First time makers may wonder why sausage casings are vital when making the different types of sausage. Besides contributing to the structure they outline the final characteristic and appearance of the sausage. Traditional sausage making or new recipes at home, knowledge of what kinds of sausage casings Canada and what kind of products they are used for is essential. That’s why here is this simple guide for those who only begin their way in the world of binary options.
What Are Sausage Casings?
Sausage casings are the skin or covering applied onto the sausage product and it can be made of edible or inedible material depending on the type of sausage product produced on the market today the sausage mixture is made up of ground meat, fat, spices, and other products. The casing is the outer layer of the sausage that offers a shape to the sausages and also to support it when in the process of cooking. If there were no casing, it would mean that the filling which constitutes the sausage would crumble.
Types of Sausage Casings Available in Canada
In Canada, there are three primary types of sausage casings available: That is, natural, collagen and synthetic. They have each of their own qualities and are appropriate for particular procedures of producing certain sausages.
- Natural Casings
Description: Natural casings are those which are obtained from animals’ intestines and most frequently used ones are from pigs, sheep and cows. These casings have been part of people’s diet for several years and every lover of traditional food values their authenticity.
Uses: The natural casings are however good for making traditional sausages such as bratwurst, Italian sausage and chorizo. They are also common with gourmet and artisanal products since they give the sausages a correct texture and taste.
Advantages: This is simply because natural casings are more permeable than the artificial ones to allow smoke as well as flavors into the sausage during the cooking process. They also ‘snap’ or ‘bite’ when eaten and this sensation makes many people prefer to eat them.
Considerations: Natural casings are a bit complex for use especially to those having little experience with sausage production because they need to be scalded and cleaned. But it is such a fun process for those who would like to get a real feel of how the sausages are made.
- Collagen Casings
Description: Collagen casings are produced from collagen which is got from hides, bones, and tendons of animals. Types of collagen casings include the edible and inedible ones with edible collagen casings recommended specifically for homemade sausage production.
Uses: These include snack sticks, breakfast sausages and hot dogs. Collagen casings are derived from collagen found in animal stomachs, intestines or beef larynx. They are also used for sausages where there is need to have standardized size and the shape of the sausage.
Advantages: Collagen casings have these recognized advantages over the natural casings: The collagen casings do not require any soaking or rinsing. They are much more homogeneous in size, which can benefit any processes of making sausages easier on the beginners.
Considerations: That is why despite having many advantages before collagen casings their principle drawback is the absence of a traditional feeling and the typical snap. However, they are still a good option to go for anyone who does not have much experience in the sausage making process or those who want the easiest way to make the sausage.
- Synthetic Casings
Description: Synthetic shells can be of cellulose, plastic and in some occasion’s fabric material. These casings are generally not for consumption and they have to be taken off before or after cooking the meat.
Uses: Casings are mostly synthetic especially in production of bologna, salami and other varieties of processed meats and deli products. They are also applied to the products which require heat treatment or smoke before the casing is stripped off.
Advantages: Artificial casings are very uniform in their nature and are suitable to good end-product shapes and sizes for sausage products. They are also more durable than natural or collagen casings and, thus can be used in large scale production of sausages.
Considerations: Since synthetic casings are not edible they must be peeled off the sausage before the sausage can be consumed. They also do not add any flavor to the sausage which may be a disadvantage to a lot who are intending to get closer to the real experience of preparing the sausage.
Choosing the Right Sausage Casings in Canada
If you are in Canada and want to buy sausage casings you should consider the kind of sausages you intend to make, whether you are a beginner or a professional and even the type of casing you like. Here are some tips to help you choose the right casing:
Type of Sausage: For the conventional sausages , natural casing can be considered to be the best ones. In particular, you may want to consider collagen casings if you are producing snack sticks, or even breakfast sausages. Or synthetic casings if you are making deli meats or if you are in large scale production.
Skill Level: For the first-timers, collagen casings are much better as they do not need to be prepared as natural casings are. They are also less critical when the stuff is fixed inside the machines.
Flavor and Texture: Well, as the name suggests, they come from animal intestines making them to have an original taste and feel. They give you that original snap to them and let more flavour to be seeped into the food being prepared.
Availability: For the sausage casings, one can buy them in local specialty food store, butcher stores, or order it online within Canada. As for the casings make certain that they are fresh and of the best quality and this can only be gotten from the recommended suppliers.
Conclusion
Sausage making is a very fulfilling hobby and/or career and getting to know the basic products such as the sausage casing available in Canada is most important. Anyway, natural, collagen or synthetic casing is favorable since each of them provides certain advantages which can make the process more enjoyable. When starting the sausage making process, it is advisable to try various casings for this will enable you realize the kind of casings you would prefer and ensure you have come up with good and perfect recipes. Bear in mind that with the right casing you will be in a good position to produce sausages at home that will be loved by everyone.