first time using hog cassings EPIC FAILURE!!

[mike johnson]

I bought pretubed hog cassingsto use for my first time in order to make brats, and what an epic failure I was at it.I soaked and got them on the tube o.k. but from there it was all down hill. They didnt flow easy and when they started to work I couldnt get the proper packing of the sausage. I know it just takes practice but WOW I thought pretubed would make it easyer for my first try. Thank goodness I orderd collagen cassings at the same time. Those seem to be much easyer. Good thing is, the brats are in the smoker for dinner tonight.

 

[jarhead]

I've never used the pre-tubed casings before. I just can't justify the expense.

I buy pre flushed hanks packed in salt.

The first thing I do is lay them out and make 15-18' lengths out of it. Then individually vac pack em back up in salt.

You need to apply a slight amount of pressure to the casing as it comes off of the horn.

Too much, it will blow out on you.

Too little and it won't be packed good.

Just practice your stuffing speed and amount of pressure.

Good luck and keep us posted.

 

[driedstick]

yep takes practice good job on having a backup plan thou waiting for the final pics (ya before you devouer them all)

 

[daveomak]

Mike, morning.... what is your stuffer ???   Grinder... Vertical.....   Water....  

 

[mike johnson]

its a vertical. I just posted my success in another thread. I think my problem was too small of a stuffing tube.This mornings attemt came out great.

 

[venture]

I had my first casing blowout a couple of weeks ago.  Tore the whole dang thing off the horn and threw it in the trash.  It gave me trouble going on the horn and coming off. Rest of the batch went as usual.

It helps for both the casing and the horn to be plenty wet.  Sometimes the casings will tend to twist and that will give problems also.  Usually if it goes on the horn smoothly, it will come off the horn smoothly.

Good luck and good smoking.