easier transportation of the ground meat home... you can carry more meat (bulk) in ziplock bags in the cooler rather than have a 100 lbs or more (each member) pre-stuffed.. I know refridgerated space is usually very limited when traveling ..

X3 with Barry

 

[hoity toit]

Use a dedicated stuffer. A grinder is a grinder - a stuffer is a stuffer. I have LEm 8, a Lem22, and a Enterprise 32 grinder. I like the #22 the best, it is a Hoss. the 8 is really not worth the effort, and we only break out the #32 when we have a whole lot of meat to do.On the stuffer I have a 11lb vertical 2 speed and a 10lb Dakota water stuffer.Each has its merits. I like the water stuffer when I am by myself with no help. The vertical I like for boudin and Summer sausage and stuffing 1-2 lb freezer bags of ground meat. You can chuck a 1/2 cordless drill to it for easy stuffing on low speed. Just my thoughts.

HT

 

[dward51]

That's what I've always done (dedicated grinder, and separate dedicated stuffer). Every grinder I've owned came with one of those "bean shaped stuffing plates" so that's why I was wondering if anyone was using the grinder that way. Hell, I'd rather have another grinder plate instead of a useless stuffer plate.

 

[indaswamp]

Double post.

 

[indaswamp]

My hunting party just bought the #22 LEM grinder.

Considering we will be processing about 200 lbs of trim (with 200# of pork mixed in) , 400 lbs total finished product......what I'm gathering is we will need a separate stuffer? Or is it realistic that we could use the grinder we have to stuff sausage casings?

Trust me when I say this-get a dedicated sausage stuffer. Even if it is just a 5lb. model. Especially with that much meat to stuff!

The problem with using a grinder to stuff is that the back pressure necessary to force air pockets out of the links slows the grinder down to a crawl. When this happens the meat just turns in one spot and you get sections of sausage in the links that are just mush. The texture is too inconsistent IMO. I will never use a grinder as a stuffer as long as I have a dedicated stuffer.

 

[slapaho_injun]

Thanks guys. I'll get the separate stuffer.......suggestions? I want a 20# or better with metal gears. Are there better ones out there you like, other than LEM?