Pork Butt Twin Packs....???

[s2k9k]

OK so yea I messed up, I wasn't thinking ahead, I usually buy pork butt twin packs and throw them in the freezer because I will smoke both at the same time for PP later, but that was before I wanted to start making sausage. Well now I have 3 twin packs frozen solid, each is about 20#, I really don't want to make 20# of sausage at a time so I'm trying to figure out how to separate them without thawing the entire thing. I was thinking chainsaw but that might be a little messy and too much waste, so maybe an ax? Just joking! So if I did thaw the whole thing will it be alright to refreeze one of the butts?

Another question for the future, are there any negative effects to cubing the meat before freezing? Like when I first buy it to go ahead and de-bone and cube it then vac-seal in 5# or 10# bags and freeze. Then it would be all ready for grinding when the time came.

 

[diggingdogfarm]

Why not just save the frozen ones for future smokes and buy fresh ones to prep for sausage?

I prefer to keep the meat whole when freezing, it's a lot easier to cube it when it's semi-thawed....if it's in chunks you have to let it thaw much more before you can break it up and put it through the grinder, plus the meat loses less moisture from the freeze cycle if it's left whole.



~Martin

 

[chef jimmyj]

You can Refreeze if handled properly. Thaw as needed under refrigeration only. There may be some additional leach or mushiness but it will not be noticed if used in sausage or pulled. There is no reason you can't Cube the Butts prior to freezing, just try to keep the vac-pacs flat and freeze in a single layer then stack to save space...JJ

 

[boykjo]

or this

hammer and chisel.png

• boykjo
• Feb 19, 2013

or this

chisel.jpg

• boykjo
• Feb 19, 2013

lol

 

[s2k9k]

Thanks Joe! I forgot all about my air chisel!!!

But really, Thanks JJ and Martin, that's what I was thinking but I just wanted to hear it from the safety experts before I did anything stupid!

 

[dirtsailor2003]

I did the same thing a few months ago. Was so excited about the new freezer, and the good deal on the shoulders that I forgot to re-package them before freezing! So since I am new to the sausage world I figured when I thaw them, one will be made into sausage the other will be made into pernil on the mini! Wonder where I got that idea

I once filleted a couple blast froze albacore tuna with my sawzall. I'm not sure that the sawzall ever quit smelling like albacore! It dod make for a good story at the bbq that night!

 

[daveomak]

I did the same thing a few months ago. Was so excited about the new freezer, and the good deal on the shoulders that I forgot to re-package them before freezing! So since I am new to the sausage world I figured when I thaw them, one will be made into sausage the other will be made into pernil on the mini! Wonder where I got that idea

I once filleted a couple blast froze albacore tuna with my sawzall. I'm not sure that the sawzall ever quit smelling like albacore! It dod make for a good story at the bbq that night!

...LOL...  I can smell it now.... for something that tastes soooo goood.... The oil sure can have an  off odor......

 

[michael ark]

Sawsall with a metal blade.

 

[dirtsailor2003]

...LOL...  I can smell it now.... for something that tastes soooo goood.... The oil sure can have an  off odor......

It was a well oiled machine after that,

. Yeah strong smelling fish for sure. Good bee attractant too!

 

[themule69]

Sawsall with a metal blade.

that's what i use to quarter a deer. cordless will go to the woods with you.

 

[michael ark]

Yep I have corded and cordless.

 

[imjesse1]

Dude, just thaw a little bit and break in half