<![CDATA[Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks]]>How are you fellas keeping your sticks and summer sausage from getting soggy when you Sous Vide them without bagging? I have did 2 batches of summer sausage a while back and they were watery tasting and very bland. Like the water washed all the tase out. I did another batch and bagged them and they were great.

I did a batch of snack sticks last night. I was going to bag them but decided to give them a try un-bagged. They to came out watery tasting and very bland. The casing still snaps when you bite into it but they are not firm at all. If you hold a 8” stick strait up, it bends almost 90 degrees. I took a couple of them and threw on the Traeger for about 30 minutes and they dried up well and the taste was back. I suspect I will have to “dry” that batch on the Traeger to salvage them.

I just can’t figure out how you guys are making it work.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/topic/3815/sous-vide-no-bag-soggy-sticksRSS for NodeFri, 11 Sep 2026 00:14:49 GMTSun, 25 Apr 2021 20:09:37 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Tue, 11 May 2021 21:22:13 GMT]]>mrobisr glad to here it worked out for you. Im a converted believer for sure.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37384https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37384Tue, 11 May 2021 21:22:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Tue, 11 May 2021 12:39:35 GMT]]>mrobisr - Yup. it works. Well done!

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37290https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37290Tue, 11 May 2021 12:39:35 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Mon, 10 May 2021 20:05:11 GMT]]>mrobisr I really do think this is the future of home processing! And I am glad we figured out the issue Grimpuppy was having and hopefully he tries it again and has results similar to the rest of us. And man I love that fish in your pic, time to change mine again!

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37236https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37236Mon, 10 May 2021 20:05:11 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Mon, 10 May 2021 19:46:49 GMT]]>Well due to time running out on me last night I had a 10lb batch of summer sausage and 10lb of andouille sausage on the smoker and couldn’t wait any longer, so I took the plunge and finished in a water bath. I pulled the andouille out of the smoker at 137 and the summer at 129 and put them in the water bath, the andouille was at 160 in 10 minutes and the summer was at 160 in 25 minutes. I used a simple induction cook top set at 176 with no bag just the sausage in water and a ice bath afterwards. WOW, I must admit they both came out absolutely terrific even my picky wife said these are fantastic, so thank you to the group for tips on water bath finishing.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37233https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/37233Mon, 10 May 2021 19:46:49 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Sun, 02 May 2021 17:33:34 GMT]]>Jonathon said in Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks:

Grimpuppy Pulling them at 130? I wonder if water quality could have something to do with it? I have no idea how to test this but it might have something to do with it cause I dont get soggy sticks at all when I do this.

Turns out I was leaving them in sous vide way to long.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36561https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36561Sun, 02 May 2021 17:33:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Sun, 02 May 2021 14:01:13 GMT]]>Grimpuppy Pulling them at 130? I wonder if water quality could have something to do with it? I have no idea how to test this but it might have something to do with it cause I dont get soggy sticks at all when I do this.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36546https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36546Sun, 02 May 2021 14:01:13 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Sun, 02 May 2021 03:07:24 GMT]]>twilliams if you have a box type smoker you can steam cook them to finish faster.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36533https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36533Sun, 02 May 2021 03:07:24 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Sat, 01 May 2021 03:21:14 GMT]]>Grimpuppy Cheers20210430_225009.jpg

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36507https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36507Sat, 01 May 2021 03:21:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Sat, 01 May 2021 00:27:38 GMT]]>Grimpuppy great job! Glad they turned out. They look great.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36493https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36493Sat, 01 May 2021 00:27:38 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 22:49:16 GMT]]>Grimpuppy never doubted you for one minute. Im going to celebrate your success tonight with a bourbon.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36485https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36485Fri, 30 Apr 2021 22:49:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:39:22 GMT]]>Glad you posted the pictures. Love the visuals.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36478https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36478Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:39:22 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:21:47 GMT]]>Grimpuppy
Awesome. Glad it worked out for you.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36473https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36473Fri, 30 Apr 2021 20:21:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:06:16 GMT]]>The sticks in the smoker:
A1C5CFB4-D268-402F-8BDF-F1B3937ABA1D.jpeg

