The Weston Pro Series #8 has more motor than the LEM #8 (0.75 HP to 0.5 HP) and comes with a four-funnel stuffing kit and a built-in knife sharpener. Weston rates it more conservatively, at 4 to 6 pounds a minute, and it costs about $60 more than the BigBite. It's our pick for people who make a lot of sausage.
Key specs
| Weston Pro Series #8 | |
|---|---|
| Price | $479.99 |
| Size | #8 |
| Motor | 0.75 HP (560 W) |
| Output (maker) | 4–6 lb/min |
| Plates | 4.5 mm, 7 mm |
| Weight | Not listed |
| Warranty | 5 years |
| Notable | Four stuffing funnels, built-in knife sharpener |
How it grinds
A 560-watt (¾ HP), air-cooled motor turns a #8 head. Weston rates it at 4 to 6 pounds a minute. It comes with coarse (7 mm) and fine (4.5 mm) stainless plates, a knife, and an auger-grabbing stomper.
The sausage kit
A stuffing adapter, spacer and four funnels (10, 20, 30 and 40 mm), plus a storage tray with a cover. The built-in sharpener lets you touch up the knife between batches.
Price and warranty
$479.99 at retail when we checked. Weston backs it with a five-year warranty.
After grinding
Ground meat keeps one to two days in the fridge, so freeze what you won't cook. Pressed flat in vacuum bags, it freezes and thaws fast; our sister site has a guide to vacuum sealing meat. Grinding for jerky? Ground jerky has to reach 160°F; see ground beef jerky on The Dehydrator Report.
This review is based on Weston's published specifications and on independent tests where they exist; we name whose test each finding comes from. We haven't run our own timed tests on this model yet and will add hands-on notes when we do.
Questions
Weston Pro or LEM #8?
The Weston has the bigger motor and kit; the LEM has the faster rated output and costs less. See LEM vs Weston.
Pro Series or Butcher Series?
The Pro has a 0.75 HP motor; the Butcher Series is 0.5 HP. See Pro vs Butcher Series.
