Vertical vs Horizontal Sausage Stuffer: Which Is Better?

You ground your meat with the right plate for the perfect texture, seasoned it, and now it is time to stuff it.

The main difference between a vertical and horizontal sausage stuffer is that the vertical stuffer is easier to clean and requires fewer parts. 

The vertical sausage stuffer uses a spring and plunger design that is better suited for sausages and links but can’t stuff a casing. 

A horizontal sausage stuffer uses a metal plate that forces a casing into the stuffing horn.

You have decided to use a sausage stuffer instead of a stuffer attachment on your meat grinder, but what type of stuffer do you use?

The debate about vertical vs horizontal sausage stuffers is going to be covered in this article.

I will explain what both are, highlight their pros and cons, and cover the question of what size a sausage stuffer should be, knowing what size sausage stuffer you need means you can narrow down your search very quickly.

What is a Vertical Sausage Stuffer?

The vertical and horizontal sausage stuffers are more popular than the horizontal version.

There are a few reasons, but as they tend to be smaller, they take up less space than horizontal stuffers and are more suitable for a greater range of kitchen spaces.

They can be attached to the edge of a kitchen counter or table. The principle of how they work is based on gravity, and they can come in both manual and electric versions.

Sausage meat is placed in the container at the top and slid over the outlet pipe. When you turn the handle, the inside gears drive the sausage meat down and into the shell.

Vertical sausage stuffers are suitable for beginners or experts and can be operated by one person.

Vertical Sausage Stuffer

What is a Horizontal Sausage Stuffer?

Horizontal sausage stuffers are larger than vertical sausage stuffers, and more room is required to operate them.

They are not free-standing and need to be fastened to the edge of the table or counter. Many horizontal sausage stuffers require two people to operate them because of how they work.

The process involves filling the cylinder with sausage meat and feeding it to the sausage stuffer at one end.

The handle will be operated by one person and the other will collect the sausage as it comes out.

The horizontal stuffer is more suited for large-scale use in commercial kitchens, and there are electrical and manual versions.

Horizontal Sausage Stuffer

Vertical vs. Horizontal Sausage Stuffer: Pros and Cons

The function of a sausage stuffer, whether it is sitting vertically or horizontally, is essentially the same. Sausage meat is transferred into the case to produce individual links.

There are advantages and disadvantages to each, depending on your needs, and they are different in design and operation.

I outlined the pros and cons of each of them in my tables. I think it’s a good idea to weigh your requirements when choosing one to purchase.

How much meat you want to work with and how many sausages you want to make should be the first things you consider.

Pick the sausage stuffer that is most suited to your needs.

It is not likely that any single sausage stuffer will tick every single box, but there will be several that come close, so focus on them and their advantages rather than their drawbacks.

Vertical Sausage Stuffer Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Suitable for beginners and experts
  • Available in manual and electric versions
  • Small in size so should suit most kitchens
  • Easy to operate
  • Only requires one person
  • Plenty of choices

Cons

  • Smaller capacity
  • It May require greater force applied when turning the handle
  • It May does not suit commercial use
  • Output is less

Horizontal Sausage Stuffer Pros and Cons

Pros

  • Has a greater capacity
  • Available in manual or electric versions
  • Ideal for professional and commercial use
  • Remains secure and steady during use
  • Output is greater

Cons

  • Needs a table or worktop edge
  • It can cost more than vertical
  • It May require two people to operate it

What Size Should A Sausage Stuffer Be?

When selecting a sausage stuffer, it is important to ask this question.

There are different sizes of vertical and horizontal sausage stuffers, and you want to choose the right one for your needs.

Sausage output sizes will differ based on the type of sausage you are making, so I am not talking about the size of the sausages.

Alterations to the output tube and the size and type of the casing you use can affect these.

For breakfast sausage, there are tubes between 21- and 26mm in diameter. For hotdogs, the size can be as large as 30mm.

The cylinder that holds the sausage meat is the largest component of the sausage stuffer, so the actual sausage stuffer size will be dependent on the capacity it offers.

A sausage stuffer with a capacity of up to 10 lbs is what you might choose. If you are happy with its features, a vertical sausage stuffer would be the best option.

If you prefer a horizontal stuffer, smaller versions will have capacities as low as 5 lbs.

Larger capacities are required for those making sausages on a professional or commercial basis, and only a horizontal stuffer will provide that.

They are available in capacities from 5 lbs.

Their cylinders tend to be much larger than those of vertical sausage stuffers, so they can weigh up to 20 lbs.

Conclusion

The main types of sausage stuffers are explained in the article.

A vertical sausage stuffer is a way to go if you want to make sausage for fun at home. The small sizes of the horizontal stuffer are suitable for home kitchen use.

It is up to you to make a decision.

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