# How to Make Delicious Sausages at Home with Natural Hog Casings
If you love sausages, you might have wondered how to make them at home. Making your own sausages can be a fun and rewarding activity, as well as a way to control the quality and flavor of your meat. One of the most important ingredients for making sausages is the casing, which is the thin, edible skin that holds the meat mixture together and gives it shape. There are different types of casings available, but in this article, we will focus on natural hog casings, which are made from the intestines of pigs.
What are Natural Hog Casings and Why Use Them?
Natural hog casings are the traditional choice for many types of sausages, such as Italian, Polish, bratwurst, and jumbo hot dogs. They are sourced from high-quality, Grade-A, North American hogs only, and are whisker-free and edible. They have a unique combination of tenderness, thinness, and pliability that no man-made casing can imitate. They also have a natural “snap” when you bite into them, which adds to the texture and enjoyment of eating sausages.
Natural hog casings have several advantages over synthetic casings, such as collagen, cellulose, or plastic. Natural casings breathe, which means they allow the smoke and cooking flavors to penetrate the meat better. They also hold their shape when twisted, and don’t break as easily as artificial casings. Moreover, natural casings are more environmentally friendly, as they use the whole animal and reduce waste.
How to Prepare and Use Natural Hog Casings
Natural hog casings come packed in salt or brine to preserve them during shipping. Before using them, you need to rinse them well under cold water to remove the excess salt. Then, you need to soak them in the refrigerator overnight or for at least two hours before stuffing. This will help soften and hydrate the casings and make them easier to work with.
To stuff the casings, you will need a sausage funnel or stuffer, which is a device that pushes the meat mixture through a tube into the casing. You can find different models and sizes of sausage stuffers online or at specialty stores. To attach the casing to the funnel, you need to slide it onto the tube, leaving about an inch of casing hanging off. Then, you can start filling the casing with the meat mixture, pinching the end of the casing with your fingers to seal it. As you fill the casing, you can twist it at intervals to form individual links or loops. You can also use butcher twine or metal clips to secure the ends of the links.
Once you have stuffed your casings, you can cook your sausages according to your recipe. You can broil, grill, fry, boil, or smoke them depending on your preference. You can also store your sausages in the refrigerator for up to three days or in the freezer for up to three months.
How to Choose and Buy Natural Hog Casings
When buying natural hog casings, you need to consider the size and quantity that you need for your sausages. The size of the casing determines the diameter of your sausage links. Natural hog casings come in different sizes ranging from 28mm to 42mm (about 1 inch to 1 3/4 inches). The most common size for home sausage making is 32mm-35mm (about 1 1/4 inches to 1 1/2 inches), which is suitable for standard Italian, Polish, and bratwurst sausages.
The quantity of casing that you need depends on how much meat you want to stuff. One pack of natural hog casings can make between 20 to 30 pounds of sausage (depending on how tightly you fill them). You can buy natural hog casings by weight or by length. Some suppliers offer pre-tubed casings, which are already loaded onto plastic tubes for easier stuffing.
One of the best places to buy natural hog casings is online from reputable sellers who specialize in sausage making supplies. You can find a wide selection of natural hog casings at [The Sausage Maker], [LEM Products], [World Casing Corporation], [The Casing Boutique], and [Butcher & Packer]. These sellers offer high-quality products at reasonable prices and fast shipping.
How to Compare Natural Hog Casings with Other Products
To help you decide whether natural hog casings are right for you, here is a comparison table with some other products that you might consider:
| Product | Description | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Natural Hog Casings | Edible casings made from pig intestines | – Authentic flavor and texture – Breathable and absorbent – Pliable and strong – Natural and eco-friendly | – Need to rinse and soak before use – May have some odor or imperfections – More expensive than synthetic casings |
| Collagen Casings | Edible casings made from animal collagen (mostly from cow or pig hides) | – Easy to use and store – Uniform in size and shape – Inexpensive and widely available | – Less flavor and snap than natural casings – Less flexible and more prone to breakage – Not suitable for smoking or dry curing |
| Cellulose Casings | Non-edible casings made from plant cellulose (mostly from wood or cotton) | – Strong and sheer – Permeable to smoke – Ideal for skinless sausages | – Need to be peeled off after cooking – Not suitable for fresh or cooked sausages – May have a plastic-like appearance |
| Plastic Casings | Non-edible casings made from synthetic materials (such as polyethylene or polyamide) | – Durable and impermeable – Good for high-yield products – Good for long-term storage | – Need to be removed before eating – Not suitable for smoking or grilling – May affect the flavor and texture of the meat |
What Customers Say About Natural Hog Casings
To give you an idea of what other customers think about natural hog casings, here are some representative product reviews from Amazon:
– “I have used these casings several times now and they work great. They are easy to rinse, soak, and stuff. They have a nice snap when cooked and no unpleasant odor or taste. They make perfect sausages every time. I highly recommend them.”
– “These are the best natural hog casings I have ever used. They are very consistent in size and quality. They are also very easy to slide onto the stuffer tube. They make beautiful sausages with a great texture and flavor. I will definitely buy them again.”
– “I was disappointed with these casings. They were very thin and fragile, and they broke several times during stuffing. They also had a lot of holes and knots, which made them hard to work with. They did not have much snap or bite when cooked. I would not buy them again.”
Conclusion
Natural hog casings are a great choice for making delicious sausages at home. They offer a superior flavor, texture, and appearance than synthetic casings, as well as being more natural and eco-friendly. They are easy to prepare and use, as long as you follow some simple steps. They are also widely available online from trusted sellers who offer quality products at fair prices.
If you are interested in buying natural hog casings, you can check out [this link] to order them from Amazon. You will get a pack of natural hog casings that can make up to 25 pounds of standard Italian, Polish, or bratwurst sausages at about 1.5 inches stuffed diameter. You will also get fast and free shipping with Amazon Prime.
Don’t wait any longer, order your natural hog casings today and start making your own sausages at home. You will love the results and impress your family and friends with your homemade sausages. Enjoy!
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