PROFESSIONAL COOKING - SAUSAGES AND CURED FOODS
The French term charcutier (shar koo tyay; the feminine form is charcutière [shar koo tyair]) means one who prepares and sells pork products. The art of the charcutier is called charcuterie (shar koo tree). We use this term more generally to refer to the production of sausages, pâtés, and smoked ham and other cured and smoked products.
The main part of this chapter is devoted to the production of fresh sausages, which are easily prepared in any kitchen with relatively simple equipment. We also introduce the subject of cured and smoked sausages with an overview of curing and smoking. Preparing smoked hams and cured, air-dried meat products is an advanced subject that is beyond the scope of this book. However, reading the first section of this chapter will enable you to understand how these items are produced. A small sampling of recipes gives you some experience with curing and smoking before you proceed to the main section on sausages.
Curing and smoking have been important methods for preserving foods,especially protein foods,since prehistoric times. Before the days of modern preservation techniques such as canning, freezing, and refrigeration, curing and smoking, as well as drying, enabled people to store food in times of abundance for use in times of scarcity. Today we use these techniques for their contribution to flavor perhaps even more than for their preservative qualities. We smoke foods because we like the taste,not because we must in order to preserve them. Nevertheless,it is important to understand how curing works to preserve foods so we can avoid spoilage and food-borne disease that can result from improper curing or improper handling of cured foods.
INGREDIENTS FOR CURING FOODS
Ingredients used in cures fill two main functions:preserving the food,and changing its flavor and texture. The following discussion of cure ingredients and processes is somewhat simplified, but it introduces the most important principles.
Salt
Salt has been one of the most important food preservatives throughout most of human history. When a food comes in direct contact with salt, a two-way process takes place in an effort to make the salt concentrations inside and outside the food more nearly equal.
Moisture from inside the cell walls of the food is drawn out and dilutes the salt used for the cure. At the same time,dissolved salt is absorbed into the cells to increase the salt concentration there. The result is foods that have less moisture and are saltier. Both the moisture reduction and the increased salt content make the food less hospitable to bacteria that cause spoilage and disease. Of course,the reduced moisture and the increased salt content also change the flavor and texture of the food.
Nitrites and Nitrates
Some foods, especially meats, are susceptible to contamination by the bacteria that cause botulism (see p.20). Nitrites and nitrates are added to the cures for these foods to make them safe from botulism infection. Sodium nitrite (NaNO2) is the most important of these chemicals. Even in the very small quantities in which it is used,sodium nitrite has strong preservative powers. In addition, it keeps meats red or pink, which is why products like cured ham, corned beef, and certain sausages have their characteristic color.
Nitrites gradually break down inside the cured foods, but by the time they lose their effectiveness,the curing and,in some cases,smoking procedures are finished,the food is cooked or refrigerated,and the food remains safe. On the other hand,when the food is raw and air-dried, as in the case of prosciutto and various salamis, a stronger chemical,sodium nitrate (NaNO3) is used. Nitrates break down more slowly than nitrites and therefore are effective for a longer time. (Potassium nitrate, or saltpeter, is sometimes used in cures, but it is not as safe and is strongly regulated. It should be avoided.)
Nitrates and nitrites are the subject of controversy regarding their safety. Substances called nitrosamines form when foods containing nitrates or nitrites are subjected to very high heat, such as when bacon is fried. Nitrosamines are known to cause cancer. Using only nitrites to cure foods usually avoids this problem because the nitrites break down quickly and are not usually a factor when the food is cooked. Nitrates, on the other hand, because they remain in meats longer, should not be used for curing bacon for this reason.
Some people feel that all use of nitrites and nitrates should be avoided because of the nitrosamine factor.However, if only nitrites and not nitrates are used in foods that will be exposed to extreme heat,the risk is low—much lower than the risk of botulism. So far,we know of no adequate substitute for these chemicals in curing pork and other meats.
