Snack sticks ice bath - yes or no?

[WoodlawnSmoker]

Hey folks.  As I venture down this smoking road, I'm making the natural progression to making sausages, can't wait.  I'm gathering the supplies and additives I need and my first project will be some snack sticks.

I've been doing lots of reading and have a question about giving the sticks an ice bath after smoking.  Seems like some do but most don't.  That's fine, but my question is whether or not the ice bath will limit the wrinkling of the sticks.  I'm fine either way but I think I'd prefer a softer, smoother stick.  Will giving them a little swim in the icewater accomplish this or will putting them in a ziplock bag and refrigerating do the same thing? Any negative effects?

[Tenpoint5]

The overnight in the fridge in a plastic bag will soften the casings but not give you the smooth plump looking sticks. An ice bath with plump them up some but not do any harm. I let mine cool in the air no ice bath.

[Sailor]

I have never given my sticks an ice bath so I cannot comment from experience.  Personally I like the wrinkled look on the sticks.  I would be afraid that an ice bath is going to make the casing lose and then the casings are going to want to peel.  I would suggest that you give 1/2 of your batch the ice bath and let the other 1/2 just bloom after the smoke and see how they compare.  Let us know how they turn out.

[Enid]

I myself have never done this for sticks, I like the wrinkled look. If you are using collagen casings I would not do it, as Sailor stated they are going to peel.  If you are using natural and you prefer a moister plump look, I would smoke to your desired time then finish in a hot water bath to an IT152, ice bath, and bloom. I'm not sure you would gain a lot by just doing an ice bath to avoid wrinkling.

[NePaSmoKer]

All good suggestions.

Try taking a few after they are done and put them in some hot broiling water for like 20-30 seconds, then into the ice, you may like what you get.

[WoodlawnSmoker]

Some great suggestions, thanks folks.  I'm going to use collagen casings but I think I'll try 3 methods just to experiment and see the difference.  I'll let the bulk of them just sit to cool at room temperature, I'll icebath a few right away and I'll also try some in boiling water for a short period then icebath.

I'll post up the results when finished.

[cobra6223]

I finish my sticks in a hoy water bath so I do the ice bath just to stop the temp from rising. Right or wrong I'm not sure but they turn out okay.

[watchdog56]

you are right cobra.