2026 sasuage and processing thread

Nick87

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I'm a few days early for the new year but I figured I'd get this thread going for the year. Just did a small portion today. 10lbs of Italian sausage and 10lbs of brats. A lot more to come yet. Patiently waiting for @Jamen , @WildWill; @Gellar contributing among many others. Share any new or old recipes you got here.20251229_161009.jpg20251229_164513.jpg
 
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While ML's kids were here I bought a couple 2 packs of Pork Shoulder for $1.99. I had her son help me grind one then add seasonings from an internet recipe for breakfast sausage. did not realize just how much seasoning 9 pounds of ground pork takes.

I'm on the lookout for a new breakfast sausage recipe ideally one that I can convert to pounds of spices since I really like my Harbor freight digital scale.....
 
I actually did 25lb of tomato basil bratwurst this weekend. Only cased 10lb of it as we use a lot of it for spaghetti, lasagna, bolognese. Our holiday antlerless season has a few days left and I'm gonna try and get another sausage deer. My son got this girl last week all ground for sausage except the backstrap.20251221_094226.jpg
 
While ML's kids were here I bought a couple 2 packs of Pork Shoulder for $1.99. I had her son help me grind one then add seasonings from an internet recipe for breakfast sausage. did not realize just how much seasoning 9 pounds of ground pork takes.

I'm on the lookout for a new breakfast sausage recipe ideally one that I can convert to pounds of spices since I really like my Harbor freight digital scale.....
This is what I use. Very tasty
 
I actually did 25lb of tomato basil bratwurst this weekend. Only cased 10lb of it as we use a lot of it for spaghetti, lasagna, bolognese. Our holiday antlerless season has a few days left and I'm gonna try and get another sausage deer. My son got this girl last week all ground for sausage except the backstrap.View attachment 397437
Ive thought about grinding them all before. But I love jerky too much...i just can't.
 
You guys ever try that trail bologna mix? We use to make it all the time like summer sausage. It’s all about the presentation for me and how well my sausage is received
 
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Do you guys package yours freshly stuffed? I feel like if I cut the twists when they’re still raw they won’t stay… and for some reason I feel like I need to smoke mine and give them to people fully cooked 😂 just reheat on the grill or in a pan or whatever. I first tried bear brats and smoked to 160-165 then deep freezer. They were a hit! Did a round of elk brats to that and they were DRY DRY. So I went 140-145 on next round and honestly didn’t even try one I had just ate dinner. They looked way better though.. tips on bratwurst/links welcome lol
 
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Do you guys package yours freshly stuffed? I feel like if I cut the twists when they’re still raw they won’t stay… and for some reason I feel like I need to smoke mine and give them to people fully cooked 😂 just reheat on the grill or in a pan or whatever. I first tried bear brats and smoked to 160-165 then deep freezer. They were a hit! Did a round of elk brats to that and they were DRY DRY. So I went 140-145 on next round and honestly didn’t even try one I had just ate dinner. They looked way better though.. tips on bratwurst/links welcome lol
Are you mixing fat? For brats and Italian sausage I defintely go 50/50 deer to pork butt mix. I do freeze mine but I dont cut my twists I shoot for 4 per pack so if my casing is longer than that I leave a gap while stuffing and come back and cut it and leave enough room to tie off each end if that makes sense? So im twisting a casing with 4 links per pack and freezing that way. If you cut them right away they definitely won't hold or at least they won't for me.
 
Been busy trying to process through my meat in the freezer.

Let's see a few pictures.
Hot garlic breakfast sausage
Hot Italian breakfast sausage
Smoked polish
Teriyaki snack sticks
Cheesey brats
Hamburger patties
Elk pastrami
Bulk Italian sausage
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What teriyaki are you using ? My kids live teriyaki and I've yet to find a mix that compares to the local butcher they like.
 
Are you mixing fat? For brats and Italian sausage I defintely go 50/50 deer to pork butt mix. I do freeze mine but I dont cut my twists I shoot for 4 per pack so if my casing is longer than that I leave a gap while stuffing and come back and cut it and leave enough room to tie off each end if that makes sense? So im twisting a casing with 4 links per pack and freezing that way. If you cut them right away they definitely won't hold or at least they won't for me.

Going 5050!? Oh man I need to up my fat then!! I’ve only gone about 20% both times but I think the bear being naturally greasy helped a lot more than the elk brats turned out
 

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