Two special mixtures are employed that make it easy to add nitrites and nitrates in very low but sufficient concentration:
1. Prague Powder #1, or curing salt, is a blend of 6 percent sodium nitrite and 94 percent sodium chloride,or regular table salt.It is colored pink so that it will not be confused with regular salt, and thus it is often called tinted curing mix (TCM).It is also sold under various trade names,such as InstaCure I.
2. Prague Powder #2 is similar to Prague Powder #1 except that it contains nitrates in addition to nitrites.It is used in curing products that have a long curing and drying period,as explained above.Prague Powder #2 is not used in any of the recipes in this chapter. Air-dried cured meats require advanced procedures that are beyond the scope of this book.
Fish and seafood are usually cured without the use of nitrites. Fish is almost always cured under refrigeration and the salt cure is sufficient to protect it, even when it is cold smoked (p.796). The quantity of nitrite to be added to meats depends on several factors, including the type of meat,the type of cure,and the length of curing time.For cooked sausage,the U.S. Department of Agriculture recommends 156 parts nitrite per million parts meat. This is equivalent to 1 ounce (30 g) nitrite per 400 pounds (192 kg) meat. To translate this to quantities similar to those used in this chapter, 10 pounds (4.5 kg) cooked sausage requires about 0.025 ounces (0.7 g) nitrite.This is the amount of nitrite contained in 0.4 ounces or 2 teaspoons (11 g or 10 mL) Prague Powder #1.
Keep in mind, however, that not all the nitrite specified in a recipe may be absorbed into the meat. In the case of the basic dry cures and brine cures (described below), part of the curing medium is discarded after the cure is complete.Therefore, enough nitrite must be used so the portion that is absorbed is adequate for the cure. The only exception is the case of sausages,in which all of the curing medium is mixed directly with the meat.The recipes in this book contain appropriate quantities of nitrite to cure the product.
Sugars
Ordinary white sugar (sucrose) and other forms of sugar, including corn syrup,honey, and maple syrup,are used in some cures. Sugars modify the flavor of the food and counteract some of the harsh flavor of the highly concentrated salt in the cure. Also,because salt extracts so much moisture, sugar adds to the perception of moistness in the cured product. Using less sweet forms of sugar,such as corn syrup and dextrose,provides the advantages of sugar without adding too much sweetness.
Herbs, Spices, and Other Flavorings
Nearly any spice or flavoring that can be used in cooking can be used in curing.Traditional recipes, of course, use traditional seasonings. Most of our most familiar cured sausages,for example,are of European origin and use such seasonings as garlic,pepper, coriander, caraway,nutmeg,and dry mustard. In addition,many chefs today are experimenting with unusual ingredients to give a modern accent to cured meats,poultry,fish, and sausages.
CURING METHODS
The two basic types of cures are dry cures and brines. With both of these methods, the food item remains in contact with the curing mixture,which contains salt plus any of the other ingredients discussed above, until the curing medium has penetrated the food uniformly.The difference between the methods is that in brines, the salt is dissolved in water,whereas in dry cures, it is not.
Dry Cures
In a dry cure, the cure ingredients (salt, plus seasonings and, in many cases, sugar and Prague Powder) are mixed together and packed or rubbed over the food product to coat it completely. The length of time required to dry-cure meats depends on their thickness. Lean meat 1 inch (2.5 cm) thick requires 3 to 8 hours, while a whole ham needs about 45 days. During a long cure, the food is repeatedly turned and rubbed with the cure mixture in order to maintain uniform contact. It is important that the entire surface area be coated.
The curing procedure for sausages could be considered a dry cure.However, in this case, the cure is mixed directly with the meat. Because no time is required for the cure to penetrate to the center of the meat,the curing process takes place very quickly, although the products may be air-dried or smoked for a longer period before being consumed.
Brine Cures
A brine is a solution of salt and other curing ingredients in water. The simplest way to use a brine is to immerse the meat in the brine and let it soak until the cure is complete. Compared with dry cures,brines are especially useful for poultry items,which are difficult to coat evenly with a dry cure because of their shape. Items that float, such as poultry, must be held down with a weight so they are completely submerged in the brine.
