These days, you can just buy whatever you need. You can easily find artisans and specialty makers of whatever it is that you need or find interesting. You can even buy them without having to leave your home, so it’s safe to say that life is pretty convenient for most folks right now.
This trend ushers in the search for the latest smoker for sausage making. With more and more people realizing that making their own food can be done easily, the demand for reliable cooking equipment will naturally follow.
However, shopping for smokers can be quite tricky, however. While your recipe and ingredients play the biggest roles in the taste of your sausage, the best smoker can make the task simpler.
It can also ensure that you’ll be able to get the actual results you want because it gets the job done. This makes finding the right cooking equipment an absolute must.
But how do you find the right smoker for your sausage-making endeavors? Let this quick guide help you.
Top 10 Smokers for Sausage Making 2021 – Get The Right Model:
Top Trending Products:
Our Picks of the 5 Best Smoker for Sausage Making:
1. Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit for Masterbuilt Digital Smokers
Masterbuilt offers a wide range of smokers that are very easy to use so they’re now practically household names when it comes to outdoor cooking equipment.
However, for the longest time, their smokers only offer heat smoking. This makes them unsuitable for curing meats and smoking certain items.
The Masterbuilt 20070112 Cold Smoking Kit for Masterbuilt Digital Smokers changed the landscape of easy smoking at home, however. This cold smoking kit makes it possible for digital electric smokers to be used as cold smokers as well.
Features:
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- Cold smoking kit attachment
- Black powder coated body
- CSA certified
- Compatible with all Masterbuilt Digital Electric Smokers
- Continuous feed system
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2. Masterbuilt 20050614 Propane Smoker
Planning to smoke large batches of meat? The Masterbuilt 20050614 Propane Smoker might just be the right workhorse for you. This extra-large smoker can accommodate a lot of meats with its four racks and spacious cooking chamber.
It might look a bit intimidating at first but it actually makes smoking easy. Being propane powered and operated by push-button ignition, this cooking equipment is very easy to work with.
It even comes with almost everything you need to get started, you just need to get a propane tank and you’re ready to smoke.
Features:
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- 44” size
- 2000 sq in cooking space
- 4 chrome smoking racks
- Dual door design
- Viewing window
- Two 8,250 BTU stainless steel burners
- Push-button ignition
- Porcelain-coated wood chip tray
- Water pan, type 1 regulator, and hose included
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3. Weston 48-Inch Outdoor Propane Vertical Smoker
A smoker with features that are actually made for sausages can also be a great pick for sausage making. This makes the Weston 48-Inch Outdoor Propane Vertical Smoker a solid choice.
Aside from its large size and six cooking racks, it also comes with two sausage hangers. These can make sausage smoking a breeze.
Features:
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- 48” size
- Propane powered
- Rotary ignition
- External temperature gauge
- Two sausage hangers
- Six chrome-plated cooking racks
- Heavy gauge, fully-welded, and black-coated cooking cabinet
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4. Smoke Hollow 44241G2 44-Inch Vertical Propane Gas Smoker
While it might have similar features as the other smokers in the list, what sets it apart is its wide variety of cooking accessories.
Its five different cooking grids will allow you to smoke various meats and food items without needing additional purchases, making it a practical pick.
Features:
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- 44” size
- Dual stainless steel burners
- 5 cooking grids and 1 sausage hanger
- Dual door design
- Temperature gauge
- Rotary ignition
- Adjustable smokestack
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5. Masterbuilt 20078715 Electric Digital Smoker
Designed with the users’ ease of use in mind, the Masterbuilt 20078715 Electric Digital Smoker can be operated in just a few button presses if you’ll think about it.
Its size is also a good match for the average-sized household. With these, it can be an excellent pick for most homeowners who want to make their own sausages without too much fuss.
Features:
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- 30” size
- Electric digital control
- Thermostat temperature control
- 4 cooking racks
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5 Smoked Sausage Recipe to Make You Drool for More:
Sausages are highly versatile because you can eat them as is and enjoy them in different dishes. Here are five that can better entice you to smoke sausages at home:
1. 20-Minute Sheet Pan Sausage & Veggies:
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Ingredients
- 12-16 oz sausage, sliced to 1” rounds
- 2 cups sweet potato, diced
- 2 cups broccoli florets
- 1 cup bell pepper, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- 2 tablespoons, olive oil
- 1 tablespoon seasoning of your choice (Italian, taco, or Cajun recommended)
- ½ tsp salt
- ½ tsp black pepper
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Cooking Steps
- Preheat oven to 400F.
- Place the sausage, garlic, and vegetables into the sheet pan. Drizzle with olive oil then sprinkle some spices. Toss the veggies to completely coat the veggies with the flavoring.
- Bake for 10 minutes then flip. Bake again for another 10 minutes.
- Serve and enjoy.
