Smoking ribs and cooking steaks is a lot of fun but if you want to take your “Meat Skills” to the next level then you are in the right place.
I consider sausage making to be an essential skill that anyone who is serious about being a true pitmaster ought to learn. Making your own sausage is incredibly simple and you will have a lot of fun once you learn the basic technique.
Once you get the basic sausage making process down you can start looking at the different regional specialties like bratwurst, bockwurst and mortadella.
From there you can take the deep dive into jerky and other cured meats. Heck, you might even get inspired to try making your own capicola!
General Information on Making Sausage
Get started with the Master Lesson, “How to Make Sausage” and then pick and choose which other recipes you want to look at in more detail.
The most important topic covered in the Master Lesson is sanitation and that concept applies to any sausages, jerky or other cured meat you ever want to prepare.
- How to Make Sausage
- What Are Sausage Casings Made Of?
- How to Make Chicken Sausage
- How to Make Summer Sausage
- Fully Loaded Bacon Cheeseburger Sausage
- Old School Sausage
- Sausage Making Equipment
German Style Sausages
Here is a rundown on some of the most famous German sausages. Personally I like the bratwurst more than any of the others but it is good to know the difference between them!
- Knackwurst: What Is It and How To Make
- Bockwurst: What Is It and How To Make
- Bratwurst: What Is It and How to Make
- Bauernwurst: What Is It and How to Make
- Bratwurst vs Bockwurst
- Smoked Brats
Italian Sausages and Cured Meats
Some of these sausages require highly specific fermentation temperatures and drying conditions that are beyond the control of most home sausage makers. All the same, I wanted to provide an introduction to these classics as well as to help you understand the important differences between the styles.
- Genoa Salami vs Hard Salami
- Salami vs Pepperoni
- Summer Sausage vs Salami
- Sopressata: Toscana vs di Calabria
- What is Salami Made Of?
- Mortadella: What is It and How to Make
- Mortadella vs Bologna: What Are the Differences?
- Prosciutto vs Pancetta: What Are They? Can You Eat Them Raw?
- Capicola: What Is It, How to Make and Compared to Prosciutto
Jerky and Other Cured Meats
You just have to make a few batches of jerky! Homemade jerky is simple, delicious and healthy. Start with the “How to Make Jerky” guide and branch out from there!
- How to Make Pork Jerky in the Oven
- Brisket Beef Jerky Recipe
- Eye of Round Beef Jerky Recipe
- Best Meat Slicer for Jerky
- What Does Uncured Mean?