Smokin-It User Forum!
Accessories => Gadgets and Gizmos => Topic started by: old sarge on January 10, 2018, 08:00:37 PM
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Over the holidays I decided that I needed (wanted?) a meat grinder. Ordered it today.
https://www.fleetfarm.com/detail/lem-8-big-bite-grinder-0-5-hp/0000000286358;jsessionid=-xLinVdAB8rQBSrD55ffAS25x_L_H7bHN1PpHz8tISkI-mqMrTCz!1780984844?bc=LEM&brandCrumb=4164077436&bn=lem
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Looks like a very capable grinder of meats old sarge. Sausages soon?
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Not sure yet. We use a lot of ground beef, pork, chicken, lamb and with pre packaged one never knows if it came from the same critter or several. Been using the food processor for small batches as we cook but wanted to go larger and vac seal and freeze. I am sure sausage will be in there at some point.
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Congrats Old Sarge!
You are going to love your new LEM grinder. I wish I had the Big Bite Auger on mine, but my 12-year-old LEM #12 grinder is still plugging along, so no need for a new one yet.
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I wanted a 12 Greg but could not resist the price of the 8. Is there any chance that the BigBite auger would fit your older grinder?
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They have a great reputation, I am sure you're set nicely for a while Sarge!
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I wanted a 12 Greg but could not resist the price of the 8. Is there any chance that the BigBite auger would fit your older grinder?
I as thinking the same thing Surge. Unfortunately, according to LEM they are not compatible. :(
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Thank you for buying from a Wisconsin company. :) One of my favorite stores!
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Kari - I could not believe the low price. I honestly believed it was an error or that it was an older model or a refurb. But the folks I talked with did some checking and called me back to let me know that it was new so I ordered. Should prove to be a good investment.
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I have a LEM Big Bite 8 and I think it is really well made and works like a champ.
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I bought a new in box #5 for $150. Love it. It grinds as fast as I can feed 15-20 lbs of semi frozen pork in. Double grinding for bratwurst is easy too.
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I looked at a lot of different brands - Weston, Cabela's, Thunderbird, Kitchener, Guide Gear, and watched a load of videos. Decided the LEM was the machine for me. Should be here in a few days.
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UPDATE: The grinder arrived today. I am impressed and pretty much glad that I did not get a #12. The #8 is plenty large, more than enough for my needs. It will be a while before I put it to use but definitely looking forward to putting it through it's paces.
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You won’t be disappointed David. 😊
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Here's my "processing center". I do lots of bacon, so I watched Craigslist for a couple of months until I found a decent commercial 10 in meat slicer for a reasonable $250 price. You can see my grinder on the bottom shelf. I use the mixing bowls with ice between them when grinding meat. Keeps the meat and fat from getting to soft after grinding. Only thing I couldn't fit on the shelving is my 10#sausage stuffer.
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Nice set up. I want to order a 1/4 inch plate for the grinder. I have a small, ancient Rival slicer that is decades old and just will not die. Not great but it suffices for what little I use it for. Mostly slicing left over beef roasts and ham for sandwiches. If I ever get into making bacon, I will definitely need an upgrade.
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Here's my "processing center". I do lots of bacon, so I watched Craigslist for a couple of months until I found a decent commercial 10 in meat slicer for a reasonable $250 price. You can see my grinder on the bottom shelf. I use the mixing bowls with ice between them when grinding meat. Keeps the meat and fat from getting to soft after grinding. Only thing I couldn't fit on the shelving is my 10#sausage stuffer.
Very nice setup!
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Here's my "processing center". I do lots of bacon, so I watched Craigslist for a couple of months until I found a decent commercial 10 in meat slicer for a reasonable $250 price. You can see my grinder on the bottom shelf. I use the mixing bowls with ice between them when grinding meat. Keeps the meat and fat from getting to soft after grinding. Only thing I couldn't fit on the shelving is my 10#sausage stuffer.
Nice find on that slicer! I would love to upgrade my elcheapo 8" slicer.
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I visited Pleasant Hill Grains and ordered the 1/4 inch plate and 2 additional knives so that I can match knife to plate for even wear. Also ordered the grinder cleaning kit.
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And that's how it starts, Dave! Next thing you know, you'll have a stuffer, and having Gregg send you plans for the sausage rack!
Congrats on the purchase!
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That has crossed my mind Tony. One thing leads to another. Discipline ;)
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And that's how it starts, Dave! Next thing you know, you'll have a stuffer, and having Gregg send you plans for the sausage rack!
Congrats on the purchase!
You are right Tony. Dave's sausage making world is just beginning. You all know how i love to spend other people's money by giving suggestions on what else they can buy or make. ;)
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You all know how i love to spend other people's money by giving suggestions on what else they can buy or make. ;)
Good to see some things haven't changed a bit, Gregg! LoL! ;D ;D
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Ran my grinder for the first time today. Turned a roast into hamburger (had sliders and beer for dinner) and a pork butt into ground pork for lumpia and wantons. Very fast, quiet, and vibration free. Much more efficient than using the kitchenmaid attachment and more uniform results than using the food processor. I am impressed.
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Sounds like it works great, Dave! I see a stuffer in your future... ;)
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I don't know Tony. With a name like Bacon, making sausage sounds sort of disrespectful of my heritage. Still, anything is possible!
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I don't know Tony. With a name like Bacon, making sausage sounds sort of disrespectful of my heritage. Still, anything is possible!
Now THAT'S funny! ;D ;D
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I new you would love the LEM grinder. :)
Stuffers work great for stuffing hamburger and other ground meat into ground meat bags too. We buy a lot of hamburger in bulk 10lb tubes as well as make a fair amount of ground breakfast sausage that we stuff into bags like these with our stuffers:
https://www.waltonsinc.com/wild-game-camo-meat-bags
https://www.waltonsinc.com/ground-beef-meat-bags
Then we use a bag sealer like the to seal the bags:
https://www.waltonsinc.com/poly-bag-sealer-stainless-steel
So, you can use a stuffer for more things than sausage and it makes the packaging process super fast.
Just sayin' ;)
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Thanks Gregg. For now just vac seal but later on may get more involved. And the LEM is real nice.