Beginner's mixup - hopefully all isn't lost
Posted: Wed May 14, 2014 15:42
I began the first step in my first batch yesterday evening. I cut up a 3.3lb pork shoulder into 1 in pieces or so and left myself with about 3 lbs of meat which is what I was using as a measurement of my spices. I'm cubed the pieces and added the salt, Cure #2, and sugar to the cubes and combined well and popped it into the fridge.
Something was eating at me about the meat, so I looked at redzed's posts about him salt/curing for 48 hours before grinding and stuffing and realized I added the sugar into the mix when he does not. Thinking that fridge temps are not cold enough to stave off bad bacteria from eating the sugars, I immediately put the meat container in the freezer to protect it from infection before grinding and stuffing. It was in the fridge MAYBE 5 minutes before I made this realization and move.
I plan on taking it out of the freezer and putting it into the fridge 6 hours before grinding and stuffing to allow a little thawing and to keep it partially frozen. Is this ok?
Please tell me my meat is ok.
Something was eating at me about the meat, so I looked at redzed's posts about him salt/curing for 48 hours before grinding and stuffing and realized I added the sugar into the mix when he does not. Thinking that fridge temps are not cold enough to stave off bad bacteria from eating the sugars, I immediately put the meat container in the freezer to protect it from infection before grinding and stuffing. It was in the fridge MAYBE 5 minutes before I made this realization and move.
I plan on taking it out of the freezer and putting it into the fridge 6 hours before grinding and stuffing to allow a little thawing and to keep it partially frozen. Is this ok?
Please tell me my meat is ok.