Recommend Me Sausage Casings

[emrah1028]

I shot a pig. I want to make sausage of some sort. Last time I tried to use a sausage stuffer attachment on my hand-crack grinder, it didn't go so well. The sausage making kit I bought had casings that were way too huge and hard to stuff.

I'm thinking of using a jerky gun to fill casings. The bigger issue (I think) is I need smaller casings. Any particular brand you guys use and can suggest?

Thanks,

Emrah

P.S. I'm also up for hearing your favorite wild hog recipes.

 

[1_pointer]

I've only done either snack sticks or summer sausage. Snack stick size I used the grinder. BTW, if you wife has a Kitchen Aide mixer the grinder/stuffer attachment works super slick. For the summer sausage size, I did by hand with a wooden spoon. With the casings slick/pliable just sqeeze it full to the end like a tube of caulk. Just squeeze and pull on your caulk!!

 

[Colberjs]

I just stuffed some snack sticks. I bought the grinder and sausage stuffer kits for my wife's Kitchen-Aid. For me it was a horrible experience. I couldn't get it to work at all. I spent 30 minutes stuffing maybe 4" of sausage. Switched to my jerky cannon and had the remainder if the 2 lbs. of meat stuffed in the next 15-30 minutes. I used the Hi Mountain seasoning that came with 5/8-3/4" casings. A little bigger than I like but any smaller wouldn't have fit on the nozzle of the jerky cannon. Just ordered a chorizo seasoning kit to try out.

 

[cornfed]

I used to stuff most things in a casing until my wife found out what they actually are. Now I make bulk sausage, brat patties or even skinless brats seem to be the rage in this area.

 

[emrah1028]

Yeah, I've made just patties before but I really want to try and do the sausage links thing. I asked about the jerky gun, because the stuffer attachment to my hand-crank (albeit cheap) grinder was a horrible experience, just like Colberjs said. The attachments/collars didn't fit right, stuff oozed out, etc. I gave up and made patties. Waffling between the jerky gun thing and a dedicated $100 stuffer.

Emrah

 

[Colberjs]

I'm sure the stuffer would give you the opportunity to stuff bigger casings such as summer sausage. But if you're just doing snack sticks the jerky cannon worked wonderfully. Although I think my wife gave $50 for it a year or two ago. The nozzle that came with it would only hold enough casing to stuff about half the meat that fits in the barrel. An extended nozzle runs about $12-15. At that point you are almost to the price of a dedicated stuffer.

 

[Cammy]

LEM products sells all the stuffing and butchering supplies you could ever want. I used to use my 1/4 horse grinder and sausage stuffing attachment but found that the meat was getting hot and loosing texture on the second ride through the grinder. Bought a sausage stuffer (giant jerkey cannon) and have some of the best brats anywhere. Find a local butcher that makes the brats you like and ask for them to sell you spices. I started that way and use the spice mixes from Bass Pro now with a few additions of my own for my flavor preferences.

LEM also sells cologen casings for sausage if your family can't handle natural casings. Have not done snack sticks in a while as I have not found a good recipie. I tried the "regular" flavor fro BPS and about gaged. Gave them to the guys at work.

 

[DRAFTSTUD]

If ya want to make $45 worth of sausage all ya gotta do is buy $600 worth of tools and fixings. That''s what I do. LOL John

 

[kenton]

LEM is what I use.

 

[Cammy]

If ya want to make $45 worth of sausage all ya gotta do is buy $600 worth of tools and fixings. That''s what I do. LOL John

LOL!!! You only have to buy it once though.

 

[emrah1028]

I suppose I should wrap up this thread! I bought LEM colagen (sp?) casings and a Jerky Shooter (or was it Cannon? I dunno, it's up in the cupboard right now). I ended up making jerky, snack sticks and sausage. The sausage was a little loose, but still incredible. I used LEM seasonings and a couple from Cabelas I think.

Either way, they were a BIG hit. I'm pretty damned happy with my first attempt! I did them all in the oven. If I can save up enough for an electric smoker this year, it'll be even better.

Emrah