Making snack sticks question on stuffer

[Steve H]

I was wondering if there is a better way of stuffing snack sticks. My vertical stuffer always leaves alot of meat remaining in the stuffer. With sausage this isn't a problem. I'll just stuff the rest by hand. But with 19 or 21mm casings this isn't an option. Is there a better method/tool for this? I was thinking perhaps a jerky cannon.

 

[zwiller]

Just ordered my first stuffer but have researched a lot and have seen some guys add a slice or 2 of old bread on top of the meat to get it all out and also helps clean it too apparently. I debated cannon/gun and stuffer a long time and once I realized how hard it is to load a gun I opted for the stuffer.

 

[Steve H]

What stuffer are you using? When making snack sticks with my 5lb LEM counting what' left in the stuffer and the 3/8" stuffing horn I might lose one 8" long snack stick.

Generic 5 pound vertical stuffer. When this one bottoms out I have around a pound left at the bottom.I could use the bread trick.

 

[fivetricks]

A good use for all of those old plastic shopping bags everyone has laying around :-)

 

[chopsaw]

Generic 5 pound vertical stuffer. When this one bottoms out I have around a pound left at the bottom.I could use the bread trick.

A pound ? Ouch . Take what a cannon cost and put it towards a better stuffer .

 

[zwiller]

Yes, seem alot. Total noob to stuffers but I'd assume it could be adjusted?

 

[chopsaw]

Yes, seem alot. Total noob to stuffers but I'd assume it could be adjusted?

Don't think so . Depends on the void at the bottom
What stuffer did you buy ?

 

[zwiller]

Don't think so . Depends on the void at the bottom
What stuffer did you buy ?

Hakka Bros knock off. https://www.ebay.com/itm/183306917971

 

[chopsaw]

The ones that exit the bottom using an elbow , leave a fair amount of meat behind . Just remove it by hand .
Some come out the front , so only the connection and the tube hold meat .

 

[zwiller]

I see, thanks. Was planning to do the bread thing but is the first time I've seen some one say like pound. WOW. You guys will laugh but I plan to do 1kg/2.2lb batches LOL

 

[Steve H]

Yeah, it is a lot. I can get a LEM Jerky cannon and longer 3/4 feed tube for approx 100.00. I'll have to figure out the pros and cons before I make a decision.
I bought the stuffer when I was just beginning. If I knew then what I know now I would have gotten the LEM unit. You only need to take a quick look at the design on the one I have to see it wasn't designed well at all.

 

[chopsaw]

I see, thanks. Was planning to do the bread thing but is the first time I've seen some one say like pound. WOW. You guys will laugh but I plan to do 1kg/2.2lb batches LOL

I'm not laughing at all . I like the smaller batches . You should buy the Marianski book or go to the web page . His formulas are gear for that size batch .
Here , if you dont have it .
https://meatsandsausages.com/sausage-making

 

[Steve H]

Hakka Bros knock off. https://www.ebay.com/itm/183306917971

That one looks like a better design. Mine has a trough at the bottom with a lip. So the plunger does not go down near far enough.

 

[hondabbq]

I have the Cabelas 11 lb stuffer. it also leaves a bunch of meat at the bottom.
I don't panic I just take it and make patties out of what ever meat it is and have it for breakfast with eggs.

 

[zwiller]

I'm not laughing at all . I like the smaller batches . You should buy the Marianski book or go to the web page . His formulas are gear for that size batch .
Here , if you dont have it .
https://meatsandsausages.com/sausage-making

Got it and love it and is actually the main reason for that size. Pretty excited. Been wanting to do sausage a few years now. Semi related question: do real casings smell/stink? Wife would freak...

 

[fivetricks]

Nah, they don't stink at all. Have a very neutral smell. Make sure to purge the salt from them though. Takes a lot longer than the package says it will. I did mine for prob 4-5 days.

Have fun :-)

 

[Steve H]

Got it and love it and is actually the main reason for that size. Pretty excited. Been wanting to do sausage a few years now. Semi related question: do real casings smell/stink? Wife would freak...

If they do stink then they're bad. I rinse my for 2 hours. Changing water a few times.

 

[KBFlyer]

Go big or go home

35 pounds at a time. Only thing that gets left behind is what is in the tube which does not amount to much.

My kid was making snack stick when he was 4, he is now 15 but still love making them.

 

[dward51]

It's the design of the stuffer. They way they use a 90* elbow off the bottom is different that the way the LEM and other stuffers do it. I have a Northern Tool 5lb stuffer thats about 11 years old and this is what I have left over in the bottom of mine (basically it's the same as the old nylon gear LEM model). The stuffer tube is off the side at the bottom instead of in a 90* like the Hakka.

Just enough meat left between the bottom of the stuffer body and whats in the snack stick tube to make a "cooks treat" fried patty about the size of a breakfast sausage.

 

[Steve H]

After looking around I ordered this one. Just by looking you can tell that there will be little meat left at the bottom. The price was good and the reviews were also very good. I'll see soon enough.