What do I need to start making my own cured meat and fish?
It may seem daunting to start making your bacons (Back, streaky, Canadian, American, Maple Cured, Black treacle) and Salami's but the entry point uses standard equipment.
To start making your own bacon, aside from a few standard household ingredients (salt, sugar etc) you just need a ziplock bag or a some food grade Tupperware.
As you realise how easy this all is you can start your journey and then buy specialist equipment.
When making salamis, the only essential is the casings (the skins (sheep or hog)) and even then there are recipes for cured meats like the PITINA or LONZINO that don't even require this.
We even have a plastic bottle hack to save you shelling out £50 on a sausage stuffer - admittedly it takes a little longer, but entry level equipment is a one time purchase.
To start making your own bacon, aside from a few standard household ingredients (salt, sugar etc) you just need a ziplock bag or a some food grade Tupperware.
As you realise how easy this all is you can start your journey and then buy specialist equipment.
When making salamis, the only essential is the casings (the skins (sheep or hog)) and even then there are recipes for cured meats like the PITINA or LONZINO that don't even require this.
We even have a plastic bottle hack to save you shelling out £50 on a sausage stuffer - admittedly it takes a little longer, but entry level equipment is a one time purchase.
RECOMMENDATIONS
Butchers String / Kitchen Twine
An essential piece of equipment for many curing and charcuterie recipes. I buy it in 100m lengths and it lasts years!
Tenn Well Bakers Twine, 3Ply 100m Kitchen Cotton Twine Food Safe Cooking String Perfect for Trussing and Tying Poultry Meat Making Sausage
An essential piece of equipment for many curing and charcuterie recipes. I buy it in 100m lengths and it lasts years!
Tenn Well Bakers Twine, 3Ply 100m Kitchen Cotton Twine Food Safe Cooking String Perfect for Trussing and Tying Poultry Meat Making Sausage
Hog Casings
These come in various sizes and lengths. Good for Salami and Sausages.
Tongmaster Premium British Natural Hog Sausage Casing Skin of 5.5 m Length x 34/38 mm Diameter
Tongmaster Premium British Natural Hog Casing Skin of 15 m Length x 34/38 Diameter
British Natural Hog Skins/Casings36 / 40mm - 24m/80ft -on Tape/Tubes
These come in various sizes and lengths. Good for Salami and Sausages.
Tongmaster Premium British Natural Hog Sausage Casing Skin of 5.5 m Length x 34/38 mm Diameter
Tongmaster Premium British Natural Hog Casing Skin of 15 m Length x 34/38 Diameter
British Natural Hog Skins/Casings36 / 40mm - 24m/80ft -on Tape/Tubes
Sausage Stuffer
Ok, so you've given the hand stuffing with a plastic bottle a go, it takes longer and its harder to pack to meat tight but it works. So you want to upgrade - bear in mind once you get the stuffer you have opened the world of sausage making too! How wonderful!
If you have a KitchenAid or similar food mixer you can get an attachment like this for less than £50.
Metal Food Grinder Attachment Compatible with All KitchenAid Stand Mixers Includes 3 Sausage Stuffer Tubes,Durable Meat Grinder Attachment for KitchenAid
Ok, so you've given the hand stuffing with a plastic bottle a go, it takes longer and its harder to pack to meat tight but it works. So you want to upgrade - bear in mind once you get the stuffer you have opened the world of sausage making too! How wonderful!
If you have a KitchenAid or similar food mixer you can get an attachment like this for less than £50.
Metal Food Grinder Attachment Compatible with All KitchenAid Stand Mixers Includes 3 Sausage Stuffer Tubes,Durable Meat Grinder Attachment for KitchenAid
Or a more budget version like this around the £35 mark :
Antree Meat Grinder Attachment fits for KitchenAid Stand Mixer- Food Grinder -Meat Mincer with 4 Grind Plates, 2 Grind Blades, 2 Sausage Filler Tubes and 1 Cleaning Brush for KitchenAid Mixers
Antree Meat Grinder Attachment fits for KitchenAid Stand Mixer- Food Grinder -Meat Mincer with 4 Grind Plates, 2 Grind Blades, 2 Sausage Filler Tubes and 1 Cleaning Brush for KitchenAid Mixers
Or if you want a dedicated stuffer than saves you more time and less hassle I recommend this, again less than £60 - it allows you to put all into one chamber and then crank the handle to control the speed. Not having to continually feed the hopper like the ones that attach to a food mixer or Kitchen Aid appliance is a godsend when focussing on limiting the amount of air in your salami or sausage.
Jascherry 2.5 LB Sausage Filler Stuffer Home Made Machine - Stainless Steel Vertical Sausage Maker with Suction Base and Manual Crank for Household Use or Commercial - Capacity 2.5 lbs
Hanging tools
I first started out with a metal coathanger I adapted which was ok for small cuts and salami but soon realised as I moved into bacons I needed something a bit more sturdy. If making bacon I find a 5 prong Bacon Hook absolutely brilliant. I also use to hang my salamis on this now.
This Bacon Hook 5-Prongs by Weschenfelder has served me well for nearly 10 years - still as good as the first day I got it. It's around the £18 mark, but is strong, sturdy, and not a single sign of rust or blemish in 10 years. When doing large sides of belly or loin this is a solid piece of kit.
I first started out with a metal coathanger I adapted which was ok for small cuts and salami but soon realised as I moved into bacons I needed something a bit more sturdy. If making bacon I find a 5 prong Bacon Hook absolutely brilliant. I also use to hang my salamis on this now.
This Bacon Hook 5-Prongs by Weschenfelder has served me well for nearly 10 years - still as good as the first day I got it. It's around the £18 mark, but is strong, sturdy, and not a single sign of rust or blemish in 10 years. When doing large sides of belly or loin this is a solid piece of kit.
I recently trialled these for smaller cuts and they work well and come in around the £12-13 mark, but not good for larger cuts.
Magiin 4 Pack Stainless Steel Bacon Hanger, Smoker Hooks Roast Duck Bacon Hooks Meat Hooks for Smoking Hanging Bacon Hams Meat Cooking BBQ Grill (4 pcs)
Magiin 4 Pack Stainless Steel Bacon Hanger, Smoker Hooks Roast Duck Bacon Hooks Meat Hooks for Smoking Hanging Bacon Hams Meat Cooking BBQ Grill (4 pcs)
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COMING SOON!