How long for snack sticks to be done?

[Bigbirdoffroad]

Ok Fellas, First try at Sticks. I put 6 lbs of snack sticks (22m casings) in the smoker at 2:30 with a smoker temp of 130 for an hour. Bumped the temp to 150  for an hour, 160 for an hour then up to 170. Rolled smoke for two hours because I didn't know if I went longer with the smoke if it would be too much. So they have been in there for 6 hours and the IT of the stick are only 117. How much longer should it take till I reach 165 on these bad boys?

I'm using my Auber PID for control and temp indication so I'm pretty sure the numbers are right on the money. Don't know how much more beer I can drink before these are done. And I have to let them bloom for two hours after cooking???

[devo]

You should only take your sticks to 150-152F* IT.
If your going by your pid's second probe it can give you a false reading on them small sticks, best to check with something like the Thermapen if you have one. Sticks usually take 8 hours for me but it all depends on how many, going by your 6lbs. I would say 8 hours is pretty close.

[Bigbirdoffroad]

Is 8 hours with the time spent at 130, 150 and 170 or just at 170? Oh yeah, thanks on the IT help!!!

[devo]

That should be total time, but every smoke is just a bit different. I have had sticks take 12 hours and said i'm running out of beer WTF  ;D

[mikecorn.1]

Is 8 hours with the time spent at 130, 150 and 170 or just at 170? Oh yeah, thanks on the IT help!!!

You got any pics.


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[Bigbirdoffroad]

Mike, I have a pic of the smoker full when raw. I'll take pics of the finished product and a money shot for you. Grinding and stuffing always looks the same. You know it as well as I do. It's all about the final product. I'll post up pics tomorrow if I'm not too hung over...LOL

[mikecorn.1]

Mike, I have a pic of the smoker full when raw. I'll take pics of the finished product and a money shot for you. Grinding and stuffing always looks the same. You know it as well as I do. It's all about the final product. I'll post up pics tomorrow if I'm not too hung over...LOL

Cool. :) question. Did you lay them down on the racks or hang them.


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[Bigbirdoffroad]

Hung in a coil. I could only fit about 7 of the 10lbs we stuffed. I'll have to smoke the other batch tomorrow. Coil is probally going to take longer I guess. I was going to cut links to fit the racks but I was too afraid of fat run off and drying them out.

[devo]

Bigbirdoffroad
I have done sticks many times, sometimes just by the recipe I followed I thought they sucked. You will get to know what you like and be able to reproduce a quality stick in no time. To cut down on the time I since started doing the hot water bath after 4-5 hours, IT temp is usually around 130*F when I but them in the bath and 15 minutes later in the bath they are done. I then let them sit in the fridge in a paper bag over night and you would not be able to tell I did the hot water bath.

[Bigbirdoffroad]

I didn't want to do the water bath because I'm using collegen casings and I know what the water bath does with my summer sausage. I guess I could water bath them and have skinless sticks. Probally wouldn't be a bad thing.

[mikecorn.1]

So you dont want to get collagen casings wet even after you've smoked in them?


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[devo]

collegen casings.....yes I have them  :P  they suck. I end up taking them off as I don't like the texture. Can't say I have done any in the hot water bath yet but seeing as I have enough to do 30lbs of sticks I just might have to. I'm lucky enough to have a butcher who provides me with sheep and hog casings cheaper than I can buy on line so the collegen casings are sitting at the back of my fridge just waiting for me to use them.

[Bigbirdoffroad]

I got it figured out now. I put a thermometer in the top of the smoker and the temp at the top was only 125. I pulled out all the sticks and cut them to fit the racks and then got the temp in the cabinet where it needed to be. They should be done in about a half hour to 45 min. Good thing, I'm running out of beer. Thanks for the help!!! Tomorrow when I smoke the rest, I'll cut them all to length and rotate the racks.