TG78

My wife and I want to convert some of our game meat into jerkey and sausage and are looking into a hand grinder but don't know what is a good model and if we will regret not just going electric. We would only need it for about one deer and maybe two hogs in a season. The second part of this question is if it is much better to have a sausage stuffer or is using the grinder plenty good for making links. Any help would be appreciated.

UncleNorby

I really don't know about hand grinders. I have only used the grinder attachment ona kitchenaid mixer. It works OK for small quantities. I believe they sell a sausage stuffer attachment too.

jerseyhunter

I would go with an electric grinder. I started out with my wife's kitchen-aid, then I bought the small 1/3 hp no 8 Cabella's grinder about 6-7 years ago and have been wishing I bought atleast the next size bigger. I only do 2-4 deer a year. It works great and I don't plan on getting anything bigger anytime soon. As far as stuffers. I bought the stuffing tubes to fit the grinder. worked good at first but you couldn't use it making hotdogs so now I have the 5lb vertical crank stuffer. Makes sausage making fast and easy. Good luck and put the money you would use on a hand grinder towards an electric.

Big Guy01

If you want to try a hand grinder I would suggest at least a size 22 or even a size 32. They will grind fine. Not to worry about brand, you can go cheap and get a castmodel that is plated or for a few moredollars get a stainless model. The beauty with a hand grinder is you get a big size grinder that will last and which you can add a motor to and you never need another grinder.
As far as stuffing with the grinder it will work OK on larger sized sausage such as brats ( with some practice) smaller sausages are difficult with that set up and I would recomend a seperate stuffer, just stay away from plastic gears, they work fine for large casings but won't stand up to stuffing smaller snack stix.

TG78

Thanks for the input!

zrexpilot

get the hand grinder that has a large wheel on it, its for attaching a fan belt to an electric motor, and whalla you have an electric grinder

YooperMike

I use my KitchenAid mixer with the grinder attachment. I have done very large quantities, and it does well with them. I grind probably 5-6 deer per season with it, and it has held up like a champ. I also make links with it using the stuff attachment. Plus, with the mixer, you can mix the sausage too, all with one machine. The money you would spend on a grinder you can get the kitchen-aid and attachments.