Ref; Equipment Question!

[TomKnollRFV]

Alright..as some one who loves summer sausage etc but never made it, my biggest reason not to was the equipment. Mostly the stuffer; they cost a bit for some thing I might only use once or twice. I've bought meatgrinders over the years and they were definitely put in the wasted money category. <It probably didn't help I was buying fairly cheap hand operated ones to begin with but it was a project when I was like 13 with dad. So.>

I impulse bought this; https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/the-back-forty-jerky-gun-seasoning-kit/0000000249972?Ntt=Back Forty

Now if I don't put any attachment on, could I actually use it to stuff a casing for a bigger sausage? I don't need a 3 foot long summer sausage, a small one is fine, actually preferred so I can freeze/give them away in smaller units. <I'll be honest, if I had a huge summer sausage that tasted good around, I might eat the whole thing in one day any how>.

I can measure it and all, and it holds 1 pound at a time. ..

Also I honestly have no idea how you put casings on the snack stick nozzle ..or if it was even meant for that. I figured get some thing cheap and basic and if I find it rewarding, I'll likely invest in a LEM Jerky cannon some day perhaps.

 

[kawboy]

That is what I use. I only make 5# patches, so it works pretty good. Haven't tried snack sticks yet, so cant answer you there. I started using the fleetfarm summer sausage kits, now make from scratch using a recipe from here. Gives your arm a good workout if you don't keep the mix loose.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Well Kawboy how do you do it? I've never done cased sausage before..I want to do like summer sausage. Which I admit I pretty much don't know any thing here beyond grinding up chicken when I was younger with basil etc for a pizza topping like twice. I plan to just get ground beef and skip that stage...but I really don't know what size casing to get on this thing if I try my hand at any thing. I assume you don't put an attachment on right?

 

[tropics]

Tom I use my jerky cannon for that.Pics in this link will helps.
Richie
https://www.smokingmeatforums.com/threads/salami-in-the-mes40.233631/

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Oh I know Tropics...I read it even has a dedicated sausage attachment..but 16 dollars vs like 50. I had spent about 40 bucks on pork yesterday and all. Also when you do Salami/Summer sausage like that, do you freeze that which you won't use immediately?

 

[tropics]

5 pounds gets vac sealed and in the fridge it won't last long.I have been doing the UMAi sausages lately the same way.Post a pic of the gun you have please I think they are all the same basically
Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

It's probably the same as the others, though I saw some are 3/4 pound, this is a 1lber. I just don't know how I'd put the sausage casings on this, or do you not? I love summer sausage and would love to make my own. I got that TenderQuick stuff from the experiment of snack sticks. Originally why I got this was to do properly formed snack sticks. I want to experiment in using ground turkey etc for sausage, thus all my questions. <I saw ground turkey for 1.09 a pound. Figured I could make sausage with that and claim it's healthy!>

 

[tropics]

The large casing goes right over the barrel
You need special tubes for regular sausage,check with the manufacturer for longer tubes.I make chicken sausage it is good
Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I rather suspect Richie there isn't any additional parts/tubes for it. It's Fleet Farms own brand.. that said, it wouldn't likely be hard to make a LEM attachment fit to it. I'd need the measurements of the jerky cannon ring etc to see if it would. My big concern is I see things like '50mm' casing etc and I have no real idea what it means. I don't want to spend 10 dollars on some casings to find out they won't fit or what have you.

 

[tropics]

Tom I posted this once for someone so here are some pics Hope it helps.
Richie
2.25" base

With ruler

bags for summer sausage

fit on the barrel

Let me know if you need any more info
Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Measured it just now and it's at 2 and 3/4 inch. I don't think most sausage casings will fit on that, will they?

 

[kawboy]

Well Kawboy how do you do it? I've never done cased sausage before..I want to do like summer sausage. Which I admit I pretty much don't know any thing here beyond grinding up chicken when I was younger with basil etc for a pizza topping like twice. I plan to just get ground beef and skip that stage...but I really don't know what size casing to get on this thing if I try my hand at any thing. I assume you don't put an attachment on right?

