the_emma•3d agoProlific Poster

TIL hog casing from local pigs is WAY more tender than what I ordered online

I always bought my sausage casings from a big supply site online. Last month I stopped by a small processor 20 miles from my shop in Akron. They had hog casings from pigs raised right there in the county. I tried them on a batch of brats and the difference was NIGHT and day. The local ones snapped perfect and held moisture way better. The online ones always seemed a bit tough and chewy. Has anyone else noticed a big difference with locally sourced casings?

3 comments

3 Comments

wesley3853d ago

You mentioned "snapped perfect" and that really made me think. A buddy of mine who makes sausage at home tried those big online casings once too and said they felt like chewing on rubber bands. He switched to a local butcher and the difference was so big he won't go back. He told me the local ones almost melt in your mouth while the online ones felt like they fought back when you bit into them. It's a totally different product when it comes from nearby.

terryk103d ago

Yeah, the "fought back" part is spot on. A friend had casings that literally split sideways.

felix_williams712d ago

Well isn't that something. It really is amazing what happens when you get things from closer to home. I've noticed this same pattern with a lot of foods, not just sausage casings. Eggs from a neighbor's chickens taste richer than store bought. Tomatoes from a local farm have way more flavor than the ones shipped from across the country. It makes you wonder what gets lost when food is processed and shipped long distances. Something about the freshness and the handling really seems to change the final product in a big way.