Simple brine soaking is used for small meat items,but because the brine takes time to penetrate to the center of large items such as hams,another method is used to speed the process. Brine is pumped or injected into the meat to make sure it penetrates evenly. After injection,the meat may be soaked in brine as well.Commercial operations use a variety of high-speed equipment for injecting brine. In addition,small pumps are available for brining by hand.
The length of time required for brining depends on the size and thickness of the item. Of course, meats that have been injected with brine need less time in the brine soak. Fresh brine should be made for each batch of cured meats.Do not reuse brines because they are diluted and contaminated with juices from the first batch of meats.
SMOKING
Smoking has been used as a way of drying and preserving foods since prehistoric times. Smoking does have some preservative effects but, for modern cooking, it is more important for the flavors it gives to meats, poultry, and seafood.Even smoked cheeses and vegetables are enjoyed for their special flavors.
The first rule of smoking foods is do not smoke meats, poultry, and fish that have not been cured. The reason for this rule is a matter of food safety. During smoking,foods spend a period of time in the Food Danger Zone (p. 18)—that is, at a temperature that is favorable for the growth of bacteria.Without the preservative effects of curing,smoking could be unsafe. (This rule does not apply to smoke roasting and barbecuing [p. 71], which are more properly considered cooking methods rather than smoking methods because they take place at higher temperatures.) After meats, poultry, and fish are cured, they should be allowed to dry slightly before being smoked. So that air can circulate all around the foods, place them on racks or hang them from hooks under refrigeration until the surface is dry to the touch. This preliminary drying allows the smoke to penetrate the foods more effectively.
The two basic types of smoking are cold smoking and hot smoking. In cold smoking, the temperature inside the smokehouse is kept at or below 85°F (30°C). At these temperatures, the foods take on the flavor of the smoke but are not cooked. In hot smoking, the temperature inside the smokehouse may be as high as 165°F (74°C) for sausage and meats,or as high as 200°F (93°F) for fish and poultry. These temperatures are high enough to cook the foods being smoked. Higher temperatures are usually avoided because they result in excessive shrinkage. Foods may be hot smoked until they reach an internal temperature of 150° to 165°F (65° to 74°C) to ensure that they are fully cooked. Alternatively, they may be hot smoked for a shorter period and then poached until they reach this internal temperature. This second method is used when a less intense smoke flavor is desired. No matter which method is used, hotsmoked foods are always sold fully cooked.
A typical smoker consists of the following elements:
• An enclosed chamber for holding the foods to be smoked
• A source of smoke
• A means to circulate the smoke around the food and then to exhaust it • A way of controlling the temperature inside the chamber. The smoke source consists of a receptacle for wood chips or sawdust plus a heating element, usually electric. If the smoker is to be used for cold smoking, the smoke generator should be outside the main chamber that holds the food.If the smoke generator is inside the food chamber,as in some less expensive smokers,the temperature will rise too high for cold smoking.This type of smoker is used only for hot smoking. Foods to be smoked are arranged on racks or hung from hangers with enough space between them so the smoke circulates freely around all surfaces. Commercially made smokers are safest to use, as improperly built smokers may present a fire hazard. If a smoker is used indoors,it is essential to provide for ventilation of the exhausted smoke to the outdoors.
Hickory is perhaps the most popular wood for smoking,but other hardwoods that may be used include oak, mesquite, and fruitwoods such as apple and cherry. Soft woods, like pine, are not used because they release bitter, tarry components when burned. It is important to use woods from a reliable source. Pressure-treated woods should never be used, as they contain toxic chemicals such as arsenic.
To summarize,the smoking process consists of the following steps:
1. Curing (dry cure or brine cure)
2. Air-drying
3. Smoking (hot smoking or cold smoking)
SAUSAGES
A sausage is a mixture of ground meat,usually pork, and seasonings stuffed into a casing. The term sausage may also be used for the meat mixture itself, without the casing. Reduced to its simplest form,sausage meat may be nothing more than ground pork seasoned with salt.
