Homemade Sausage Making

The thought of producing fermented sausages makes me a bit apprehensive and excited at the same time. This revolves around the challenge, being able to make things that I want to, but are unable to get hold of and producing fine quality products. It is the health and safety issues of fermented sausages that makes me feel a little apprehensive. I feel that this is a healthy apprehension.

Unless I import a starter culture or do not use one (just joking) I have to use BioBak ultra plus. This culture can be used up to 28 degrees C. I have copies of the Marianski books, . . . Fermented Sausages and Home Production of . . . . I also have Rhulman & Polcyn`s `Salumi`. I have read these books a few times. My understanding is that depending on the temperature of the chamber and length of time I ferment I can produce most types of fermented sausages; Dry (slow fermented or semi dry (fast or medium fermented. Now the semi dry sausages require a rapid drop in PH and the slow fermented are more reliant on the Aw. Having said that the ph is still important.

Now I will need to monitor the Ph and the Aw. Some people use litmus paper and others use a digital measure for Ph. What are people`s thoughts on either? Does anyone have a recommended type of meter? I have looked online (things like this are very costly in NZ) and Aw measures are expensive. Do people measure the Aw?

Mark, Probably the greatest edge you could provide yourself with at this point is reading and completely understanding "Project A". Click on this link for an explanation. http://wedlinydomowe.pl/en/viewtopic.php?t=5099 There is a ton of information to be learned by studying the information. Be sure to read it all the way to the end. Good luck!

Best Wishes,
Chuckwagon

Thank you CW. I like to get my teeth into projects. Before starting things I want to know a lot (in the past it has been suggested to me that I over-read when doing study). Before I get into projects I like to be well prepared. I can and do find solutions when things start to go in unexpected directions. Unfortunatly I learn best when I am shown how to do things and then the person watches over me when I do things for the first time. I do find techinical or instruction books or how to program your DVD guides etc hard work.