Hog rings and hog ring plyers

[poacherjoe]

Okay I made my summer sausage yesterday and all I did was tie them off with a clove hitch and a square knot on top. No leakage and no hog rings! I used 2.5 x 20" casings. Maybe some people don't tie their knots very tight? I will agree that if I was doing 25 lb batches of sausage or was working in a butcher shop the faster way would be to use the hog rings but they are not necessary.

 

[rfwoodvt]

I'd avoid aluminum anything especially if smoking or heating.

Simple reason is that welding wire and fence wire are produced without consideration for use around food and are covered with gawdknows what lubricants, coatings and corrosion inhibitors.

Hog rings are cheap, simple and easy to use. I got mine at Walton's I believe.

I just did my first run of summer sausage and used the hog rings. A bit tricky at first but once I had a few done and a method sorted out it went great. Won't go back to tying again.