Howdy from North Texas

[Faceplant247]

Hello hello! I'm new to the forums and looking forward to the ensuing discussions. I'm an avid hunter and wild game food fanatic. I enjoy grilling, smoking, sous vide, cast-iron cooking and, curing/dehydrating meats.

I made 18 pounds of venison breakfast sausage tonight that turned out great. I am also making jalapeno/cheese link venison sausage, and some spicy venison snack sticks.

Would you all smoke the link sausage or just freeze as is? What about the snack sticks? I don't have a smokehouse, so would just have to smoke them on a regular smoker. What cure would you use for smoking vs. non smoking?

Thanks.

 

[Faceplant247]

Also - I ran the link sausage through the grinder on a coarse grind. Would you run it back through on medium or keep it coarse?

 

[motocrash]

Hey Faceplant,welcome! I'm no curing expert but there are plenty here.It seem to be really rearing it's head lately.
I pretty much stick to brining but you will most likely have some answers soon....Oh,it will be helpful for future conversations if you put your locale on your avatar.

Bill

 

[Faceplant247]

Thanks for the welcome. My understanding is that if I am going to smoke sausage links and sticks, then CURE #1 MUST be added. Is that correct? Or can TenderQuick be used? I used tenderquick on the breakfast sausage, but haven't made the links and sticks yet.

Another couple of questions:

Smoking something will add flavor and let the sausages last longer - correct? Fresh sausages will still be good, but not have the depth of smoke flavor - and I'll have to double wrap them in the freezer? Will smoking the links and sticks dry them out? Should I just add smoke flavor - and then smoke them when I cook them? If I pre-smoke the links, and then smoke them again when I want to eat them, will they turn out dry?

 

[motocrash]

Faceplant,you will get faster/better responses if you post these questions under "sausages" on the main forum page.I wish I could answer these for you but I seldom dabble in this sausage stuff.

Bill

 

[gary s]

Good morning and welcome to the forum from a warmish November day here in East Texas, and the best site on the web. Lots of great people with tons of information on just about everything.

Gary