Air bubbles

Arod2015

just finished my first attempt at brats. Used the tubbed natural casings because of the ease of use. Had lots of air bubbles in the links. Can you use a small pin to release the air?

twilliams

Arod2015 yes, just did 2 days worth this weekend

Arod2015

twilliams thanks!

Jonathon

Arod2015 They sell a Sausage Pricker but yes, a pin works about the same, those prickers are more used by commercial processors as a pin wouldn’t be accepted by a USDA inspector.

twilliams

Jonathon i had a nervous break down, i couldnt find my pin. I thought for sure it got stuck to meat and was gonna have to throw it all away for safety measures. I found that it rolled under my stuffer…whew!! I can totally see the reason USDA would not allow it besides the sterile factor as well

Jonathon

twilliams Hahaha yeah, people like to complain about the USDA but they sometimes have good reasons for the rules they create!

akdave

Packing the stuffer tightly with meat and having an air eliminator on your stuffer plate will greatly reduce your air getting into the casings.

TexLaw

twilliams Losing a pin or needle and having to toss a batch is the very reason I went ahead and sprung for a pricker. I’d rather spend a few bucks on the front end to avoid tossing pounds and pounds of meat. I like cheap insurance.

ClaytonD

Arod2015 we use corn holders? They have little handles and two pins to shove into the corn. They p***k the natural casings just fine.

Joe Hell

ClaytonD Great suggestion!

TexLaw

ClaytonD Yeah, that’ll do just fine! That’s pretty much what the pricker I have it like, just larger.

ClaytonD

I was censored! ClaytonD said in Air bubbles:

Arod2015 we use corn holders? They have little handles and two pins to shove into the corn. They [censored] the natural casings just fine.