Elk Sausage Weekend

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Well decided this past weekend was a good weekend to process the very last of my meat from 2021. Last untouched meat was my cow elk.

I had about thirty pounds of meat so I decided to make three batches: cheddar brats, BBQ sticks, and pressed hamburgers.

I got beef brisket trimming from a friend in town, so I ended up making everything a little fattier than normal (80/20 elk to beef fat roughly). I used seasoning packets for everything, I learned a couple years ago I am unable to blend seasonings well enough and I should just buy bulk seasonings of flavors I like....



Thawing out:

Brats all sealed up:

Hamburgers waiting for packaging:


Snack sticks in the oven (didn't smoke them this time. I added liquid smoke and just used the oven, cheating I know)

Finished Snack Sticks

 

[Nick87]

Well decided this past weekend was a good weekend to process the very last of my meat from 2021. Last untouched meat was my cow elk.

I had about thirty pounds of meat so I decided to make three batches: cheddar brats, BBQ sticks, and pressed hamburgers.

I got beef brisket trimming from a friend in town, so I ended up making everything a little fattier than normal (80/20 elk to beef fat roughly). I used seasoning packets for everything, I learned a couple years ago I am unable to blend seasonings well enough and I should just buy bulk seasonings of flavors I like....



Thawing out:
View attachment 221202
Brats all sealed up:
View attachment 221203
Hamburgers waiting for packaging:
View attachment 221204
View attachment 221205
Snack sticks in the oven (didn't smoke them this time. I added liquid smoke and just used the oven, cheating I know)
View attachment 221207
Finished Snack Sticks
View attachment 221206

Looks good, meet processing and not a beer in sight?

How did you do the burger after you pattied them, freezer paper?

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

Looks good, meet processing and not a beer insight?

How did you do the burger after you pattied them, freezer paper?

Haha! I don't drink so that's why no beer in sight! Plenty of Bubbly's though...

Yes/kind of, I press them with freezer paper, leave them in that paper, then vacuum seal them. A bit of over kill probably, but I like to vacuum seal all the meat I do lately.

 

[Sask hunter]

Looks delicious

 

[MThuntr]

 

[Jamen]

Looks good, meet processing and not a beer insight?

How did you do the burger after you pattied them, freezer paper?

I basically do the same thing when i make patties. I use the precut squares for my hand press, i stack them on a sheet pan and toss them in the freezer to get them partially frozen. Then i vac seal in bags. When i did mine raw without freezing i ran into issues with them sticking to each other when i wanted to grab on single patty. Results may be different when using the freezer paper vs the wax squares.

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I basically do the same thing when i make patties. I use the precut squares for my hand press, i stack them on a sheet pan and toss them in the freezer to get them partially frozen. Then i vac seal in bags. When i did mine raw without freezing i ran into issues with them sticking to each other when i wanted to grab on single patty. Results may be different when using the freezer paper vs the wax squares.

Spot on. I used to have the wax squares, but they got tossed in the house fire apparently. So I ended up having to use freezer paper because that's what was on hand. Can't report on how they will break apart after the freezer yet. Hopefully they break apart easy enough.


Had a patty for lunch with some Montreal steak seasoning on it and cheddar cheese.... WOW, it was fantastic and it was just pan fried because I was lazy

 

[Pucky Freak]

Looks great! I started thawing 25 lbs cow elk in the fridge on Saturday. Cut the partially-frozen meat into 1x1x6” pieces this AM, and will grind burger tonight. Nothing fancy like your stuff

 

[Jamen]

Spot on. I used to have the wax squares, but they got tossed in the house fire apparently. So I ended up having to use freezer paper because that's what was on hand. Can't report on how they will break apart after the freezer yet. Hopefully they break apart easy enough.


Had a patty for lunch with some Montreal steak seasoning on it and cheddar cheese.... WOW, it was fantastic and it was just pan fried because I was lazy

I will sometimes mix in high temp cheese into mine as well cheddar or pepperjack. Ive even did 20% ground bacon ends and pieces i pick up for 1$ a pound. So good!

 

[SD_Prairie_Goat]

I will sometimes mix in high temp cheese into mine as well cheddar or pepperjack. Ive even did 20% ground bacon ends and pieces i pick up for 1$ a pound. So good!

Definitely did high temp cheese with the brats, pepperjack. Never done it with pattied burgers though. I'd rather throw a slice on top at the end I guess