Although there are hundreds or even thousands of kinds of sausages,the majority are based on the same few basic principles.These principles are simple enough that we can make a wide variety of sausages in the kitchen and not have to rely entirely on commercial products.Furthermore,it is not necessary to restrict ourselves to traditional sausage recipes.Many chefs are experimenting with ingredients and seasonings to add variety to the menu.
CATEGORIES OF SAUSAGES
Sausages can be classified into three basic groups:
Fresh sausages
Cured sausages
Smoked sausages
A fresh sausage,by USDA definition,is one that contains no nitrates or nitrites. It is basically a mixture of ground meat,seasonings,and flavorings. Although they are often raw, fresh sausages may contain cooked ingredients, or they may even be fully cooked before being sold. Any fresh raw sausage containing pork, of course, must be fully cooked before being served and eaten.
A cured sausage is one that contains nitrites or nitrates of sodium.These chemicals help prevent spoilage and food-borne disease, as explained in the first part of this chapter. Incidentally, they also keep the meat red or pink, even when cooked. Cured sausages may be sold raw or cooked, soft and moist like fresh sausages, semidried and firm,or dried and hard like salami. Pork salamis,which are Italian in origin, and similar cured, dried sausages are raw, but the curing, aging, and drying process renders them safe to eat. As explained on page 794, air-dried sausages that are intended to be eaten raw are made with nitrates in addition to nitrites for a longer lasting cure.
Smoked sausages may be hot smoked and, therefore, cooked, or cold smoked. Smoking may be light or heavy,depending on the sausage. Sausages,like other smoked meats, are cured before being smoked. The cure mixture is mixed directly with the sausage meat.
BASIC SAUSAGE INGREDIENTS
The basic ingredients of sausage meat are the following:
Lean pork
Pork fat,preferably hard fatback,ground with the meat
Salt
Spices,herbs,and other seasonings and flavorings In the case of cured sausage,curing mixes containing nitrites or nitrates are added to the above list.
The Meat
Pork is the most commonly used meat in sausage-making,but other meats or mixtures of meat may be used.Beef,veal,lamb,chicken,turkey,duck,liver, rabbit,and venison all find their way into sausages. Mixtures of pork plus one or more of these meats are often used.More exotic sausages may include such ingredients as sweetbreads and brains. Certified pork—that is,pork that is certified to be free of trichinosis—is used for sausages that are to be air-dried and eaten uncooked.
The Fat
Pork fat or other fat,such as the beef fat used in all-beef sausages,is an important ingredient. Because our impression of juiciness in any cooked meat is largely due to the meat’s fat content, some fat is included in sausage mixtures.Without it, the texture of the cooked sausage would be very dry.
In most traditional sausages,fat makes up 25 to 50 percent of the total weight,with 33 percent fat being the norm.In other words, proportions of fat to lean range from 3 parts lean plus 1 part fat (the leanest sausages) to 1 part lean plus 1 part fat (rich, fatty sausages).Varying the proportions changes the character of the sausage. Hard fatback is preferred over other fats for pork sausage. Softer fats are more likely to melt out of the sausage during cooking. A quick and easy way to make pork sausages without worrying about the ratio of fat to lean is to use whole pork butt. The ratio of fat to lean in this cut is very good for sausages.
In today’s diet-conscious atmosphere, it may make sense to try to create low-fat sausages. But be advised that extra care is required when making sausages with less than 25 percent fat. Lean sausages should never be overcooked,as overcooking makes them dry.Keep the meat mixture cold to avoid damage to the texture of the meat and fat.With care, it is possible to make tasty sausages with a fat content as low as 10 or 15 percent. One should not expect,however,that the eating qualities of lean sausages will be the same as those of fattier sausages.
Cereal ingredients and fillers (rice,barley,bread crumbs,and so on) can be used to help reduce fat content. Because these starches absorb and retain moisture, they enhance the total moisture content of low-fat sausages.
Seasonings
Herbs,spices,and other flavorings account for the primary differences among sausages. Many, if not most, of the world’s fresh sausages are made of nothing more than ground pork and seasonings. It is the seasonings that give them their characteristic flavor. A glance at the recipes in this section will confirm this.
