Tying Sausage Links: Help

[Smart]

Those look incredible! The only catch on my end is that I am not smoking them... once made they will go straight into foodsaver bags and into the freezer until cooked on the grill or skillet (I will try smoking them one day, but not this time... baby steps).

However, is it just the twists on each end or do you tie a knot in the casings somehow?

What I am picturing having to do is as the meat is being stuffed, I will form a 18"-20" length, cut the casing a little long, and then tie each end individually forming the "horseshoe".

Bear with me here as I am complete novice at this...

When smoking, it is just "pinch an inch and twist the end" It will stay together and dry like that when smoked.

When not smoking I would probably tie like I stated in the post above. But I rarely if ever do fresh sausage so there are probably folks here who have a better idea than i do.

[panhandlehunter]

What length (unfilled extra casing included) has worked best for you?

Just enough to tie, maybe 3/4" or so. Make your horseshoe, cross the ends of casings and tie.

[Catcher20]

If you are not going to smoke them, you would probably be better off tying. You want the casing to stay closed so when you cook it, the juices don't leak out the end.

You could just get the twine and tie an overhand knot on each end if you don't want to get learn the art of tying sausage. Just wrap it around the link about an inch in, tie it all the way down and do the other side the same. Take the little meatball you make and put it back in the stuff pile. The link ends don't have to be touching like your pic.

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I will give that a try! Thanks for the input.

[Rubi513]

We stopped tying years ago and just pinch out an inch and twist the casing.

Tried this last year and it worked great.
I am trying to remember the length you suggested. Was it 21" and pinch a inch on each side?

[Smart]

Tried this last year and it worked great.
I am trying to remember the length you suggested. Was it 21" and pinch a inch on each side?

It was a few years ago but I/we changed it to 19" to get the 2 links to really slide in the 11" vacuum seal bags width wise easier. Glad it worked out for you.

[Rubi513]

It was a few years ago but I/we changed it to 19" to get the 2 links to really slide in the 11" vacuum seal bags width wise easier. Glad it worked out for you.

Thanks!

[kd350]

Before we stuff, we take the casing and just tie a overhand knot in it. When you get to whatever length you desire just pull some extra casing and tie another overhand knot. We used to use string and tie and it sucked

[Catcher20]

Before we stuff, we take the casing and just tie a overhand knot in it. When you get to whatever length you desire just pull some extra casing and tie another overhand knot. We used to use string and tie and it sucked

When doing this, were you able to still bend the links into a horseshoe pretty easily?

[kd350]

When doing this, were you able to still bend the links into a horseshoe pretty easily?

Yeah, I think I got a pic.

But we stopped doing horseshoes when we vacuum seal them. We curl them up so we don't use as many bags.


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[kd350]

^^^^ not the best of pics but can somewhat tell



We do the same thing when we smoke them, just make sure to have enough casing to the the 2 ends together. I know your not gonna smoke them, but just showing that it does work


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[EliteDriver]

The way I do it is to stuff and twist. Let them dry for a day or so in the fridge and then cut. The drying of the casings is the key to getting them to stick once stuffed and cut.

[bowmansdad]

We still use string to tie our links. We cut links about 26", tie a double overhand knot about 1 1/4" down, pull the knot tight, take some of the excess meat off the end and leave a small ball there, repeat on the other side to form a link. After smoking, we cut the ends off before vacuum sealing the links. The smoked ends are great as a snack, add to recipes or put in a small crockpot with BBQ sauce as a great appetizer!

[Catcher20]

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^^^^ not the best of pics but can somewhat tell

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We do the same thing when we smoke them, just make sure to have enough casing to the the 2 ends together. I know your not gonna smoke them, but just showing that it does work


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So really they are in the shape of a "C" then, correct?

[kd350]

So really they are in the shape of a "C" then, correct?

The shorter ones yes, can shape the longer ones more


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