Sausage casings are usually made out of animal intestines, typically from either sheep or hogs. People often wonder if you need to remove sausage casing before cooking or eating sausage.
So do you?
If the sausage casing is edible, you do not have to remove it before cooking or eating the sausage. Many casings are edible, but some taste better than others.
Can You Eat Sausage Casing?
You can eat edible sausage casings. If you’ve already cooked the sausage with edible casings, the casings are cooked as well, which means they’re safe to eat. That being said, there are thick casings and there are thin casings, and you may find that the thicker casings are a little difficult to chew and are not very tasty. If your sausage casing is too thick or has a “plastic” feel, it’s best to remove it before eating the sausage meat.
Types of Sausage Casings
There are many different types of sausage casings. These three are the most common:
How To Know if Sausage Casing Is Edible
It is okay to eat natural casings, but you should not eat artificial casings, which include both collagen and cellulose casings. If the casing is thin, this usually means that it is made out of body parts of animals. If the casing is plastic-looking or overly thick, you should probably remove it from the sausage.
If you’re not sure if the casings are edible, check the label on the sausage packaging or check with the butcher who sold you the sausage.
How To Remove Sausage Casing
Sausage casings are best removed when the sausage is uncooked, but either way, it’s a fairly easy process.
Raw Sausage
Cooked Sausage
How To Cook Sausage Without Casing
After you remove the casing from the sausage, you can cook the meat as you normally would. Simply follow the instructions above for de-casing the sausage.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sausage Casings
Can You Remove Sausage Casing After Cooking?
You certainly can, but it’s a lot easier if the sausage is still warm. If you just took them out of the refrigerator and you wish to remove the casing, simmer them in hot water for two to three minutes first, then transfer them to cold water and pat them dry before de-casing them.
How Much Sausage Casing Do I Need per Pound?
The amount of sausage casing required per pound depends on the type of casings and sausage you have. If you use sheep casings, 3.25 feet (1 meter) of casing is enough for each pound of sausage meat. You will need 2.95 feet (0.9 meters) of sausage casing per pound when using hog casings, which are wider.
Why Are My Sausage Casings Tough?
Sausage casings will be tough if you haven’t soaked them and flushed them with water to remove salt. Or they may have been stored for too long. Some chefs say casings should be discarded after six months to one year. Casings can also be tough after cooking if you didn’t let the sausage rise to room temperature after taking it out of the fridge or freezer.
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