First sausage and questions

[lastinline]

Hello all
I just completed my first attempt at sausage making and they came out better than all my expectations with the exception of tough casings. I used natural hog 32mm-35mm and soaked for 2 1/2 hours. I smoked the sausage for 31/2 hrs at 200 degs with mesquite to internal temp of 159.
My recipe was an adaption of Smoke and Spice's "Texas Hill Country Sausage"

2 lbs ground beef 90/10
1 lb ground pork
1 tsp gran garlic
1 tbl Kos salt
1 tbl black pepper
1 tsp red pepper flakes
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp cure no.1
1/2 cup cold water

texture and flavor were great but could have stood a little more moisture maybe 80/20 beef next time.

For any other noobs out there, this 3 lb mix made 14 6-7 inch links.
I took some pics but I'll have to research on posting

Any pointers about the tough casings?
Thanks

[captain wassname]

hello and welcome
Have you got a location we are just about world wide and it helps with problems if we know roughly where you are.By recipe Im guessing U.S.A.
You are probably a bit light on fatso maybe add some belly pork and cut back on the beef a bit.

Jim

[NCPaul]

Welcome to the forum. Did allow the sausage to rest in the frig overnight before smoking them?

[lastinline]

Sorry I failed to mention that I did put them on a rack in the fridge overnight and I gave them a cold water bath when I took them out of the smoker.
I was just rereading the sourced recipe and I missed the instruction to lightly coat with oil before smoking but I don't remember seeing that instruction in other recipes so it must not be that common. I will try it next time though.

I can't wait to try something new next week.
I bought a LEM 5# stuffer and a grinder in on my Christmas list.
Cheers Ray

[BriCan]

I was just rereading the sourced recipe and I missed the instruction to lightly coat with oil before smoking but I don't remember seeing that instruction in other recipes so it must not be that common. I will try it next time though.

I would not as you will find that the smoke will not adhere well, as for the casings being tough try soaking them overnight rather than two hours

HTH