Although I am far from an expert in making homemade sausage quickly and without mistakes, there are a few techniques that I have learned that make the process easier. One of those lessons learned is when to make the individual links from the sausage coil.
You can stuff a casing with a sausage mixture by yourself; however it is an easier process working with another person. Likewise, once the two of you have a rhythm going, the last thing you want is to pause pushing the sausage mixture through the stuffing machine as the other person twists the stuffed casing into another link of sausage. Not only can this disrupt the process, but I have found that attempting to twist the coil into links as the casing is being stuffed creates links of unequal lengths.
Experience has shown that it is far easier to stuff an entire length of casing and then proceed to make the individual links. There are two important items to remember. The first is to not to over stuff the casing. If you do, despite the surprisingly elastic (stretching) properties of the casing, it will eventually split. The second is to not wait to twist the sausage coil into links. It is best to make the links while the casing is still wet and pliable.
Step #1: Stuff the casings until the entire sausage mixture has been used
Coil of Homemade Sausage (Bangers)
Step #2: Determine the desire sausage link length, press down lightly and begin to twist
Determine the Desired Length of the Sausage Link, Press Down at that Spot and begin to Twist
Step #3: Continue to Twist the Link an Entire Revolution (360 degrees)
Continue to Twist the Link an Entire Revolution (360 degrees)
Step #4: Continue Twisting the Link for an Additional Complete Turn
Continue Twisting the Link for an Additional Complete Turn
Step #5: Repeat the process, until the entire coil has been made into links
Homemade Sausage that has been Twisted into Links
Practice makes perfect, well not exactly, but over time you will become more comfortable with the process. On occasion, despite your best efforts the casing will break. This is not a problem. Simply remove a small portion of the stuffed sausage from the casing and make a knot at both ends of the break. The little amount of sausage that is removed from the break in the casing makes for a perfect treat to be pan fried as a patty as you wait for your sausage to air dry in the refrigerator for twenty-four hours.
Of all the steps required to make homemade sausage, the actual process of twisting the coil of sausage into individual links is where I receive the most satisfaction that I have truly mastered the skill of making hand crafted homemade sausage.
