First time snack sticks and thermo processing
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I did my first batch of snack sticks and followed the Walton’s video tutorial to the letter. Mix was 25 pounds of 50/50 beef and pork with added pork fat to compensate for removing the beef fat, citric acid and sure gel added. I also added two quarts of water per the video directions to help in the stuffing.
Here’s my question; the thermo process took seventeen hours to reach temp. Is that due the extra water added or is it somewhat normal to take that long to reach 160 degrees?
More info that could play a part in this situation;
1-Used a PK100 for the first time and the outside temp was in the twenties, the PK100 never reached the temps as outlined in the cook temp schedule. 125/140/155/175. That’s even after setting the unit to 1250 watts. I will address this with the manufacture.
2-Used a water bowl with sponges added for absorption.
3-When set to the final temp of 175 the PK100 could only reach 150 degrees using the 1250 watt setting so after seven hours removed and finished in the oven for ten more hours.My thoughts are the temps were too low in the beginning to aid in the drying process and adding so much extra water just made it a longer cooking process. Do you agree or is there something else I need to consider?
Thank you. -
did you pre heat the smoker before starting ?
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Were the dampers open? I did an experiment this winter with mine. I did it outside at 6 degrees F in the snow. Still heated right up.
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M. Saboe 1st, that low watt setting or whatever is pointless in my mind. I always run at full power, I think they put it in there to be able to have it qualify for some power saving thing or something. Only thing I can think of.
2nd seventeen is way too long. 21 outside temp is going to make things harder but still not 10 hour longer than a long smoke. I’m guessing a few things came into play here. Outside temp is one of them but I am guessing there was case hardening somehow. The fact that you set at 175 and it only reached 150 is beyond odd. To the point that I think you might have an issue with the PK100. I can set ours up in 20 ° and get it to 200° with minimal fuss. However, 2 qts is also beyond what I recommend. I tried to go back and pout notes on all How Tos that 1.5 is the top end of what you should use. Let me know if I missed one please! -
Also, this is a good time to point out that finishing up in water will save others this same issue. https://meatgistics.waltonsinc.com/topic/1099/cured-sausage-205-advanced-thermal-processing
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lkrfletcher Sous Vide Canning PK100 Team Blue Power User Colorado Military Veterans Veteranreplied to M. Saboe on last edited by
M. Saboe
I also agree that the Sous Vide method of finishing to temp really works well. In fact its my new thing. The PK100 imparts so much smoke flavor, that I no longer finish in it. Placing them in a sous vide bath does not lose the flavor of the smoke.
If you feel that there might be an issue with your smoker give this guy a call. He was very helpful to me when I was getting started with my PK100.
Bill Rink
Account Executive
PS Seasoning
Pro-Smoker & Roaster
800-328-8313
920-370-1684 cell
563-359-7967 Hm Office
billpsseasoning@aol.com -
I am struggling with my new PK100 getting meat sticks up to temperature. The first time I made snack sticks it took 30 hours or so.
I am on my second attempt. I have 25 pounds of meat sticks in the smoker. I am on hour 16. I have turned the temperature all the way to 250 degrees with 1250 watts. My internal temperature of my meat will not exceed 127 degrees. Outside temperature in Montana is -8 degrees.
Does does altitude along with outside temperature have that much effect on my new smoker?
Has anyone else struggled this much? I was really looking forward to finding great success with the PK100. -
Bob Stehlik Team Blue Traeger Canning Veteran Power User Regular Contributors Military Veterans Coloradoreplied to taufrecht on last edited by Bob Stehlik
taufrecht try putting a pan of warm/hot water in the smoker. The water will raise the humidity and convey the heat better. You can also heat some water in a turkey roaster to the temp of 177 degrees F and finish them off in the hot water bath until a IT of 160 degrees is reached. A lot of people are using the hot water bath/sous vide method to cut hours off the finishing time.
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Sous vide = going to bed at a decent hour.
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processhead Power User Regular Contributors Smoker Build Expert Bowl Choppers Nebraska Veteran Team Camo
Modern smokers have a lot of controls and temp sensors which we have come to be very dependent on.
It is good to have an accurate backup thermometer that you can trust when things just don’t seem right. -
GWG8541 Regular Contributors Cast Iron Sous Vide Canning Team Blue Power User Military Veterans Ohioreplied to smokinbubba on last edited by
smokinbubba My first run of snack sticks with the sous vide was today.
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YooperDog Team Orange Masterbuilt Big Green Egg Dry Cured Sausage Sous Vide Canning Power Userreplied to GWG8541 on last edited by
GWG8541 looking good. I use a turkey roaster right now, but will be going that route hopefully soon. It is like going going from bottling to kegging.
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processhead Power User Regular Contributors Smoker Build Expert Bowl Choppers Nebraska Veteran Team Camo
I like my finished snack sticks somewhat dry and I am wondering about if that is even possible when finishing sticks in hot water? The only thing I can think of is letting them air dry in the refrigerator after all thermal processing is done, before packaging.
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YooperDog Team Orange Masterbuilt Big Green Egg Dry Cured Sausage Sous Vide Canning Power Userreplied to processhead on last edited by
processhead I let mine air dry in the fridge and they get like a salami and a solid snap. Kabanosy makes a good stick, growing up the local shops would have them hanging on the rack with their other cured sausages in varying stages of dryness. Probably wouldn’t float today.