I buy the one pound casings at Fleetfarm. Load the gun and shoot through the largest tube. Just pull the casing over the tube and pull gun back as tube fills.

 

[tropics]

Measured it just now and it's at 2 and 3/4 inch. I don't think most sausage casings will fit on that, will they?

You should do as the OP just posted.
Richie

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I buy the one pound casings at Fleetfarm. Load the gun and shoot through the largest tube. Just pull the casing over the tube and pull gun back as tube fills.

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/lem-non-edible-clear-fibrous-casings/0000000006899?Ntt=Casing Do you mean these? I'm concerned about trying to put the casing on the gun and they'll tear. Thats what confuses me. Casing sizes I assume match the outer diameter of the gun you are loading?

 

[kawboy]

https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/lem-non-edible-clear-fibrous-casings/0000000006899?Ntt=Casing Do you mean these? I'm concerned about trying to put the casing on the gun and they'll tear. Thats what confuses me. Casing sizes I assume match the outer diameter of the gun you are loading?

Yup. The biggest tube I have is nowhere near as big as the casing. You just hold the bunched up casing over the tube and shoot the meat in. Slowly back the gun out as you get it packed firmly in the casing. Toughest part for me is tying them off. I've just been using bread twist ties.

 

[TomKnollRFV]

Ahh so the casing has some stretch to it? That is my concern that I'll get a casing and promptly try to put it on and it'll just rip or some thing! Thats what this is all about; I can't figure out what the case sizes mean in relationship to the gun tube etc. I mean I'm not above ending up using a spoon and alot of cursing to get it done either when I try this LOL

 

[kawboy]

Ahh so the casing has some stretch to it? That is my concern that I'll get a casing and promptly try to put it on and it'll just rip or some thing! Thats what this is all about; I can't figure out what the case sizes mean in relationship to the gun tube etc. I mean I'm not above ending up using a spoon and alot of cursing to get it done either when I try this LOL

You soak them first, I've never had a blow out. First time I made them, I hand stuffed them. Not fun!

 

[TomKnollRFV]

I guess the next time I get over by fleet farm I'll have to check for them and get some and give it a whirl! Also I imagined stuffing by hand would be horrid. My memories of grinding meat by hand were horrid enough.

 

[checkdude]

Why not just sow some from a piece of muslin? Easy! Make it any size you like.

 

[tx smoker]

"Also I honestly have no idea how you put casings on the snack stick nozzle ..or if it was even meant for that. I figured get some thing cheap and basic and if I find it rewarding, I'll likely invest in a LEM Jerky cannon some day perhaps."

Tom....I bought a 7# vertical stuffer a few months ago and realized an issue with it. In the 90 elbow at the bottom that turns from vertical to horizontal where the stuffing horn attaches, there is always a large amount of meat in there that won't stuff into the casings because the piston in the vertical chamber has bottomed out. I got a jerky cannon so I could take that meat out, put it into the cannon, and get all of it stuffed into casings. The stuffing horns for my vertical stuffer have the same diameter base as the jerky cannon so they fit right onto cannon. See pics below. I only have 4 of the stuffing horns pictured because those are the ones I use pretty much all the time. Now to go out on a limb. I've bought several pieces of equipment that came with stuffing horns that I have no use for....a LOT of them. If you'll send me a PM with your address I'll mail you an assortment of them so you can use them for any type or size of sausage you may want to make. Additionally, all sizes (diameters) are available on Amazon and can be bought in bundle packs or individually.

I have both stainless steel tubes and plastic. I'll measure the base size and see if they'll fit on your stuffing tool. If they require modification of any sort, I'll send the plastic ones. They will be a LOT easier to work with than stainless.

Hope this'll help...
Robert