Just starting to make some sausage now and had one (of many) question about the IT of the sausage (polish sausage first). Some say to take it out at 152* and some say as high as 156. No real difference there. My question is about IT safety. Is this IT safe to eat? I thought pork had to come up to at least 165*. Is this sausage then meant to be cooked later to the proper IT or is it ok at this IT?
Take to 150-155. Any higher than you might as well just throw it on the BBQ.
I take mine to 149, it will IT by itself. But thats just me.
The cures that you are putting in the sausage are what makes it safe to eat after cooking to an IT of 150-155ยบ. By smoking and cooking the meat to this temp you are killing any of the nasties that may have joined the party from your cutting board, meat mixer, bowls etc... while doing your prep work with the meat.
What Rick and Chris said...trust what they tell you...