<![CDATA[Snack sticks?]]>I want to make a 12.5 # batch of snack sticks. My question is how much water should I add when mixing ? I will be using either a 19mm or a 21mm collagen casing. Any tips to get a stick that has a nice snap to it. My batch I tried last time didn’t have any snap to them. Taste was good just no snap. Also seemed like a lot of moisture on them when the were done. Any ideas ?

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/topic/3072/snack-sticksRSS for NodeThu, 10 Sep 2026 22:07:35 GMTSun, 13 Dec 2020 02:03:51 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:09:56 GMT]]>JohninPa Ok, Just wanted to make sure. An overnight hold with ECA could cause the lack of snap with a mushy product.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27052https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27052Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:09:56 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:05:41 GMT]]>Cabelas90 said in Snack sticks?:

JohninPa Are you using ECA?

No I am not.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27051https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27051Tue, 22 Dec 2020 15:05:41 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:59:00 GMT]]>JohninPa Are you using ECA?

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27046https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/27046Tue, 22 Dec 2020 13:59:00 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 03:19:38 GMT]]>PapaSop said in Snack sticks?:

JohninPa
I also use a Masterbuilt but the LP version. I’m thinking it’s not your process or a smoker issue. I’ve actually let these hang overnite to dry. Vacuumed sealed and frozen. I’m munching on a stick right now that still has moisture on the outside after being thawed and in the fridge for a few days. I actually prefer them that way now. Not dry at all but moist and delicious. Much better than the dry sticks I was making years ago.

Thanks. I prefer them to have a snap to them. Everything else is good with them . Maybe someday I will get over them not having a snap to them.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26716https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26716Thu, 17 Dec 2020 03:19:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:53:07 GMT]]>JohninPa
I also use a Masterbuilt but the LP version. I’m thinking it’s not your process or a smoker issue. I’ve actually let these hang overnite to dry. Vacuumed sealed and frozen. I’m munching on a stick right now that still has moisture on the outside after being thawed and in the fridge for a few days. I actually prefer them that way now. Not dry at all but moist and delicious. Much better than the dry sticks I was making years ago.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26710https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26710Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:53:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:19:49 GMT]]>Electric smoker , using the 19mm smoke collagen casings from waltons, also have some 21mm smoke collagen casings on hand. The casings or outside of the sticks feel damp or kind of slick like they aren’t dry enough. I just don’t know what else to try. I will be making another attempt friday.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26705https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26705Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:19:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:07:15 GMT]]>JohninPa
Electric or LP? Your process is spot on! What type of casing?

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26700https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26700Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:07:15 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:04:26 GMT]]>I am using a masterbuilt smoker , I can see under the smoker when I get to a certain point in the cooking cycle where the ground is wet from moisture. My only other thought is am I trying to fit too many in the smoker at a time? I may try a smaller batch next time to see if that helps. I did a 12.5# batch , next time I may split it up into 2 batches. Otherwise I don’t know what else to try.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26699https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26699Thu, 17 Dec 2020 02:04:26 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:59:07 GMT]]>So I made the snack sticks yesterday. Everything went pretty good for me. Ground the meat , 50/50 mix of venison and pork butt. Added the seasoning, cure and binder along with some water. Meat was mixed with mixer attached to my grinder so had good protein extraction. Casings were stuffed nice and full and held overnight . Started smoking them yesterday at 125 for 1 hour vent open , then 140 for 1 hour with smoke and vent 1/4 open and then bumped up to 155 with a water pan and vent closed until the sticks reached 140 and then into electric roaster with 170* water until sticks reached 160* . Pulled sticks off and into ice water and then let them set out for about an hour or so . Then into fridge to cool and packed up today. Taste was very good just didn’t have a snap to them. Any suggestions

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26698https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26698Thu, 17 Dec 2020 01:59:07 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:37:18 GMT]]>finishing in a water bath is almost the go to anymore watch the videos and look at the chats it saves a lot of time finishing

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26524https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26524Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:37:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:33:47 GMT]]>craigrice said in Snack sticks?:

when you put water in your water pan it should be to the temp of the smoker @ the time not cold or to hot that will slow the heating cycle

Thanks for the tip. I was planning on heating the water some first. I will try to get it right around the same temp as my smoker.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26523https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26523Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:33:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:24:29 GMT]]>when you put water in your water pan it should be to the temp of the smoker @ the time not cold or to hot that will slow the heating cycle

