Stuffing snack sticks?

[JohninPa]

Anyone stuff snack sticks with a grinder? I know it will probably be a pain but am thinking of giving it a try just for my first batch. Then if I am happy with how the sticks turn out I will invest in a stuffer. Also any suggestions on how big or small of a batch to try for the first time ?

[rhjbarney]

JohninPa what is your meat block. My small batch is 5lb. Deer and 4lb. Cheap lose mild breakfast sausage for the fat content .then i use 26mm casings with 1/2 inch stuffing tube because I broke 2 suffers trying the small tube and 17 mm casings. But at least with my grinder stuffing is very slow.

[270Sniper]

JohninPa… we did about 15 lbs of sticks last fall using our LEM grinder. As soon as you get used to the pressure needed to make the casing fill, it was easy. We had a few fat ones but they turned out great!

[pauliedmondsjr]

I did some snack sticks with my grinder on a KitchenAid, but quickly realized the value of a dedicated stuffer.
I use a 5 pound stuffer because I’m Mr. Smallbatch. It’s a lot easier to use a stuffer so you can control the feed rate.
I’m also pineing over a real grinder to do that step. But doing well enough doing my grinding and mixing with the kitchenaid.

[JohninPa]

Thanks for the responses. To be clear this is just for my first attempt at them. If I like the finished product I will invest in a sausage stuffer. I just don’t want to invest in a stuffer and then not be happy with my finished product and it just sit around.

[DougSmokes]

I use my Kitchen aid mixer with the grinder attachment for grinding, but have found that I need to remove the blade and plates when I use the stuffer. All in all it works fine. I use collagen.

[Parksider]

JohninPa I have the Weston #22 grinder with the stuffer auger that came with the ginder. I’m very happy with how that stuffs. If i were doing just small batches that’s what i’d be using.

[PapaSop]

JohninPa
It will be a little slow but definitely can be done. Depends on the size of your grinder. A larger grinder will push much more meat through and be faster. Try a five pound batch and see how it goes. I typically use a 19mm casing, usually a mahogany or sometimes fresh.

[JohninPa]

I have a lem #12 grinder , believe the smallest tube it came with is a 5/8" will that work with the 19 mm casings?

[pauliedmondsjr]

JohninPa said in Stuffing snack sticks?:

I have a lem #12 grinder , believe the smallest tube it came with is a 5/8" will that work with the 19 mm casings?

If that is the O.D. (outside diameter) it should. 19mm equals 3/4".
Personally, I would want a smaller stuffing tube than 5/8" for snack sticks.
https://www.metric-conversions.org/length/millimeters-to-inches.htm

But LEM may not want the back pressure a smaller tube could cause.

[Jonathon]

Biggest issue with stuffing off of a grinder, in my opinion, is that you are going to get air pockets. In a 32 mm casing thats no big deal but in a 19mm casing…that gets tough in my mind. It can be done but my suggestion would be to use a larger casing.