Scale for Sausage Making

[leechlake]

Without fail, every time I start making sausage I realized I don't have a scale.  For example, last night I had 2.5 pounds of pork trimmings per the package and I had to eyeball the venison to get the amount of meat I wanted to start with right.  It usually isn't a problem but it's foolish for me to take all the time and effort and potential waste of meat by skipping this.  I may as well through away all measuring equipment when making sausage.   I still make test pattys and always will but this is stupid of me.

What kind of scale do you all use or are you too an "eyeballer"?

[smurfy]

I bought an LEM scale at runnings in Monticello. mine goes up to 22lbs and I believe they make one bigger. works pretty good for what I need it for!!!!!

[reinhard1]

For weighing the meat I use my digital fish scale which goes up to 50 pounds.  Bought mine years ago.  It's a Normark "Weigh-In" 50 scale.  I put the meat in a plastic bag that have handles or straps and weigh it up.  good luck.

[Boar]

yup i use my bear scale, but have never maxed out the 500 lb capcity with meat,hehe, and do like R1 dose. i zero it out first.

[DonBo]

I bought an LEM scale....

Yep, check out LEM Products. They've got everything you'd ever want or need for cooking, smoking, sausage making, etc.  

[pikestabber]

What kind of scale do you all use or are you too an "eyeballer"?

I have the LEM 44 lb dial scale and it's a must have for me. If you do much smoking of sausages, etc., it can actually become a safety issue to know how much meat you actually have and to ensure you are adding the appropriate amount of cure. Not as critical for fresh sausage, but if you carefully measure ingredients for a new recipe you're trying, and it turns out great, and then you want to repeat those results in a new batch, you will get a very different flavor from using that same amount of seasoning in 5#s than you would if it was actually 6#s or only 4.5#s, etc. Buy a good dial scale and you won't need another one. You won't regret having it.

Edited November 18, 2015 by pikestabber

[smurfy]

our butcher shop kind of requires 15 lbs of trimmings to do batches of what you request, so its a good tool for that. its also kind of nice to know how much trimmings you actually get!!!!!!!

[ThunderLund78]

I was cutting up my deer and wanted to freeze it in 5 lb bags but I had forgot my scale at home.  I ended up bagging it in garbage bags in much larger quantities than I wanted.  I will have to thaw, grind and re-package.  I probably could've eyeballed it.. but I like to be precise.

BUT as far as my scale goes... I picked up a digital kitchen scale at target for $35.  22 lb capacity, but it serves my small operation.

[Jim Almquist]

I use a Escali digital scale. It weighs up to 11lbs. What I like is when I buy a 25lb mix and it calls for 5oz for a 5lb mix I can put a bowl on it and turn it on and it is at zero and all I have to do is add 5oz. I also like to weigh ground meat in 5lb bags which is just right for a gallon baggie.

[Lip_Ripper Guy]

I have a digital postal scale that goes up to 50 pounds, and is accurate to within 10th's of an ounce.  Works great!

[Boar]

All good things, but as far as accuracy on my big scale i will take a twenty lb weight and hang it and adjust it if need be. I will have the prettty accurate weights on the meat.