6 Best Grinder Stuffing Tubes For Chicken That Old Farmers Swear By

Imagine you have just finished processing a batch of heritage broilers and the kitchen counter is piled high with lean, ground poultry ready for the casing. Choosing the right stuffing tube is the difference between a smooth afternoon of productivity and a frustrating cycle of torn casings and air pockets. Experienced hands know that chicken meat behaves differently than pork, requiring specific tools to handle its unique texture and lower fat content.

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Selecting LEM and Weston Stuffing Tools for Poultry

LEM and Weston are the two heavy hitters in the home processing world, but they cater to slightly different philosophies. LEM generally leans toward heavy-duty stainless steel components that are built to survive decades of seasonal use. Weston often provides more versatile, budget-friendly kits that allow a hobby farmer to experiment with various link sizes without a massive upfront investment.

When choosing between them, consider your typical batch size. If you are processing five birds at a time, the lightweight versatility of a Weston kit is often sufficient. However, for those who spend an entire weekend processing a year’s worth of chicken sausage, the rigidity of LEM’s stainless steel prevents the tube from flexing under the pressure of cold, lean meat.

• LEM: Best for durability and high-pressure stuffing.
• Weston: Best for versatility and those just starting out.
• Material: Stainless steel is easier to sanitize, while plastic is more affordable.

LEM Stainless Steel Stuffing Tube for 20mm Casings

Chicken breakfast links require a narrow diameter, and this 20mm stainless tube is the gold standard for that specific task. Because chicken meat is stickier than beef or pork, it creates more friction as it travels through the tube. The polished interior of the LEM stainless steel reduces this drag, ensuring the meat flows into the casing rather than backing up into the grinder throat.

Durability is the main selling point here. You can drop this tube on a concrete barn floor, and it won’t crack or lose its shape. This is crucial because even a tiny burr or crack on the tip of a stuffing tube will snag and ruin delicate sheep casings instantly.

Weston Plastic Stuffing Kit for Ground Chicken Links

For the farmer who wants to try everything from thick chicken bratwursts to slim snack sticks, this multi-piece kit is a practical choice. The kit usually includes three or four different diameters, allowing you to pivot your recipe based on what casings you have on hand. It is a low-risk way to learn which sausage sizes your family actually enjoys eating.

While plastic isn’t as "heirloom quality" as steel, these tubes are surprisingly resilient. They are also transparent enough that you can occasionally spot air pockets before they reach the casing. Just be sure to hand-wash them, as high-heat dishwasher cycles can warp the plastic over time, leading to a poor fit on your grinder.

Smokehouse Chef Stainless Steel Tube for Size 12 Grinders

Most hobby farmers utilize a #12 size grinder, which is the "sweet spot" for small-scale production. Smokehouse Chef produces a stainless tube specifically engineered to fit these common units with precision. A tight fit is essential because it prevents "blowback," where meat escapes around the base of the tube and creates a mess inside the locking ring.

This tube is particularly effective for chicken because it features a tapered design. The wide base narrows down smoothly, which helps maintain consistent pressure. When you are working with lean poultry, maintaining that pressure is the only way to avoid the dreaded "crumbly" texture in your finished links.

KitchenAid Food Grinder Sausage Stuffer Attachment Kit

If you aren’t ready to commit to a standalone grinder, the KitchenAid attachment is a common entry point. It is perfectly suited for small batches of five to ten pounds of chicken. Because the motor on a stand mixer is less powerful than a dedicated grinder, these tubes are designed to be short, reducing the distance the meat has to travel.

The tradeoff here is speed. You won’t be breaking any records, and you have to be careful not to overwork the mixer’s motor. However, for a hobbyist who only makes sausage a few times a year, the convenience of using an existing kitchen appliance often outweighs the need for industrial speed.

Walton’s Aluminum Stuffing Tube for Poultry Snack Sticks

Poultry snack sticks are a fantastic way to use up every scrap of meat from the carcass. Walton’s aluminum tubes are the preferred choice for these ultra-slim casings because aluminum is lightweight and dissipates heat rapidly. Keeping the meat cold during the stuffing process is vital; if the chicken fat reaches room temperature, it will smear and ruin the snap of the sausage.

Aluminum is softer than stainless steel, so these tubes require a bit more care during storage. They shouldn’t be tossed into a drawer with heavy metal tools where they might get dinged. However, the smooth flow and temperature control they offer make them a favorite among those who take their snack sticks seriously.

Hakka Brothers Stainless Steel Tube for Large Batches

When the harvest is large and you have fifty birds to process, you need equipment that feels like it belongs in a butcher shop. Hakka Brothers tubes are known for their heavy gauge and wide mouth, which allows for maximum volume. These are designed for high-output manual or electric stuffers rather than small kitchen grinders.

Using a high-volume tube reduces the time the meat spends out of refrigeration. In a hobby farm setting, where you might not have a walk-in cooler, speed is a safety factor. The faster you get the chicken into the casings and back into the freezer, the better the final quality will be.

Maintaining Hakka Brothers and Walton’s Equipment

Proper maintenance is what separates a tool that lasts one season from one that lasts a lifetime. After processing chicken, sanitization is your top priority due to the higher risk of foodborne illness associated with poultry. Always use a dedicated bottle brush to scrub the interior of the tubes, ensuring no microscopic bits of meat are left behind to spoil.

• Sanitize: Use a mild bleach solution or food-grade sanitizer after every use.
• Dry: Ensure tubes are completely dry before storage to prevent pitting in aluminum or spotting in steel.
• Inspect: Run a finger along the rim before every session to check for nicks that could tear casings.

Storage is the final piece of the puzzle. Most experienced farmers keep their stuffing tubes in a dedicated bin or a hanging rack rather than loose in a drawer. This prevents the ends from becoming deformed, ensuring that every time you go to make a batch of chicken sausage, your equipment is as ready as you are.

Investing in the right stuffing tube ensures your hard work in the field translates into high-quality food on the table. Whether you choose the ruggedness of LEM or the versatility of Weston, the right tool will make your processing days more efficient and your sausages more professional. Take care of your equipment, and it will serve your farm for many seasons to come.