I am a newbie and I need some advise. Can I safely smoke fresh sausage that I bought in the store. The store makes their own sausage and I asked the butcher if the sausage was cured. His reply was it was not cured. Is it safe to Hot Smoke to 165 IT and eat.
ET
Hot Smoke - yes - since it is a cook.
Cold smoke or to a much lower IT - Not without cure.
It depends on what one means by hot smoking, and if the sausage is already cooked or raw; your post didn't mention it's state.
Many use the term hot smoking in the technical sense, and some for barbecue. Technically hot smoking falls within the range of 100°F - 180°F, which is not a safe temperature range to smoke raw uncured sausage; but alright if it has been precooked. You should smoke/cook raw uncured sausage at a temperature of at least 225°F - 250°F; which is considered barbecue temperatures.
Pre heat your smoker to 190*. It of the sausage i bring to 175* I have done fresh sausage many times with no harmful after affects at all.
nepas
Thanks all for the quick replys.
ET
If you add cure #1 to your fresh sausage you would be ok I would think!