Snack sticks
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samspade Arnie Hofer here is the chart.

YooperDog TY. I knew I wasn’t right on the times.
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mrobisr I want them to be smooth is there any way to achieve that just in the smoker
Arnie Hofer I was the exact same way as you when I started making sticks. I just cringed at the sight of wrinkled sticks. My conclusion and opinion, don’t sweat the small stuff. Us as home processors will most likely not get a perfect looking stick unless you push the time and do the hot water cooking method like others are suggesting, and then with that you are sacrificing texture. Big full time processors have much better equipment and processes than we do, but I see some full time big processors that have wrinkled casings as well. Not to sound big on myself just confident, I would put my sticks up for comparison to any big processor any day. So what I suggest is get your meat block ingredient amounts and texture how you like it first then work on appearance after that if you wish.
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Agree, that wrinkles are just aesthetics and have no bearing on flavor or texture of the finished product. I prefer drier stick which almost guarantees some shrinkage and wrinkles. Few of us have the setup in our homes to get perfect looking commercial sticks but we can certainly match commercial in flavor and quality ingredients.
Focus on the the quality ingredients in the correct quantities, getting a good smoke on sticks, and avoiding cook-out from overtemperature in the smoker and you will have some great sticks. -
For me I rate that chart I found as one of my biggest revelations in finishing meat products
That knowledge along with the precise control of sous vide you are safe and don’t have to cook everything to death -
For me I rate that chart I found as one of my biggest revelations in finishing meat products
That knowledge along with the precise control of sous vide you are safe and don’t have to cook everything to deathglen said in Snack sticks:
For me I rate that chart I found as one of my biggest revelations in finishing meat products
That knowledge along with the precise control of sous vide you are safe and don’t have to cook everything to deathTotally agree glen.
I understand the reason for the conservative internal finishing temperatures, but with good time and temperature monitoring, I prefer to go with the science. -
glen said in Snack sticks:
For me I rate that chart I found as one of my biggest revelations in finishing meat products
That knowledge along with the precise control of sous vide you are safe and don’t have to cook everything to deathTotally agree glen.
I understand the reason for the conservative internal finishing temperatures, but with good time and temperature monitoring, I prefer to go with the science.processhead you are so right about home vs. Commercial. All you really have to do is look at the ingredients list on those “perfect” snack sticks and remember why your making your own. The wrinkles wont matter as much.
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Just got Bradley smoker wat biscuettes is everyone using
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Just got Bradley smoker wat biscuettes is everyone using
Arnie Hofer Just used mine last night for kielbasa. I used maple. I have used hickory before also
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Arnie Hofer Just used mine last night for kielbasa. I used maple. I have used hickory before also
RON PARRISH I got the special blend 1s would u recommend mixing hi country and hi mountain seasoning
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RON PARRISH I got the special blend 1s would u recommend mixing hi country and hi mountain seasoning
Arnie Hofer I am not very familiar with those. I have used the high mt jerky kits but was a long time ago. I would think you could mix the seasonings as long as the cure wasnt already in it. pretty sure the cure comes seperate though. If not it would be a problem. I am sure there is someone here that might be able to answer your question a little better and the nice thing about this community is they will help you out
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