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2. Sausage, Spinach, and Polenta Bowl:
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Ingredients
- 6 cups spinach
- 4 cups water or broth of your choice
- 2 cups cherry tomatoes
- 1 cup polenta (cornmeal)
- 4 chicken sausages, chopped
- 2 cloves garlic, minced
- Salt and pepper to taste
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Cooking Steps
- Bring the broth/water to a boil.
- Whisk in the polenta until thick. Lower the fire then cover. Cook for 10 minutes then whisk. Repeat for two to three times until it’s creamy and smooth. Season with salt and pepper.
- Cook the sausage in a separate skillet til brown.
- Add the garlic and cook until fragrant.
- Add the tomatoes then cook until they’re soft.
- Add the spinach and cook until they’re wilted.
- Serve the sausage over the polenta.
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3. Breakfast Casserole with Bacon, Sausage, Sweet Potatoes & Kale:
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Ingredients
- 1 large sweet potato, peeled, chopped finely, and cooked
- 2 links sausage, finely chopped and cooked
- 4 slices bacon, chopped ½” wide
- 8 leaves kale, torn and without stems
- 6 large eggs
- 1 tsp ground cumin
- 1 tsp coriander
- 1/4 cup milk
- 1 tbsp nutritional yeast
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Cooking Steps
- Preheat oven to 375 F.
- Grease a sheet pan with olive oil.
- Fry bacon until almost crisp then add and cook the sausages til brown. Add the kale and cook until wilted. Add spices and sweet potato.
- Beat the eggs in a separate bowl then add the milk or water and yeast. Add the meat and veggie mixture then pour into the greased sheet pan.
- Bake for 20 minutes or until the eggs are set.
- Cool for 5 minutes then serve.
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4. Spinach and Sausage Spaghetti Sauce:
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Ingredients
- 1.5 lbs sausage (turkey is recommended), chopped or ground
- 1 lb spinach
- 56 oz crushed tomatoes
- 2 carrots, diced
- 8 garlic cloves, minced
- 1 onion, diced
- 1/4 cup parsley, chopped
- 2 bay leaves
- 1 tbsp. balsamic vinegar
- 2.5 tsp dried oregano
- 2.5 tsp dried basil
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Cooking Steps
- Heat a saucepan with cooking oil then add the sausage, garlic, onion, and carrot. Cook for 8 to 10 minutes.
- Add the vinegar then the parsley, tomatoes, basil, oregano, and bay leaves. Season with salt and pepper then simmer for 30 minutes in low heat.
- Add spinach and cook til until wilted.
- Serve on top of pasta.
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5. Italian Sausage Meatballs:
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Ingredients
- 2 eggs
- 1.5 lb lean ground turkey
- 1/2 lb lean ground turkey sausage
- 1/4 cup parsley
- 1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
- 1/4 cup tomato sauce
- Salt and pepper
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Cooking Steps
- Preheat oven to 350 F.
- Mix everything in a bowl except for the tomato sauce and stir nicely.
- Roll into balls then bake for 20-25 minutes.
- Serve with tomato sauce.
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How to Cook Smoked Sausage:
Before we go into the details of finding the top smoker for sausage making, you might want to learn about the actual steps involved in making smoked sausage.
This can help you determine whether the task is for you. This can help you avoid investing in something that you might end up not using because its use seems too complicated.
So, how do you cook smoked sausage? Here are the basic steps:
1. Look for a recipe you want to try.
There are tons of different recipes that you can try if you want to make your own sausages at home. So before you start doing anything, look up which recipe you might want to make.
2. Get to know your smoker if you haven’t yet.
If this is the first time you’re using a smoker, you will need to get better acquainted with your cooking equipment first. Smoking sausages is about temperature control so you will need to know how to work with your smoker to maintain a specific temperature.
3. Shop for good meat and ingredients.
This is possibly the most important part of sausage making. High-quality meat will promise you best-tasting results, so make sure not to skimp on your choice of meat.
According to some experts, the shoulder of the animal offers the best cut for sausages. It has enough fat and muscles to provide flavor and juice so your sausages won’t taste ashy and dry.
4. Choose the right kind of wood chips and prepare them accordingly.
Wood smoked sausages are deemed superior by a lot of cooks and food lovers, so if you’re going to make some sausage, might as well do it the “right” way. Fruitwood is highly recommended if you want a light smokey flavor on your food. Mesquite or hickory wood, on the other hand, is said to be a good choice for those who enjoy a strong smokey flavor.
A lot of grilling experts also recommend soaking the chips in water or flavored liquids. Some people aren’t big fans of this step but as it helps keep the wood chips smoldering and not ablaze.
5. Start stuffing.
Once the meat has been ground and mixed with the dry ingredients, you can now stuff your choice of casing. There are different techniques
6. Set the smoker to 160F and make sure to maintain it at the said temperature then place the sausage inside.
Cook until the internal temperature of the sausage is about 152F to 155F.
