Casings

[PaPaSmokes]

Hey guys, how do you store and for how long can you store the unused casings? I have a couple of pre-tubed hog casings left over. For now I put the unused casings and liquid on a ziplock bag and put it in the frig.

[mrobisr]

PaPaSmokes Keep in fridge and repack in a lot of plain nothing added salt and the date goes well beyond imagination.

[Dave in AZ]

PaPaSmokes for a year or more. So long as you have lots of salt. You can just bag, and a few T salt, done. However, a lot of folks keep in a high sal brine. This makes the casings more silky, ready to use, and less prone to knots. I would be sure to use a brine at least 10% salt to ensure no bacteria. Thats 100g salt in 1000g or 1 L of water.

I keep most of mine just bagged with dry salt poured around them, smaller and no leaks in fridge. Then when I use part of a tube, or know I’m gonna stuff some in a few days, I put leftover casing plus enough for 15 lbs or so, into some brine. But yah, you could leave it for years really.

Somewhere I have a post showing how much meat can be stuffed per foot in 19mm, 20, 21, 22, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 38mm etc. I usually just strip off what I need, from the pretubed ones, so I don’t contaminate a bunch with sausage meat. You can rinse it then salt, but I’d rather never have it sitting on horn if not gonna use.

[PaPaSmokes]

Dave in AZ good to know so I’ll just drain the mfg liquid and pour in a few Tbs of salt and seal it up. We did cut a length off with the tube and put the rest away so it didn’t come in contact with raw meat.
Does this apply to all casings?

[Dave in AZ]

PaPaSmokes sheep, pig, cow, yep. Don’t get the synthetic ones wet or salty, like collagen and cellulose or fibrous.

[PaPaSmokes]

Dave in AZ I kinda assumed but…. Never hurts to hear it. Thx!!!

[Joe Hell]

PaPaSmokes I don’t know the shelf life but I regularly repackage them with a ton of plain non-ionized salt, vacuum sealed and refrigerated. I go through them quickly so I haven’t run into issues thus far.

[PaPaSmokes]

Joe Hell never thought about vacuum sealing but not a bad way to avoid leakage too.

[Joe Hell]

PaPaSmokes I just figure that when in doubt…vacuum everything

[Denny O]

Joe Hell said in Casings:

PaPaSmokes I just figure that when in doubt…vacuum everything

Absolutely!
PaPaSmokes Rod, on the waltons website when they list the natural casings there is an approximate amount of pounds that a casing will hold…

[Joe Hell]

Denny O I’ve noticed on the pre-tubed casings that each tube can accommodate anywhere from 10 to 20 lbs each…that’s not a knock on the product. Overall each package will yield the full amount but each tube varies. With each project you will get a feel for it. In the end if you have left overs it’s easy to figure what’s worth saving or not. I wouldn’t ever consider anything but pre-tubed going forward no matter the loss here and there.

[Denny O]

Joe Hell Just now a copy and paste from Waltons website on pre tubed hog casings.
Pre tubed Hog Casings

“Features:
Tubed Natural Hog Casings
a Total of 100 yards of natural hog casings on plastic sleeves for easy and fast stuffing
Approximately 8 sleeves per package
Packed in salt
Can be refrigerated for 6 months (if left in salt or original packaging)
Can be frozen for over 1 year (however, this can cause more blowouts when stuffing)
Country of origin is either USA or Denmark
This item is non-returnable
Size Capacity
28-30mm - 80 lb
30-32mm - 105 lb
32-35mm - 125 lb
35-38mm - 125 lb
38-42mm - 150 lb
42-45mm - 160 lb”

So if there are 8 sleeves then they will allow about X lbs per sleeve plus or minus?,
28-30mm - 8 lb
30-32mm - 13.1 lb
32-35mm - 15.6 lb
35-38mm - 15.6 lb
38-42mm - 18.75 lb
42-45mm - 20 lb

Just my math taken from the web site. Joe Hell Joe, what are you saying based on this information?

[Joe Hell]

Denny O my opinion is that the length of each tubed casing varies…sometimes substantially…no two hogs are the same. Diameter varies slightly as indicated by the specifications. Overall I would say each package fairly states and represents the estimated amount of capacity. When dealing with a naturally sourced product such as this it should be expected that variation will occur. I would not hesitate nor reconsider using anything but a pre tubed hog casing for any of my sausage needs. Ease of use and convenience far outweighs any short comings….which are few and far between. The product is top notch IMO for home and professional needs.

[cdavis]

Joe Hell good info. Thanks for sharing I haven’t tried natural casings yet but I am soon. I’ll be getting pre tubed.

[calldoctoday]

PaPaSmokes We do not even drain the liquid as what even needs to come out will come out with your measurement of guts. Just add a little NON IODIZED salt every now & then as you use them, place back in the bag, & into the refer they go. Vacuum sealing may help even more, but we typically do not. A long time ago I used to get my guts in a little tub instead of a bag & I would put the remainders in the freezer for keeping. It seemed to work for me, but had to thaw & I understand now that is not the way to do it, so I don’t.

[calldoctoday]

Joe Hell I am still just using the un-tubed variety. Thought about the tubes a few times, but then thought that the regular ones were just not that bad to deal with.

[processhead]

calldoctoday said in Casings:

Joe Hell I am still just using the un-tubed variety. Thought about the tubes a few times, but then thought that the regular ones were just not that bad to deal with.

The only time I really appreciate the tubed variety is with sheep casings. They are just small enough and thin enough to deal me fits when trying to get the end over the stuffer tube.

[Joe Hell]

calldoctoday I never gave much thought to the hassle of non-tubed casings until I switched. It was an ‘a-ha!’ moment for sure. Having a single, continuous casing that I don’t have to untangle from a rats nest simply saves time and frustration. Non tubed lamb casings are the wurst! Lol

[calldoctoday]

Joe Hell Joe, Thanks, Good to hear from you. We will perhaps have to give them another thought then, especially for the sheep.

[Denny O]

cdavis I thought you were ordering them after I commented on the size I got.