Gettin things started

[lennyluminum]

My birthday is the 26th but we had dinner and gifts last night. I got a meat grinder and a copy of ryteks book 4th edition and im pretty sure i am gettin a stuffer for christmas.

I will manely be doing deer and wild hog sausages so what kind of casings and other stuff should i be stocking up on?

Also are the sausage mixes from sausagemaker.com any good?

 

[daveomak]

Also are the sausage mixes from sausagemaker.com any good?

Yes.... They may not exactly fit your particular flavor likes but additional seasonings can be added to make them fit.....  The great thing about that is you get to keep making and taste testing until you get it perfect.....   

 

[lennyluminum]

Thanks! I think i will order a few mixes as a starting point

Can any one school me on casings and what i should be using

 

[daveomak]

I started with pork casings to go old school sausages and they are less expensive to practice with...... Now I have some edible collagen casings for sticks to try....

 

[lennyluminum]

Are the hog casings harder to use? Also what size casing shoul i be buying for sausages and sticks

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Hog casings are fairly easy to use.
The casings you'll need depends on what sausages you'll be making and personal preference.
Medium hog casings will cover a lot.
For snack sticks, many folks prefer collagen casings.


~Martin

 

[lennyluminum]

Can you reuse the part of the hog casing that you put on to the stuffer tube but was not stuffed?

 

[daveomak]

Can you reuse the part of the hog casing that you put on to the stuffer tube but was not stuffed?

lenny,    Yes, repack in kosher salt and store in the refer.... Dave

 

[lennyluminum]

Thanks dave

 

[frosty]

Congrats on becoming a sausage maker, lots of great ones on the SMF!

 

[lennyluminum]

Thank i can wait to start

 

[couger78]

Good luck and have FUN!

Some Handy Tips: KEEP everything COLD (!) Meats, grinder and grinder parts. Cleanliness is also essential, so it helps to develop good food-handling habits when using raw meat and grinding, mixing & stuffing. Spotlessly clean surfaces and bowls; food-handling gloves (the kind you see employees wear in fast-food joints) are nice to have, too.

Kevin

stuffingChubs_lg.jpg

• couger78
• Dec 25, 2012

 

[s2k9k]

Good luck and have FUN!

Some Handy Tips: KEEP everything COLD (!) Meats, grinder and grinder parts. Cleanliness is also essential, so it helps to develop good food-handling habits when using raw meat and grinding, mixing & stuffing. Spotlessly clean surfaces and bowls; food-handling gloves (the kind you see employees wear in fast-food joints) are nice to have, too.

Kevin

Do you store grinder parts in the fridge or just chill them before using? 

Is it necessary to keep stuffer parts cold also?

 

[smoking b]

Do you store grinder parts in the fridge or just chill them before using? 

Is it necessary to keep stuffer parts cold also?

I think most people just chill the grinder parts in the freezer before using. That's what I do with the parts for my hand grinder & it works fine. I haven't heard of people chilling stuffer parts before. I am interested in hearing what others say about that though as I just got one for Christmas too 

 

[couger78]

I'll chill parts about 30 minutes prior to use. Not the WHOLE grinder, but the head, tray, front ring nut, grinder plate, grinding knife and auger.

Keeps everything frosty-cold during the grind...

Knack_prkFat_grind_lg.jpg

• couger78
• Dec 26, 2012

I do chill part of my little 5lb grizzly stuffer —just the container that holds the meat.

Kevin

 

[s2k9k]

Thanks Kevin! I just got the same Grizz! Trying to learn this stuff before I get started!