Out of the smoker and ready to drop in sous vide:
A608B67B-53C2-40E2-9D91-CCD8A023F3C7.jpeg

Finish product resting:
DAB624E6-8531-43F7-AF47-6707A8989DA7.jpeg

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36448https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36448Fri, 30 Apr 2021 16:06:16 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:03:19 GMT]]>Grimpuppy you have given me hope that even I can do it.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36439https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36439Fri, 30 Apr 2021 14:03:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:16:44 GMT]]>Grimpuppy
great news

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36436https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36436Fri, 30 Apr 2021 13:16:44 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 10:34:17 GMT]]>Grimpuppy That’s great! Good job!

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36432https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36432Fri, 30 Apr 2021 10:34:17 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:14:06 GMT]]>Success!

Decided to try a #5 batch after work tonight. Used smoked meat stabilizer so I could do it all tonight. Watch time and temps like a hawk. 120 for one hour, 140 for one hour, 155 for one hour and twenty minutes, IT 135. Pul from smoker and in to sous vide at 170 degrees. 11 minutes later IT of 165. Checked several and all were good. Pull them out to let bloom. Grabbed tge one oddball small one and cooled it down under faucet real quick for a taste. Perfect snap, perfect texture, and the taste was incredible. Probably the best batch of sticks I have made so far!

Thanks to everyone for all the suggestions and helping me figure it out. I would have never thought to check them after only 10 minutes in the sous vide. I would have given up on this if it wasn’t for everyones encouragement! Thank you all!

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36429https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36429Fri, 30 Apr 2021 04:14:06 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:48:51 GMT]]>Grimpuppy I had a batch go a little longer, but I added a lot of HT cheese and figured it had caused the added time, but it was still under 45 minutes. You got this brother. Semper Fi

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36347https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36347Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:48:51 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:31:25 GMT]]>GWG8541 BTW Semper Fi brother.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36345https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36345Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:31:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:25:52 GMT]]>GWG8541 said in Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks:

Grimpuppy If your not totally opposed to it, consider the sure gel as a binder. I was skeptical at first, but for me it made a big difference, compared to not using it.

I use it in summer sausage with good results. It didn’t prevent the batch I did sous vide from getting soggy though. That’s why I think it is just to long. I didn’t realize you all were only sous vide them 15-20 minutes max.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36344https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36344Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:25:52 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:13:28 GMT]]>Grimpuppy If your not totally opposed to it, consider the sure gel as a binder. I was skeptical at first, but for me it made a big difference, compared to not using it.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36343https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36343Thu, 29 Apr 2021 02:13:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:04:28 GMT]]>I think (hope) I am just leaving it in the water for to long. I am pretty fanatical about mixing and protein extraction. I am not getting any water between the casing and the meat. Just taste like a soggy hot dog.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36329https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36329Thu, 29 Apr 2021 00:04:28 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:15:21 GMT]]>I have made 3- 25lb batches of snack sticks this spring using a turkey fryer to finish them off. I put them in the fryer when the sticks were between 125 to 145 degrees and the water in the fryer was close to 180. The sticks only took 10-15 minutes to reach 160 degrees. I havent had any issues with soggy casings, water etc. Make sure you are getting really good protein extraction. In my opinion, most processing problems can be traced back to this issue.

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36322https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36322Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:15:21 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Sous vide no bag = soggy sticks on Wed, 28 Apr 2021 19:52:29 GMT]]>GWG8541 Grimpuppy
Forgot to mention. I use Sure Gel as well, game changer!

]]>https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36318https://waltonsdev.nodebb.com/post/36318Wed, 28 Apr 2021 19:52:29 GMT