MAKE SAUSAGE OUT OF A PICNIC??

[sirsmokey]

HEy i was going to grind up another batch of sausage tomorrow but the pork butts are not on sale this week. I do have a 8 pound pork picnic. It is bone in and still has the skin on it. I wouldn't think the skin would get ground but i was wondering if this could be a substitute for a butt or would i need to add fat???

 

[mdboatbum]

Yes you can use it for sausage, and yes, I'd add some fat. I'd skin and bone it, and you'll have probably 5lbs. of meat. Add maybe a pound of fat, and you've got probably 70% lean considering the fat that's probably already in the meat, which is pretty good for sausage. I've made bratwurst out of a picnic and didn't add fat, and it was definitely on the dry side.

 

[sirsmokey]

ok thats kinda what i gathered based on some research but i figured id ask the pros

and thank you!!!
 

 

[diesel]

You could always clean and grind the meat.  Add the spices you want and do a fry test.  This will give you and Idea of what it would taste like.  Then add  fat and adjust spices if needed.  You can adjust to you liking and remember that the spice will calm over time, so if you add to much it might be a good thing.

my 2 cents.

Aaron.

 

[shannon127]

I use picnic all the time.  The muscle gets more work so it will be more flavorful, but also tougher.  I posted a while ago the process for Kielbasa using a picnic.  It will be leaner than most butts plus you can also make pork rinds from the skin.

http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/129813/kielbasa-start-to-finish-for-chef-jimmy

 

[sirsmokey]

hahah well if i had the room i would buy 100 pounds also! i think i may just smoke this bad boy once the weather breaks and hold out on the pork butt sale.  Im just getting impatient cause i only have five links of my last batch left...and shannon thanks for the link!