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Make pepperoni sticks at home

Make pepperoni sticks at home
This is a step-by-step guide through my oddessy of home sausage making. This is the first time I have ever attempted anything like this, so I'll point out all of my bad examples along with what to do.

I wanted to make good use of all the less desirable cuts of meat left over from butchering deer and elk, which are taking up space in my freezer. At the same time, I wanted to make something delicious. As a survival nut, I am enamored with the idea of food preservation and living like a neanderthal, so this was a great project to take on.

Also, I wanted to use my favorite cooking implement, the Luhr-Jensen Big Chief Smoker.

Before using venison or other game meat, I decided to test the process with two pounds of ground beef. The end result was pepperoni that had a very hamburgery taste. Good, but if you are going for the traditional taste, I recommend adding some pork. When I attempt this with venison, I'll update this page.
 
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Step 1Gather ingredients and materials

Gather ingredients and materials
Here's what you will need to have co-located. There are some things I used that are optional, I'll mention what they are at each step.

2lb ground beef
Sausage casings (I used 19mm collagen)
Olive oil (optional)
Seasonings (Shown in picture):
- 1 Tbsp Morton Tender Quick cure (plain salt will NOT work)
- 1/2 tsp Crushed Red pepper
- 1 tsp Fennel Seed
- 1/2 tsp Anise Seed
- 1 tsp Mustard Seed
- 1/2 tsp Garlic powder
- 1 1/2 tsp Black pepper

Tools:
Meat grinder
Smoker (preferably electric, preferably Luhr-Jensen Little Chief or Big Chief)
Mixing Bowl
Knife
Appropriate measuring spoons
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24 comments
Apr 12, 2012. 6:41 PMClayOgre says:
What is that interesting looking wide bladed knife/cleaver in the fourth picture?
Aug 31, 2011. 8:26 PMsteelchef says:
It's great to see that you are in the picture regarding the vital use of nitrite cure. The tiny amount (less than .005%) is protection against many potentially nasty conclusions. For many years I shunned "nitrate/nitrite" addatives. A good friend died from complications after ingesting home made jerky and I quickly became a convert. USDA rules now require that all jerky be pre-cooked to 180F prior to smoking. This changes the taste considerably but takes care of all remaining "bugs" that could make you sick or kill you.
I refer you to: http://www.wedlinydomowe.com/sausage-making/curing
May 31, 2011. 12:54 PMtpdavis says:
You say to eat within a week or freeze...then why did you add the "tender quick" (meat cure)? If it were fresh sausage (that is, no cure added), then I agree eat or freeze promptly, but cured sausage should last longer than a week--especially refrigerated. I'm confused, please help as I want to understand what's going on since I want to make some cured sausage, but am 'daunted' by the danger and benefits of curing.
Mar 11, 2010. 8:22 AMfzxdf5 says:
wife would kill me if I did this with out a drip pan...and oh yah, you will fill the house with smokie goodness too
Mar 11, 2010. 8:21 AMfzxdf5 says:

if you thermo insulate around the smoker, it will give you a better product

Mar 11, 2010. 8:17 AMfzxdf5 says:
one way of getting rid of air bubble is to use a needle and prick the casing.

Don't use too much filler, like oat meal or bread crumbs or when you cook the sausage it will split on you because it will swell when cooked
Mar 11, 2010. 8:13 AMfzxdf5 says:
no paprika(sp?)?
Mar 21, 2009. 8:26 PMcrazycommanche=US= says:
u know slim jims i hat how some are really hard and nasty ans salty to chew but some are really mushy andwont even come out this is how u fix that
Apr 7, 2009. 4:47 PMGilo says:
anybody know where i can get some salt peter?
Nov 26, 2009. 5:01 PMEucherplayer says:
http://www.sausagemaker.com/

also called prague powder.  they have sodium nitrite and sodium nitrate, Prague Powder #1 and Prague Powder #2 (not sure which is which), but the difference is listed on the site.  One goes into bacon and the other goes into sausage because of the cooking/curing method involved as I recall.
Nov 26, 2009. 7:15 PMT2Pogi says:
Thanks Eucherplayer.
Do you have anything for jamon serrano?
Nov 27, 2009. 7:36 AMEucherplayer says:
Nothing right off hand, of course as you know this is "raw cured ham" that is a specialty from Spain and made from a specific breed of pig.  Because this is meant to be eaten raw as well, all necessary disclaimers are in place "don't try this at home", "enter at your own risk", "do not use near fire or flame" yada yada yada...  Mostly, use common sense. (if it is yellow, green, pink, and gooey, don't even feed it to your dog).

http://ezinearticles.com/?Jamon-Serrano&id=342547

I found some information here.  I'm sure that there are other dry cure recipes out there, but according to what I read, this requires a special ham and rather specific conditions (temperature, humidity, airflow) and most likely more than just  salt in the dry cure rub that is mentioned in the article I have sited here.

Good luck!!  Let me know how it comes out if you think of it.

sort of off topic (maybe an attempt at redirection), I have "corned venison" though and it came out very well.

Nov 27, 2009. 1:30 PMGilo says:
Thank you again Eucherplayer
Mar 8, 2009. 9:04 AMikke_1206 says:
How could you make the dried sausages, or are these dried already?
Mar 9, 2009. 2:09 AMawang8 says:
If you want to dry them you should just pop them in a food dehydrator.
Mar 7, 2009. 11:28 AMjennpearson says:
Sounds yummy ~ will have to try it out! Thanks!
Mar 7, 2009. 7:39 AMpaganwonder says:
Please, please,please try cutting venison or elk heart into 1 inch strips and briefly broil on a skewer (sharp stick) over charcoal or wood coals. You can make pepperoni out of less desirable cuts + a little cheap pork (= more fat left on).
Mar 6, 2009. 1:46 PMexplosivemaker says:
any pictures of them when they are done? smoked vs. baked?
Mar 7, 2009. 6:52 AMexplosivemaker says:
ahhh....yeah, I would think the smoked ones would taste better too....
Mar 6, 2009. 1:47 PMcowscankill says:
Niiiiiiice.
Mar 6, 2009. 12:58 PMmg0930mg says:
Cool.

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