Smoked Picnic for Sausage?

[JZ]

I was going through my freezer and found some smoked picnics that I got on sale awhile ago and thought they might be good to use for making some snack sticks using my HM snack stick kit. The packaging states there is 15% meat protein (whatever that means).

Is this a good idea or a bad one?

[NePaSmoKer]

I was going through my freezer and found some smoked picnics that I got on sale awhile ago and thought they might be good to use for making some snack sticks using my HM snack stick kit. The packaging states there is 15% meat protein (whatever that means).

Is this a good idea or a bad one?

Meat protein is an extender, can be spice, or additives to make the meat look more appealing to the eyes of the consumer. Also check the cure content, you dont really want to double the amount of cure in the stix.

[JZ]

Thanks Nepa.

I checked the ingredients and there are several different kinds of sodium in it, including sodium nitrite. Does that mean I should not add cure #1 to the meat even though I plan to smoke it. I am guessing that since this meat has already been smoked that it was properly cured and as such I should not add more cure.

[NePaSmoKer]

Thanks Nepa.

I checked the ingredients and there are several different kinds of sodium in it, including sodium nitrite. Does that mean I should not add cure #1 to the meat even though I plan to smoke it. I am guessing that since this meat has already been smoked that it was properly cured and as such I should not add more cure.

Its a tough call not knowing how much cure in the ham. I would hate to say oh yeah go ahead but i aint, Its your call to do whats needed.

[JZ]

Thanks again Nepa;

I checked again and there is 1150 mg of sodium per 100 grams of weight (just over 1% sodium and 48% of recommended daily intake). That is a lot.

I think maybe I will just use some of my pork butt and mix it with beef.

[squirtthecat]

I'd save some of that picnic if you are making a Bierschinken style sausage... 

[JZ]

Hey Squirt. What the heck is Bierschinken sausage. I am new to sausage making - only made one batch of SS and one of Kielbasa so far. But I am getting revved up to do more. I got 2 new kits for my birthday and I am going to start on those soon.

The smoked picnic still needs to be cooked according to the label so I think I will add some of it to a future sausage and it might be what you suggest. I will have to check it out.

[squirtthecat]

It's a pork sausage with big chunks of ham mixed in...    Looks cool.     I think we have some recipes for it floating around this board.

[JZ]

Wow that does look GOOOOOOD.

I'm going to have to try that too.

[NePaSmoKer]

I seen the Bierschinken at Wally up in PA