Search results

  • Some of the links on this forum allow SMF, at no cost to you, to earn a small commission when you click through and make a purchase. Let me know if you have any questions about this.
  1. GatorAGR

    Flat Racks vs Hanging for Jerky

    I tried the variety pack of Hi Mountain, and much preferred the Hickory flavor over the others. It has the classic salt/pepper/hickory flavor that I like.
  2. GatorAGR

    Flat Racks vs Hanging for Jerky

    I just made a batch this weekend. set the MES at 165 with a mailbox mod w/A-MAZE-N tray with pellets. Let it go for about 4 hours. Turned out really good, but a little on the dry side for my wife so I may check on it earlier next time or cut thicker slices. For jerky I use the High Mountain...
  3. GatorAGR

    Bearded Butcher Summer Sausage Casings

    Anyone ever used Bearded Butcher Summer Sausage Casings? I know they're probably produced by some other company and might not be the best quality, but I'd like to make some Summer Sausage this weekend and they're the only thing available locally. Does quality matter as much with inedible fibrous...
  4. GatorAGR

    Pressure cooker/slow cooker

    We have the ninja air fryer/instapot and just got the Ninja Foodie Possiblecooker which is a fancy crockpot. Used it for sous vide this weekend and it worked great. Love them both.
  5. GatorAGR

    Ninja Sizzle

    We love the Ninja products. Just got the Ninja Foodie Possiblecooker and used the sous vide feature for some duck breasts this week. Worked great.
  6. GatorAGR

    Having smoke issues with A-Maze-N Smoker Tray - MES40

    Good idea. I've seen the u-bolt mod for the tubes, but not this for the trays. Thanks for sharing.
  7. GatorAGR

    Sharp cheddar

    On my list for this week as well. Let me know how it turns out.
  8. GatorAGR

    Having smoke issues with A-Maze-N Smoker Tray - MES40

    I tried the microwave process tonight and it appeared to help. Maybe that’s the key. Also left it flamed up longer (10 min). Had to relight it a couple times within the 10 min.
  9. GatorAGR

    How to handle natural casings

    @boykjo When you place the unused casings back in the storage container you mention that you drain the excess water and add the salt. So the casings are just hydrated and not stored in a brine “solution”, correct? Also, after you add the salt, how to you mix the casings/salt? By hand, shake the...
  10. GatorAGR

    Having smoke issues with A-Maze-N Smoker Tray - MES40

    Add me to the list of frustrated users of the A-Maze-N tray. Thing won’t stay lit no matter what I’ve tried so far. Trying fewer pellets now. Maybe too dense if filled to top of the tray? Next step is to drill more holes in bottom of mailbox. Maybe needs more air flow? How can these things work...
  11. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    How long do you smoke for? What IT do you pull them from the smoker and out into water? If you sous vide do you bag them?
  12. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    When you hot water finish, do you do this before freezing/storage or when you're ready to eat?
  13. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    I just took my remaining 32 mm casings out and have them soaking in a quart container. I have new hank of larger casings for Andouille from PS Seasonings so I'm going to get another container with a lid and start them soaking as well. Thanks guys. Great learning process. Like I said, I had read...
  14. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    Thanks! I'd read that before, but it didn't sink in. That's what I'll do going forward.
  15. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    Now I do think I should soak them longer prior to stuffing. I've been soaking them for an hour or so, but I think a day would loosen/stretch them out a bit more which may give me a better snap. That was one of the two things I noticed from the 2 guys & a cooler video you shared. Longer soak and...
  16. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    So when I get a hank of casings, you recommend storing them in a brine? A hank lasts me about a year so is it still ok to keep them soaking that long? I considered that method, but thought the salt in bags seemed better for long term storage.
  17. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    Butcher and Packer. I separate them and stored them in individual ziplocks with salt in refrigerator Prep them by soaking and flushing with water.
  18. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    Yeah. Chewy. When you bite into it sometimes the meat comes out and casing remains. So no snap and possibly lack of bind to the casing itself. But maybe the same thing will solve both issues. I think I need to dry them out better before smoking/cooking.
  19. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    30-32F. I watched temps close. Froze the grinder parts as well. I really think it might be that I didn’t dry the sausages enough before smoking.
  20. GatorAGR

    Getting a good casing bind

    For the brats I used a 7 mm plate in my Cabelas #12 grinder. Single pass.
Clicky