homemade sausages (merged)

newgran_2

Hi everyone, I started making sausages earlier this year. I bought the sausage maker/ mincer from lakeland. This was very good, but found that by the time I had minced all the meat, and then through the sausage skins, my arm was aching,(with the pushing down) I thought maybe the motor wasnt strong enough, so I bought the mincer/sausage maker attatchment for the kenwood chef. That was much better, and I prefer using the kenwood, infact the machine from lakekland has not been out the box since the kenwood was bought. Hope that helps someone.

geordie_joe

mumoftwo wrote: »

Do you like the Lakeland mincer Lesley. I have a Kenwood and wonder if I should invest in attachments for that but the Lakeland one seems so easy to use and wash, and if I understand it correctly, makes the sausages as well after the mincing?

I bought one off ebay for next to nothing. It doesn't make mince, it just turns the meat to mush. Great for sausages, but no good if you want mince.

Pitlanepiglet

geordie_joe wrote: »

I bought one off ebay for next to nothing. It doesn't make mince, it just turns the meat to mush. Great for sausages, but no good if you want mince.

Do you mean the Lakeland one or the Kenwood produces mush? The Kenwood should have a number of different screens to produce a different consistency of mince.

geordie_joe

Pitlanepiglet wrote: »

Do you mean the Lakeland one or the Kenwood produces mush? The Kenwood should have a number of different screens to produce a different consistency of mince.

Sorry, I meant the Lakeland one. I don't think the screw thing that pushes the meat out the holes is the right shape, the meat just goes round and round and gets turned to mush.

It's great for making sausages, but not good if you want mince. If you've ever seen frozen value mince defrosted, that's what it turns a joint of pork shoulder into.

Having said that, I bought it just to make sausages with, so I'm happy. But I would not be happy if I'd bought it to make mince.

jexygirl

hey
I make my own mince / sausages and love it! Its quite time consuming to start with, and they tell you to buy the collagen casings as a beginner, as they are supposed to be easier, but I find the natural ones better and more forgiving!
I buy some spices ready made on line, but also love it because you can literally make your own out of all sorts of leftovers! Just mince it, add some sort of minced fat (I use pork belly usually) and experiment! I think if you buy specific ingredients, it would work out as about the same price, but if you use up what you have then it is great! Turkey and cranberry, pheasant and leek, pork and black pudding, "pizza" ones (which means anything i have that needs using - onions, tomatoes, any left over or about to go off meats etc) it all gets chucked in the mincer and into a case!
Besides anythign else, its fun I find !
I often serve whatever concoction i make, inside a giant yorkie, with creamy mash and onion gravy!
All the good sausage making sites listed already are great for advice and supplies if needed. Always rest them before cooking tho, even when you are dying to try them! Otherwise they tend to split - half hour in the fridge works for me - just enough time to clean up and have a coffee! Also make sure you twist one clockwise and another anti clockwise. If you run out of casings, I make scotch eggs / sausage plait / patties etc.
Give it a try and see how you go - whats the worst that can happen !
Have Fun!
Jex

patchwork_cat

I am making a meatloaf with porridge oats and minced pork and it was lovely last time, but just missing a bit of flavour. Now with Chicken I love Tarragon, but I can't think what herb goes well with Pork. What would you pick, sage, oregano, thyme or something like Worcester sauce. What is your favourite herb in a sausage?

lostinrates

Depends what I'm doing with it, sage or thyme would suit most tastes with pork in a meat loaf I'd have thought.

Gothicfairy

sage all the way..How about adding an apple as well ? Bit of mustard maybe ?

FelinePrincess

I don't know what herbs I would but with it but I really love apple with pork - it is so delicious!

rachbc

thyme and a bit of lemon zest for me