Some of the major spices and herbs used in sausage making are:
Allspice
Marjoram
Caraway seeds
Mustard
Cayenne or hot red pepper
Nutmeg
Cinnamon
Paprika
Cloves
Parsley
Coriander
Pepper,black and white
Cumin
Sage
Fennel seed
Tarragon
Ginger
Thyme
Mace
Other important ingredients include:
Garlic
Wine,white and red
Onion
Vinegar
Shallots
Eggs
Chives
Standardized spice mixtures are often used to season sausages, pâtés, and similar items. One of the most common is quatre épices (French for “four spices”),a mixture that exists in many versions. It can usually be obtained commercially,or it can be homemade, using recipes such as those on page 807.
Cure Mixes
Sausages that are to be air-dried are cured with both nitrate and nitrite,as explained on page 794. For other cured sausages, only nitrite, usually in the form of Prague Powder #1, is used. Other ingredients, such as dextrose and additional salt,may be combined with the Prague Powder to make the cure mix.The cure mix may be incorporated into the sausage in one of two ways:
1. It may be mixed with the meat after it is diced.The diced meat is then chilled thoroughly before being ground.
2. It may be combined with the remaining spices and seasonings and mixed into the ground meat.
Other Ingredients
A number of sausages are characterized by unusual or exotic ingredients.Some of these are traditional and time-honored, such as the black truffles included in some regional French sausages and the chestnuts or raisins in other specialty sausages. Other unusual sausages are modern innovations by creative chefs. It is no longer uncommon,when reading today’s restaurant menus,to come across sausages with such ingredients as sun-dried tomatoes or fresh vegetables like sweet bell peppers and spinach.In theory,there is no limit to what can be stuffed into sausage casings. The main requirement is that the ingredients complement or enhance one another, just as the meat, seasonings, and vegetable garnish on a dinner plate should complement one another.
CASINGS
Natural casings are made from the intestines of meat animals. Sheep casings are the smallest, ranging from 3⁄4 inch (18 mm) to more than 1 inch (25 mm) in diameter.They are used for breakfast links,frankfurters,and similar sausages.Hog casings are mediumsized, about 1 to 11⁄2 inches (3 to 4 cm) in diameter, depending on what part of the intestines they are taken from.They are used for many popular fresh sausages,such as Italian sausages and fresh bratwurst. Beef casings range in size from the so-called beef round, about 13⁄4 inches (45 mm) in diameter, through beef middles, 21⁄2 inches (63 mm),to the large beef bung,more than 4 inches (100 mm) in diameter.
Natural casings are often sold packed in salt. Because of the preservative effect of the salt, the casings keep indefinitely as long as they are refrigerated. Natural casings are easy to use if they are handled correctly. Before being stuffed, they must be untangled, rinsed,and flushed,and examined for holes according to the following procedure.
Because the supply of natural casings is not nearly large enough to accommodate all the sausages produced, other types of casings have come into wide use. Collagen casings are molded from animal materials and are completely edible, like natural casings. Unlike natural casings,they are uniform in size,making portion control easier.Various types are manufactured for different uses. Some are used only for fresh sausages,as they are not strong enough to hold the weight of the sausages if they are hung for smoking. Other types are stronger and intended to be used for smoked sausages. Most collagen casings must be refrigerated to keep them from becoming dry and brittle. To use, dip them in water for a few seconds to soften them if they are dry, then put them on the sausage stuffing nozzle.
Synthetic fibrous casings are made from a plastic material and are not edible. They are widely used for salamis and luncheon meats, and the casing is peeled off before or after slicing. These casings are nonperishable and need no refrigeration. They must be soaked in water before using to make them flexible. Soaking time varies, and the manufacturer should specify the recommended time.
