Collagen Casing on Snack Sticks

[JF7FSU]

I made some of Pens spicy snack sticks with 17mm casings and the collagen casing was loose and not tight.   I did not bloom them.   The meat tasted great, they came out good, just loose casing.  They were over 152 and seemed to be cooked right.  Last time I made them the casing was shriveled and tighter.  The only diff this time was I added ECA.   Think its cuz I didn't cook them long enough or that I didnt bloom them?

[marauder11]

Every time I have had loose casings it was due to under stuffing them.

[HuntinFool]

i just did my first ever batch of sticks.  the one length of them had loose casings and that was because they were just barely understuffed.

[NePaSmoKer]

Ditto on not stuffed enough

[Tenpoint5]

under stuffed or I would say not shocked in ice water to stop the cooking and the casing stopped but the meat continued to shrink

[BigJohnT]

You gotta stuff till one explodes then back off a half a notch...  ;D

John

[OU812]

Try to stuff till the casin has no wrinkles and like JT stated just before they explode. Once they explode a couple times you will know the limit.