Learn How to Make Fresh Sausage at Home: A Beginner’s Guide to The Local Butcher Shop’s Online Course

Looking to take your cooking skills beyond the usual recipes? Ever wondered how to make sausage from scratch in your own kitchen—without professional tools or training?

That’s exactly what Sausage Making at Home, a 94-minute online course by The Local Butcher Shop in Berkeley, CA, is designed to teach. If you’re passionate about food, curious about craft butchery, or simply want to explore a satisfying culinary hobby, this course might be just the ticket.

In this guide, we’ll break down what makes this course great, who it’s best for, and how it compares to other sausage making classes online. Whether you’re searching for “how to make sausage at home for beginners” or looking for a practical online class, let’s explore if this one’s worth your time and money.

What Is “Sausage Making at Home” and What Will You Learn?

The Local Butcher Shop’s video course is a straightforward, no-fluff introduction to making your own fresh sausages. It’s led by Aaron Rocchino, a professional butcher and co-founder of the shop—known in Northern California for their dedication to local, sustainable meat.

The course is broken up into short, digestible segments covering:

• The different types of fresh sausages
• The equipment you’ll need (yes, you can start with a KitchenAid!)
• Tips on choosing the right meat and spice combinations
• How to grind, mix, and stuff sausages safely and effectively
• Cleaning and maintenance tips for your gear

At just 94 minutes, the course is ideal if you’re short on time but want maximum impact.

Who’s This Course For?

This class is a great fit if:

• You’re a kitchen hobbyist with little or no prior butchery experience
• You want a self-paced video with clear and visual instruction
• You’re curious about making food from scratch without preservatives
• You like hands-on cooking experiences

It’s not best for you if you’re looking for in-depth training in cured or fermented sausage methods (like salami)—but it’s a solid foundation to get started.

What Makes This Course Stand Out?

Here’s why Sausage Making at Home deserves your attention:

• 🧑‍🍳 Led by a pro butcher you can trust: Aaron Rocchino isn’t just any instructor. He’s been honing his experience with sustainably sourced meats for years—and it shows.
• 🎬 Accessible Format: With professionally shot video content and step-by-step instructions, you don’t need to read a long PDF or decode recipes.
• 🛒 Optional ingredient kit for locals: If you’re near Berkeley, you can pick up a kit with meat, casing, and spices to take your experience to the next level.
• 💰 Affordable Learning: $30 gets you full course access for 30 days—a great entry point compared to higher-priced classes.

Pros and Cons at a Glance

Let’s break it down simply:

Pros:

• Easy-to-follow for total beginners
• Practical demonstrations using common kitchen tools
• Optional ingredient bundle available (for Berkeley locals)
• Self-paced and well-structured video format
• 30-day access gives you time to revisit as needed

Cons:

• No lifetime access—the course expires after 30 days
• Ingredient kit isn’t shipped—must be picked up locally
• No certification or built-in community support like bigger coaching platforms offer
• Focuses on fresh sausage only (not cured/smoked)

How It Compares to Other Online Sausage Making Classes

Online cooking courses are booming, and sausage-making is no exception. But how does this course hold up?

A popular alternative is StarterCultures.eu’s Dried Sausage Workshop, which leans into fermented, dry-aged techniques. It’s well-rated (4.7/5 from verified users) and perfect for more advanced learners interested in longer-term charcuterie. However, it delivers more technical info and theory, with less hands-on instruction for beginners.

Another well-liked (and free!) resource is the Celebrate Sausage video series on YouTube. These masterclasses are detailed and fun, but without structure or support. If you’re someone who needs guidance and progress tracking, a paid course might be a better fit.

And if you’re craving a real-life, in-person workshop? Try schools like the North House Folk School. Their sausage-focused classes offer immersive group learning, but they’re pricier and location-bound.

✅ Bottom line: If you’re just starting and want a short, affordable, and credible course with the option for ingredients—all without leaving your home—The Local Butcher Shop’s version is tough to beat.

(Sources: StarterCultures.eu user reviews; see https://www.startercultures.eu/product/online-course-dry-sausage-making/)

Real Learners Say It’s a Favorite First Step

While formal reviews are still limited, there’s plenty of online buzz in cooking forums praising courses like this one for teaching foundational skills in sausage-making clearly. On Reddit and Quora, beginner home cooks often say structured video courses helped them gain confidence and avoid messier trial-and-error.

Another standout detail? Sausage making courses that emphasize food safety, simple equipment, and hands-on learning are among the most loved by users [source: user feedback on r/Charcuterie].

Pricing Breakdown

The course is priced in two simple tiers:

• $30 — Online-only course (94 minutes of HD video content)
• $93 — Course plus in-person pickup of meat bundle

There’s no recurring fee, no upsells, and no filler material—which makes the course well worth it if you’re looking for an actionable start.

If you’re not local to Berkeley, the meat kit won’t apply, which is a bummer. But the course still holds value for the video content alone.

Final Verdict: Is It Worth It?

If you’re looking to learn how to make fresh sausage at home, want guidance from a real butcher, and prefer a structured video course over loose YouTube tutorials, this class delivers.

It’s also one of the most budget-friendly options for getting started—especially compared to $200+ culinary school-style online programs that may offer more content, but overwhelm beginners.

🎯 Ideal for: beginners, hobbyist cooks, DIY foodies
😬 Not ideal for: advanced pros, folks outside of CA needing shipped kits

All in all, this is a tasty way to add a hands-on skill to your culinary toolkit—and it’s fun, too.

Ready to make your own sausages at home?