Procedure for Preparing Natural Casings
1. Carefully remove the casings, one at a time, from the salt pack and unravel them. Because a single casing may be 12 feet (4 meters) long, it is easiest to do this on a large workbench. Separate the individual lengths and keep them separate in their own little stacks on the bench. When unraveling them, do not pull hard, because this may cause knotting. Unravel slightly more casing than you think you will need. It is easier to return unused casings to the salt pack than it is to separate and flush additional casings when you run out before you have stuffed your whole batch of meat.
2. Partially fill a large bowl with clean water and set it in a sink under the faucet. Take hold of the end of one casing and drop the rest of it into the bowl of water. Open the end of the casing and run cold water into it, enough to fill about 12 inches (30 cm) of it. Holding the casing at both ends of this “water sausage,” allow the water to flush through the casing from one end to the other. This accomplishes two purposes. It rinses out the inside of the casing, and it identifies any holes that might be present. Pinpoint-size holes are no problem, but if a large hole is found, simply cut the casing in two at that point. Short pieces may be discarded for the sake of efficiency.
3. If you are making a small quantity of sausages and stuffing them immediately, each casing can be put on the stuffing horn as it is rinsed. If this is not the case, the casing must be stored for later use. Select a container with a cover and fill it about three-fourths full of cold water. Drop in the casing and let one end hang over the edge.
Repeat with remaining casings. Fill the container to the top with cold water, cover, and refrigerate until needed. By letting the ends of the casings hang over the edge, you can remove one at a time from the container without tangling them. If the end of the casing dries out, simply cut it off.
EQUIPMENT
Most fresh sausages can be made with no special equipment other than a meat grinder and a device for getting the meat into the casings. The working parts of a meat grinder are a rotating blade and a selection of dies in various sizes. The size of the die determines the fineness of the grind. A screw forces the meat from the feed tube to the blade, and the blade chops the meat as it is forced Before grinding meat,it is important to be sure of the following two points:
1. The equipment must be clean and sanitary. Make sure there is no trace of food from previous jobs hiding in the many nooks and crannies of the grinder, blades, and dies.
2. The equipment must be cold in order to avoid warming the meat. Refrigerate the grinder parts or set them in ice water before use.
The sausage stuffer is the second piece of equipment necessary for making sausages.The simplest stuffer resembles a funnel.The casings are pushed over the narrow end and the meat is pushed through the wide end by hand or with a wooden plunger.These are adequate for making a few pounds of sausage but are not suitable for larger batches.
Larger stuffers have detachable nozzles or horns for different casing sizes. The nozzle is attached to a cylindrical reservoir that holds the meat, which is pushed through by a piston. On smaller machines,the piston is simply pushed through by hand.These machines are suitable for small-scale production such as might be done in a small to mediumsize restaurant. For large-scale commercial production, larger machines are used.The piston in a large machine is operated by means of a crank and a sequence of gears.
THE GRIND
The grind of the meat determines the texture of the sausage.We can divide sausage meat into two categories based on grind. Most common sausages are made simply of meat and fat ground to varying degrees of fineness or coarseness, mixed with seasonings, and stuffed into casings. We refer to these as basic grind sausages.Some sausages, on the other hand, including familiar ones like frankfurters, mortadella, and bologna, are made with meat and fat ground to a smooth purée and blended with a little liquid, such as water or milk.We refer to these as emulsified or emulsion grind sausages because of the added liquid content and the emulsion of the fat with the meat and liquid.
Basic Grind
The fineness or coarseness of the grind is an important characteristic of any sausage. For example, one identifying feature of Toulouse Sausages (p. 807) is their coarse texture. The meat is chopped by hand rather than ground.On the other hand,typical breakfast sausages have a fairly fine grind. To grind meat,cut it into pieces small enough to fit easily into the feed tube of the grinder, then chill it well. Control the coarseness of the grind by selecting the proper die,as indicated in the recipe.In some cases,fine grinds are made by grinding the meat once through the large die and a second time through the fine die. As indicated in the procedure below,the meat,fat,and seasonings are mixed until uniformly blended after the meat is ground.
