Battle of the Meat Stuffers: Weston VS Cabela's

When it comes to sausage stuffing, both the Cabela's Commercial-Grade 15lb sausage stuffer and the Weston 15lb Dual Speed Vertical sausage stuffer bring unique features to the table. As someone who has worked with both, here's a comparison to help you choose the right one for your needs.

Design & Features:

The Cabela's Commercial-Grade Sausage Stuffer certainly stands out with its sleek design. It boasts handy features like integrated storage drawers, which are perfect for stashing sausage-making tools or casings. Additionally, it's shorter and comes with a dust cover, making it ideal for neat and organized storage when not in use. It's clear that Cabela's put effort into making this stuffer visually appealing and user-friendly with its added conveniences.

On the other hand, the Weston 15lb Dual Speed Stuffer might not have the same "sex appeal" in terms of design, but it makes up for that with its sturdy, no-nonsense construction. It's built like a tank, and the simple, heavy-duty design reflects its focus on functionality over frills.

Performance: Plunger Design

This is where the difference becomes striking. The Cabela's model uses a plastic plunger, which, in my experience, falls short of handling certain tasks—specifically when working with smaller casings like those for snack sticks or hot dogs (anything below 30mm). The plastic plunger tends to break the seal frequently, forcing you to stop, clean up the mess, and reset, only for it to happen again. While the Cabela's model works well for larger casings like summer sausages, this issue makes it less versatile for more intricate sausage-making tasks.

The Weston Dual Speed Stuffer, however, comes with a heavy-duty metal plunger, and this simple upgrade significantly boosts its reliability. In all my time using the Weston, I've never had issues with the meat breaking the seal, even with the smaller casings. The metal plunger, combined with the overall robust build of the stuffer, makes it a dependable choice for various sausage types, no matter the casing size.

Price & Value

Surprisingly, despite its superior build quality, the Weston stuffer comes in about $40 cheaper than the Cabela's model. This makes the Weston a better value, particularly if you're looking for a reliable tool that can handle all types of casings without fuss.

Conclusion

In the end, both stuffers have their strengths. The Cabela's Commercial-Grade Stuffer is great for those who appreciate added features like storage and ease of use for larger casings. However, the Weston 15lb Dual Speed Stuffer is the workhorse, offering superior performance with its heavy-duty design and metal plunger. While Cabela's might win points for style and convenience, I'd recommend the Weston for anyone serious about their sausage-making, especially if you work with smaller casings and want something that will last for the long haul.

For the price and reliability, the Weston is hard to beat, and in my opinion, it's the stuffer that will likely be in your kitchen (or game room) for many seasons to come.