Pepper sticks- part deux

[GusRobin]

About a week ago I made some pepper sticks. It was getting late so I decided to take them out of the smoker and finish them in a hot bath. Good plan except I forgot the fact that I used collagen casings. The last time I tried a hot bath finish with collagen casings, water got in and the final results weren't very good. Surprise- same results this time. That's what I get for starting late in the day. So I threw them away and started again.

So this time I mixed the meat and seasonings on Thursday night,and put in the fridge.

Here is the mixed meat.


After work on Friday I stuffed the sticks and put them back in the fridge. This morning I got up early and put them in Bradley.


Rain was in the forecast so I closed them up in the Bradley House.




After about 7 hrs they reached an IT of 155*


Then into the ice bath.


Hanging around for a while to bloom.
.

Cut a piece for quality control check.


Trimmed off the ends and ready to go into a paper bag and to spend the night in the fridge, will vac seal and freeze tomorrow.


These turned out great.

[WoodlawnSmoker]

They look fantastic.  And I really like your Bradley House, awesome.

[cobra6223]

Very nice looking sticks.

[watchdog56]

Those look great.

[renoman]

Hey GusRobin, that is interesting about collagen casings and not putting them in a water bath. I was not aware that you could not do that and luckily have never tried. Is that the final word on that or are there other opinions?

[GusRobin]

I am far from the final word on anything. I just know that I am 0 for 2 so that is enough trial and error for me. I have successfully done baths with natural and cellulose casings but not collagen.

[Saber 4]

This batch looks like a real winner for sure.

[iceman]

Great job GusRobin.
What spice mix and meat did you use if you don't mind me asking.

[Tenpoint5]

I am far from the final word on anything. I just know that I am 0 for 2 so that is enough trial and error for me. I have successfully done baths with natural and cellulose casings but not collagen.

Gus I have found with Collagen casings that you can't put them into a waterbath until after they reach an IT of 135. The proteins in the casings and the meat bond around that temp. Then the casings won't separate from the meat.

[pikeman_95]

Chris that is a good bit of information. It should take very little to get them over that temperature.
kc