Hey Mike,
I've done jerky using the jerky kit that came with the gun, turned out really good. I've also made the fresh sausage that they are talking about and it is real good too.
The only problem I had was getting the smoker lower than 180°, had to smoke the jerky at night and then it had to be patted dry, as per the instructions, and that was a pain staying up all night.
I'm sure they have hand crank meat grinders there that you can start off with, I had to keep it in the fridge to keep it cool it, believe me working with cold meat is the only way to do it and that is a problem where we live, my sausage making can only be done at night.
I suggest you most definitely buy Rytek's sausage making book, he wrote it using details of 30-40 years ago and I find that helps a lot with us who live in the boonies and don't have access to all of the modern things.
I first started out with buying my pork already ground and making Jimmy Dean clones, the recipes are here or you can find them on the web, they turned out good and I used them for fatties, then I went from a hand crank grinder (you can have it if you want it) to an electric, I have since bought a foot switch, I have ordered dextrose and have it on hand for hot dogs, I've found a casing supplier here, I'm just waiting for my stuffer plate for my grinder and I'll be making hot dogs and sausages.
Sorry it's so long, enjoy your new adventure into the wonderful world of sausage,
Gene
I've done jerky using the jerky kit that came with the gun, turned out really good. I've also made the fresh sausage that they are talking about and it is real good too.
The only problem I had was getting the smoker lower than 180°, had to smoke the jerky at night and then it had to be patted dry, as per the instructions, and that was a pain staying up all night.
I'm sure they have hand crank meat grinders there that you can start off with, I had to keep it in the fridge to keep it cool it, believe me working with cold meat is the only way to do it and that is a problem where we live, my sausage making can only be done at night.
I suggest you most definitely buy Rytek's sausage making book, he wrote it using details of 30-40 years ago and I find that helps a lot with us who live in the boonies and don't have access to all of the modern things.
I first started out with buying my pork already ground and making Jimmy Dean clones, the recipes are here or you can find them on the web, they turned out good and I used them for fatties, then I went from a hand crank grinder (you can have it if you want it) to an electric, I have since bought a foot switch, I have ordered dextrose and have it on hand for hot dogs, I've found a casing supplier here, I'm just waiting for my stuffer plate for my grinder and I'll be making hot dogs and sausages.
Sorry it's so long, enjoy your new adventure into the wonderful world of sausage,
Gene