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26522https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26522Tue, 15 Dec 2020 03:24:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:25:45 GMT]]>blackbetty61 said in Snack sticks?:

JohninPa well I usually keep an eye on it while my sticks are in the smoker…maybe 45min to an hour guess I’ve never timed how long it takes for the water to come up to temp…once the sticks are in the water shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes for them to be done… don’t forget you’ll have to smoke them till they get to around 140° then put them in the water to finish your cooking process

Ok. Thanks
Yes , I will start my usual smoking process until I get them to around 140. Then I will pull them from the smoker and put in the water.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26517https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26517Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:25:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:21:57 GMT]]>JohninPa well I usually keep an eye on it while my sticks are in the smoker…maybe 45min to an hour guess I’ve never timed how long it takes for the water to come up to temp…once the sticks are in the water shouldn’t take more than 15 to 20 minutes for them to be done… don’t forget you’ll have to smoke them till they get to around 140° then put them in the water to finish your cooking process

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26516https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26516Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:21:57 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:09:18 GMT]]>blackbetty61 said in Snack sticks?:

JohninPa yep just use your meat thermometer to check temp of the water

I got a 12.5# batch mixed up and stuffed. I think I am going to try this method tomorrow. Any idea how long it takes to get the water up to temp ?

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26513https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26513Tue, 15 Dec 2020 02:09:18 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:56:37 GMT]]>JohninPa yep just use your meat thermometer to check temp of the water

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26512https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26512Tue, 15 Dec 2020 01:56:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:52:17 GMT]]>blackbetty61 said in Snack sticks?:

JohninPa yep put the sticks right in the water… they might look wrinkly when you take them out but they should tighten up after you bloom them. I wanna say you could fit 12.5 lbs in a roaster…that’s usually how much I do when I do a batch by myself… I have a 26qt roaster…I believe…also if you search finish in water on the search page there’s a whole thread worth reading

Thanks. Might be a dumb question but I take it you just heat the water right in the electric roaster? Seems like this would make the process go quicker .

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26446https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26446Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:52:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:31:33 GMT]]>JohninPa yep put the sticks right in the water… they might look wrinkly when you take them out but they should tighten up after you bloom them. I wanna say you could fit 12.5 lbs in a roaster…that’s usually how much I do when I do a batch by myself… I have a 26qt roaster…I believe…also if you search finish in water on the search page there’s a whole thread worth reading

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26444https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26444Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:31:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:22:02 GMT]]>blackbetty61 said in Snack sticks?:

This is just me but after reading about finishing in water that’s what I do for everything from snack sticks,ring sausage to summer sausage…smoke till internal temp of 140° then I throw them in my electric roaster with 170° water til they reach 160° internal… then ice bath til cool and let them bloom overnight in a cooler in the garage or fridge. Next day cut to your size and vacuum pack.

Curious about the way you finish them. Do you put the sticks themselves directly in the water? Also any idea how many pounds you can fit in an electric roaster? This might be something to consider if I could fit 12.5 pounds in the roaster.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26443https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26443Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:22:02 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:03:20 GMT]]>This is just me but after reading about finishing in water that’s what I do for everything from snack sticks,ring sausage to summer sausage…smoke till internal temp of 140° then I throw them in my electric roaster with 170° water til they reach 160° internal… then ice bath til cool and let them bloom overnight in a cooler in the garage or fridge. Next day cut to your size and vacuum pack.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26442https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26442Mon, 14 Dec 2020 04:03:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 01:14:20 GMT]]>after the drying cycle i always use a water pan it aids in preventing case hardening meaning that the outside cooks and not the inside, more of a problem with larger products than sticks

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26433https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26433Mon, 14 Dec 2020 01:14:20 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:35:47 GMT]]>Anyone have a suggestion if I should use a pan of water or not? I am using a masterbuilt smoker. I keep going back and forth on this.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26431https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26431Mon, 14 Dec 2020 00:35:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Snack sticks? on Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:18:53 GMT]]>Ok. Thanks
I liked the taste and texture just felt the sticks weren’t dry enough. I don’t know if that was because of the water pan or another reason. More than likely I will be trying another batch on Tuesday.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26400https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/26400Sun, 13 Dec 2020 17:18:53 GMT