The meat mixture must be kept cold during grinding. When the mixture gets too warm,the fat becomes soft and begins to lose its structure. As a result, it may melt out too readily when the sausage is cooked,resulting in excessive shrinkage,poor texture, and dryness. If the kitchen is warm, return the meat to the refrigerator to chill it thoroughly after cutting it up and before grinding it.If it must be ground more than once,return it to the refrigerator between grindings.
Additional textural variation in basic grind sausages can be created by mixing chunks or dice of meat or other ingredients into a more finely ground forcemeat, as is often done in pâtés. When following any sausage recipe,adhere closely to the grinding and processing directions in order to achieve the proper texture and character.
Emulsified Grind
In the finest-textured sausages, the meat is actually puréed to a smooth paste. Puréed raw meat is capable of absorbing a good deal of moisture,and water or milk is usually added to improve the texture. For sausages that include milk, a recipe may indicate either liquid milk or water plus dried milk solids. The dried milk is added at the same time as the spice mixture.
Because grinding meat to a smooth paste generates heat,water is added in the form of ice to keep the temperature low. If liquid milk is called for,freeze the milk into chunks. through the holes of the die.Because a meat grinder is not capable of grinding sausage to this texture,the grinding procedure is done in two stages. First, grind the meat and fat separately using the fine die on the meat grinder.Keep the two separate and chill them after this grinding. Second, grind the meat to a smooth paste with a food chopper (Buffalo chopper) or food processor. Place the lean meat in the bowl of the chopper and run it a few seconds. Then add the ice and continue to grind until smooth. Monitor the temperature carefully. Do not allow it to rise above 50°F (10°C). Add the fat and continue to grind to blend it in. Continue to monitor the temperature. Do not allow it to rise above 58°F (14°C).
Emulsified sausages are usually cooked in water, then chilled in cold water after stuffing. If they are to be smoked,they are smoked first and then cooked.
Procedure for Making Fresh and Cured Basic Grind Sausages
1. Weigh the meats and fat. Cut them into chunks small enough to fit into the grinder.
2. If the sausages are to be cured, toss the cure mix with the diced meat at this point. Alternatively, combine the cure mix with the salt and spices in step 4.
3. Chill the meat well before proceeding.
4. Measure the salt and spices.
5. Grind the meat and fat, following the directions in the recipe to achieve the proper fineness or coarseness of grind.
6. Chill the meat well. Ideally, the meat should be chilled to 32° to 35°F (0° to 2°C) before mixing and stuffing.
7. Combine the meat, salt, and spices and mix thoroughly. This is best done by hand in a large tub or other container. It can also be done with a mixing machine using the paddle attachment. If the recipe calls for cold water or other liquid, mix the salt and spices with the water first, then mix this combination with the meat. This facilitates a better distribution of the spices than mixing them dry with the meat.
9. Place the meat in the stuffer, one handful at a time. Pack each handful firmly into the stuffer to eliminate air bubbles.
10. Slide the casings onto the nozzle. To help the casings slide on easily, moisten both them and the stuffer nozzle with water.
11. Stuff the sausages, following the directions for your equipment (see Figure 26.2). The sausages will pull the casings off the nozzle as the meat flows through it, but it is best to hold your hand at the end of the nozzle to help control the rate at which the casing is pulled from the nozzle. From time to time, as the casing is filled, it is necessary to push the bunched-up, unfilled casing toward the end of the nozzle so it will slide off more easily. Do not stuff the casings too tightly. If the meat is packed too tightly, it will be difficult to twist the sausage into links.
12. After all the meat is stuffed into casings, remove any air bubbles by pricking the casing and pressing the surface to expel the air.
13. Twist the sausage into links of uniform size.
Procedure for Making Fresh and Cured Emulsified Sausages
1. Keeping the meat and fat separate, grind them with the fine die of a meat grinder, following steps 1 through 6 of the basic sausage-making procedure above. Chill well.
2. If indicated in the recipe, mix the seasonings with the lean meat. (Alternatively, add the seasonings at the same time as the ice in step 3.)
3. Place the lean meat in the bowl of a food chopper or food processor. Run the chopper a few turns, then add the ice. Continue to chop to a fine paste. Do not allow the temperature to rise above 50°F (10°C).
