Secrets for Making Your Own Summer Sausages at Home

1. Secrets for Making Your Own Summer Sausages at Home As the weather warms up, grilling season kicks into high gear. And nothing says summertime grilling like zesty, savory summer sausage sizzling on the barbecue. But did you know you can craft your homemade batch of Original Summer Sausages in your kitchen? With the right techniques and secrets, you can become your family’s in-house charcuterie master. Read on to learn the insider tips for creating incredible summer sausages from scratch. We’ll cover everything from choosing meats to mastering the mixing, stuffing, and smoking process. Follow these secrets and get ready to wow your cookout crew with your own artisanal, tasty summer sausages! Start with Fresh, High-Quality Meats Like any sausage, everything starts with the quality of the meat. Seek out fresh, well- marbled cuts of pork shoulder, beef chuck or brisket, and pork fatback. The fat content is key for juicy, flavorful sausages. Have your butcher coarsely grind the meat – avoid pre-ground sausage meat, which can be mushy. Use a Meat Mix with the Right Fat Ratio Aim for a meat mix that’s around 20% fat content. This ensures your sausage will be moist and tender. A good ratio is 70% lean pork, 25% lean beef, and 5% fatback or pork

2. belly. Play around with the percentages to get your perfect blend. The pork provides juiciness, while the beef lends a hearty flavor. Season Aggressively with Salt and Spices Summer sausage needs assertive seasoning to impart a big flavor. For every 5 pounds of meat, use: 2-3 Tablespoons Kosher Salt Teaspoons Ground Black Pepper 1-2 Teaspoons Curing Salt 1-2 Tablespoons Sugar Spices like garlic, onion, coriander, mustard seed ▪ ▪ ▪ ▪ Mix Everything Very Thoroughly To Get The Original Summer Sausage Flavor To get the right sausage consistency, the meat mixture needs to be mixed rigorously. Use your (thoroughly washed) hands to knead the meat, fat, seasonings, and any liquid together until completely incorporated and sticky. This bonding is what gives the sausage its characteristic texture. Do a Test Fry for Flavor and Texture Before stuffing into casings, cook a small test patty of the meat mix in a pan. Taste it to see if the flavor profile is balanced and savory. Check that the texture is pleasantly coarse yet cohesive. Adjust salt, spices, or liquid as needed. Natural Casings Give Best Results Natural hog casings can’t be beat for that classic “snap” when you bite into a sausage. Soak salted hog casings in water before use, then use a sausage stuffer to fill them. Leave room at the ends to tie off links. Avoid collagen or plastic casings. Master the Art of Link Forming To form perfect sausage links, carefully tie off one end of the stuffed casing. Twist the sausage into 5-6 inch links, tying butcher’s twine between each one. Finally, tie off the other end tight. Coil the linked sausages into loops so they retain their round shape. Start Low and Slow When Smoking The ideal temperature for smoking your original summer sausage is between 120- 140°F. Use mild fruit woods like apple or cherry so the smoke doesn’t overpower.

3. Smoke for 2-3 hours until the casings look dry. The lower heat helps the spices permeate the meat. Finish Cooking Sausages in Oven After smoking for a few hours, finish cooking the sausages in a 225°F oven until the internal temperature reaches 155°F, about 1 hour. This helps fully cook the sausage without over-smoking. Test for doneness by frying a slice – it should be firm and juicy. Let Your Original Summer Sausage Rest Before Serving This last step is crucial! Allow the summer sausages to rest at room temperature for 1-2 days after cooking. This resting period allows the flavors to bloom and the sausages to firm up. Then, they’re ready to serve, slice, and enjoy! Dig in. Some Questions You Might Ask before Crafting Your Own Summer Sausage FOR HOMEMADE SUMMER SAUSAGES, can I use chicken, smoked turkey breast, or other boneless meat instead of pork and beef? Absolutely! While traditional recipes often use pork and beef, you can certainly experiment with chicken or turkey to create a lighter version of summer sausages. Just be mindful of the fat content, and consider using thigh meat for juiciness. Is it possible to make original-like summer sausages without a smoker? Yes, you can still achieve great results without a smoker. After mixing, stuffing, and forming your sausages, you can simply cook them in the oven at a low temperature to infuse that smoky flavor. They’ll turn out delicious! What should I do if my sausages turn out too salty? If your sausages end up too salty, you can try soaking them in cold water for a short time to reduce the saltiness. Additionally, consider adjusting the amount of salt used in your seasoning mix for future batches. How long can I store homemade summer sausages, and what’s the best way to store them? Homemade summer sausages can be stored in the refrigerator for up to two weeks. For longer-term storage, you can freeze them. Be sure to wrap them tightly in plastic wrap or aluminum foil and place them in an airtight container to prevent freezer burn. Can I experiment with different spices and flavors in my homemade summer sausages?

4. Absolutely! Customizing the flavors of your summer sausages is part of the fun. Feel free to experiment with various spices, herbs, and seasonings to create unique flavor profiles that suit your taste preferences. Unlock the Full Flavor of Original Summer Sausages: An Ultimate Gift for Foodies With the right techniques, making summer sausage at home is very achievable. Start with quality meats, amp up the spices, and take time perfecting the mixing and stuffing process. Smoking low and slow, followed by oven finishing, ensures safety and great taste. Employing these insider secrets, you’ll be cranking out incredible summer sausages that will be the star of any barbecue. When you craft it yourself, you can control the flavors and quality. Get ready to become the sausage superstar of your neighborhood! Ready to embark on your homemade sausage journey? At Meyer’s Elgin Sausage, we’re your trusted source for crafting mouthwatering original summer sausages and succulent Smoked Turkey Breast Boneless. Explore our premium selections, and take the first step towards becoming the sausage superstar of your neighborhood. Elevate your BBQ game with Meyer’s today! Read More: Click Here