Sheep casings for bratwurst

[brown274]

I am about to order some casings and get started in the sausage making world. I will be starting off doing hot smoked pepperoni in a 42mm+ hog casing and then I will be trying many different fresh bratwurst recipes for grilling. The guy I hunt with asked if they had any smaller casings for bratwurst available so it would be easier for kids to eat and he would not have to cut them in half. I see the there are some 24-26mm & 26/28mm sheep casings. Most of the recipes I have call for 29-32mm hog.

Has anyone used these smaller sheep casings with bratwurst and had good success? I have the 3/8 and the 1/2 tube for the LEM stuffer. I would like either the size of a hot dog or a few mm bigger. Maybe the size between a hot dog and a brat.

 

[kit s]

Brown
I have used sheep casing for breakfast, but not brats. They are pretty delicate compared to hog and harder to thread on to your tube. The 24-26 size sheep though should work. You will just have not over fill and when you twist to size a little gentler.

 

[dward51]

No reason you "can't" use sheep casings for brats. They can be a little thinner and easier to blow out depending on the quality (brand). I would look at the pre-tubed casings from Syracuse Casing Company. Another option is call around to local butcher shops and see if they will sell a small quantity of casings. I found one nearby that used the tubed casings and he will see as little as one tubed casing. Being a butcher, I know he is using quality products and they are fresh as he gets a new batch in every week since he goes through them very quickly. Might pay a little more, but you don't have to deal with getting a ton of casings and like I said, you can be assured they are fresh.

You may have to call a few butchers before you find one who will sell like that, but it's worth the effort. I also buy order some meat cuts from him as well every now and then.