4. Add the fat and continue to grind to blend it in. Continue to monitor the temperature. Do not allow it to rise above 58°F (14°C).
5. Follow steps 8 through 12 in the procedure above to test the seasonings and stuff the casings.
SMOKING SAUSAGES
1. Only cured sausages should be smoked.
2. The sausages should be dried briefly before being smoked, like other smoked foods (see p. 796). Hang them so that air can circulate around them and allow to dry for about 11⁄2 hours or as indicated in the recipe.
3. Hot smoke or cold smoke as indicated in the recipe. Air-dried sausages to be eaten raw are cold smoked. Sausages that are sold cooked are generally hot smoked. After smoking,they are usually poached to an internal temperature of 160° to 165°F (71° to 74°F), then cooled quickly in ice water and blotted dry.
COOKING SAUSAGES
Although sausages are sometimes ingredients or components of more elaborate dishes, they are also popular as stand-alone menu items like other meats. Preparation of sausages before cooking is minimal. In most cases, sausages may be considered ready to cook—or,in the case of fully cooked sausages,ready to heat.Fresh raw sausages containing pork must be fully cooked before serving, like other fresh pork products. If a fresh sausage contains no pork,such as the lamb sausage on page 809,it may be served somewhat less done. Removing it from the heat when still pink inside helps retain juices.
Fully cooked sausages need only be heated through before serving. Cooking times, however, are nearly the same as for raw sausages. In other words, the time it takes for the heat to penetrate to the center is about the same. The following cooking methods are most often used for sausages.
Simmering
Place sausages in a pan with enough salted water to cover. Bring to a simmer and simmer until completely cooked. Do not let the water boil. This is likely to make the sausages burst or shrink excessively. Time depends on the thickness of the sausage. Sausages in hog casings take about 20 minutes to cook; smaller ones may take as little as 10 minutes, larger ones 30 minutes or more.
Raw sausages may be simmered until cooked through,then finished by one of the following methods.
Sautéing and Pan-Frying
Sausages are sautéed or pan-fried using the same techniques as for other meats. For many kinds of sausages, the browning that results makes them more appetizing than simmered ones. If the sausages are not raw, it is necessary only to cook them until they are lightly browned and heated through. If they are raw,lower heat is necessary so they have time to become completely cooked by the time they are browned. Sautéing and pan-frying are used not only for sausages in casings but also for patties and crêpinettes,which are sausage patties wrapped in caul fat (see p.279). Do not press on the patties with the spatula while cooking.This forces out juices and makes them dry.
Braising
Because fresh raw sausages may require long cooking times, braising is often the preferred cooking method.The sausages are browned by sautéing them over moderate heat for up to 5 minutes, then finished using a moist-heat cooking method. Cooking with moisture may take any of several forms,including the four methods listed below. These methods are suitable not only for fresh sausages but also for fully cooked and smoked sausages that are served hot.
• Covering the pan to hold in steam.
• Adding a small amount of liquid (water, stock, wine, and so on),covering the pan, and cooking until done.
• Glazing—that is, adding a small amount of stock and continuing to cook.The pan may be covered or left uncovered at the beginning, but the last part of cooking takes place with the cover off.The sausages are basted with the stock as it reduces, giving them a glaze. Any stock remaining in the pan after the sausages are cooked will be reduced and thickened,and it may be served with the sausages as a sauce. This cooking method is especially suitable for patties and crêpinettes.
• Cooking the sausages in a casserole or stew after they are browned. Sauerkraut, bean dishes,and gumbos are examples.
Broiling and Grilling
Brush the sausages with oil to prevent sticking,and broil or grill as for other meats.Moderate heat is usually best.High heat may brown the sausages too much before they are fully cooked and is more likely to cause splitting.
By Wayne Gisslen in the book "Professional Cooking", John Wiley & Sons, Inc., Hoboken, New Jersey, U.S.A, 2007 p.793-806. Edited and adapted to be posted by Leopoldo Costa.
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