How to Make Summer Sausage? A Step-by-Step Guide

To make summer sausage, you’ll need to mix ground meat with curing salt, spices, and other ingredients, stuff the mixture into casings, and then cure and smoke the sausage until it’s cooked through. The sausage can then be cooled and stored in the refrigerator or freezer until you’re ready to enjoy it.

Ingredients Required

The first step in making summer sausage is to gather all of the necessary ingredients. You will need:

• 5 lbs. of lean ground beef
• 1 lb. of pork fat (or pork shoulder)
• 2 tbsp. of mustard seed
• 1 tbsp. of garlic powder
• 1 tbsp. of onion powder
• 1 tbsp. of paprika
• 1 tsp. of curing salt
• 1 tsp. of black pepper
• 1 tsp. of red pepper flakes
• 1/2 cup of ice water

It’s essential to use lean ground beef to ensure that the sausage doesn’t become too greasy. The pork fat adds flavor and moisture to the sausage, but if you prefer, you can also use pork shoulder instead. The spices used in the recipe can be adjusted to taste, and you can also add other seasonings, such as cumin or coriander, if desired.

Equipment Required

The next step in making summer sausage is to gather all of the necessary equipment. You will need:

• A meat grinder
• A sausage stuffer
• Sausage casings
• A smoker
• Wood chips (such as hickory or mesquite)

A meat grinder is needed to grind the beef and pork fat together. The sausage stuffer is used to stuff the meat mixture into the sausage casings. Sausage casings are usually made of natural materials such as hog or sheep intestines, and they can be purchased at most specialty food stores. A smoker is required to cook the sausage, and wood chips are used to add flavor.

Cooking Process

The cooking process for summer sausage is relatively simple. Once you have ground the beef and pork fat together, you can mix in the spices and ice water. It’s important to mix the ingredients thoroughly to ensure that the flavors are evenly distributed. After the mixture has been mixed, it’s time to stuff it into the sausage casings.

Once the sausage casings are filled, they need to be hung in the smoker and smoked for several hours. The smoking time will depend on the thickness of the sausage and the type of smoker being used. Typically, summer sausage is smoked for around 4-6 hours at a temperature of 150-170°F.

What Temp to Smoke Summer Sausage?

Summer sausage should be smoked at a temperature of 150-170°F. The smoking time will depend on the thickness of the sausage and the type of smoker being used. It’s important to monitor the temperature of the smoker and the internal temperature of the sausage throughout the smoking process to ensure that the sausage is cooked to the appropriate temperature. The smoke should be maintained for 4-6 hours, or until the internal temperature of the sausage reaches 160°F.

How long does summer sausage need to cure?

Summer sausage needs to be cured for 12-24 hours before smoking. Curing is the process of adding salt, curing salt, and other seasonings to the sausage mixture to help preserve the meat and enhance the flavor. After the sausage has been mixed with the curing ingredients, it should be placed in a covered container in the refrigerator to cure. During the curing process, the sausage will develop a slightly tangy flavor and a firm texture.

How Long to Ice Bath Summer Sausage?

After smoking, it’s recommended to place the summer sausage in an ice bath for 10-15 minutes to stop the cooking process and cool it down quickly. The ice bath helps to prevent the sausage from overcooking and becoming dry. The sausage should be removed from the smoker and placed in a large container filled with ice and cold water. It’s important to stir the sausage occasionally to ensure that it cools down evenly. Once the sausage has been cooled, it can be removed from the ice bath, dried off, and stored in the refrigerator or freezer.

FAQs

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this blog post, you can make summer sausage that is sure to impress your friends and family. So go ahead and give it a try! Once you’ve mastered the basic recipe, you can experiment with different spices and meats to create your own unique flavor combinations. And who knows, you may even find yourself inspired to start making your own homemade sausages year-round. With a little patience and practice, you’ll soon be enjoying delicious, homemade summer sausage that you can be proud to share with others.