7. Change the wood chips to new ones every 90 minutes.
This will prevent the sausage from tasting ashy.
8. Cool the sausages down with cold water and air drying.
Keep the meat from overcooking by cooling it down after smoking.
How to Smoke Deer Sausage?
There are a few good reasons why venison makes a great option for sausage stuffing. One, you often have it in abundance if you hunted down the deer yourself.
You’re most likely looking for ways to prolong the shelf life of the meat and using it for sausages is a great way to do that.
There’s also the fact that deer meat is less likely to have artificial hormones that can harm your system. As they’re not bred for consumption, they can be deemed as healthier options.
How do you use it for sausages, though? Here’s a quick step-by-step guide in smoking deer sausage:
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- Select a recipe to follow. This is especially important for first-timers as recipes can ensure that your sausage will taste good if you follow it to a T.
- Prepare your tools and ingredients to make everything conveniently available as you work. If your venison is frozen, make sure to thaw it first.
- Coarse grind your meat then add the dry ingredients. Mix the two together and then regrind the meat. This will ensure thorough mixing and delivery of flavors to every piece and morsel of your sausage.
- Follow your chosen recipe then stuff your choice of casing.
- Turn on your smoker and set it to 140F. Once the cooking chamber reached the set heat level, you can then start placing the sausage inside. Smoke it while keeping the temperature for an hour.
- Adjust the temperature to 180F and smoke the venison sausage until its internal temperatures reach 160F.
- Remove the sausage from the smoker and then spray them with hot water for about 30 seconds or less. Follow this right away with a cool spray or place the sausage in ice water to cool the meat down and stop it from becoming overcooked.
- Refrigerate or freeze.
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How Long Do You Smoke Sausage?
This is a tricky question because people tend to have different answers depending on how they like their meat. A lot of recipes will tell you to smoke for about two to three hours. This can already suffice as long as the internal temperature of the meat reaches 155 to 160F.
At the end of the day, it really depends on your preference just how long you want to smoke your sausage at home. Just make sure that the meat won’t dry out as that could spell disaster for your dish.
10 Benefits of Using Smoker for Sausage Making:
- You can try different recipes easily.
- You can use the highest-quality ingredients without spending an arm and a leg.
- You can improve your culinary skills.
- Those with food sensitivities and dietary restrictions can enjoy this popular dish without risking their health and beliefs.
- Smokers add a unique flavor to meats that are hard to achieve with other cooking equipment.
- Smokers can accommodate large batches of meats so it’s an efficient equipment for game hunters or bulk buyers to have at home.
- You can eat sausages without the guilt.
- You can enjoy store meat for long periods of time at home.
- You can enjoy different kinds of sausages at any given time.
- As most smokers are designed to work for sausages, you don’t need to improvise how to
stack or position the sausages during smoking.
Buying Guide – How to Choose the Best Smoker for Sausage-Making
How do you actually choose the great smoker for sausage-making? Here are a few tips that can help you:
1. Choose Vertical vs Horizontal Configurations
Smokers are often available with cooking chambers that are vertically or horizontally configured. Both have its pros and cons, so they can also offer various things for you.
Horizontal smokers, on the other hand, are the professional’s choice. Their configuration may be trickier to work with but they’re more stable and often offer bigger cooking space. Some units can even be taken to various places as they can be wheeled to a vehicle or attached to one. Not all horizontal units are great for home use, though, because of their size.
2. Size Definitely Matters
Speaking of size, choosing the right one for you is crucial. It can make or break the functionality of your unit. And as smokers are available in a lot of sizes, you might feel a bit overwhelmed when it comes to making a choice.
To find the right size for you, try to gauge how much you need to cook often. Hunters might need a large smoker while the occasional outdoor cook might not need to go as big as possible.
3. Your Choice of Fuel can Make or Break Your Unit
Smokers are generally categorized by what fuels it. Charcoal, propane, wood, pellet, and electric varieties are some of the most easily available units.
Charcoal and wood offer the smokiest flavors, on the other hand. Temperature control can be trickier, though, so you might need to learn a few tricks to work with them effectively.
4. Look for Something Easy to Use and Maintain
This should go without saying but we’re still going to note it again because it’s an important consideration. Your smoker should be easy to operate because smoking in itself isn’t very complicated. Temperature maintenance should be the trickiest thing about it.
Cleanups should also be a breeze with your chosen cooking equipment. Make sure that you can thoroughly clean the cooking chamber with ease.
5. Pay Close Attention to the Unit’s Construction
Quality construction is always important when it comes to any cooking equipment so make sure to look for a sturdy smoker that can last you a long while.
6. Keep Your Budget in Mind
Smokers are available in a wide price range so it’s important to also keep your budget in mind. You don’t have to spend an arm and a leg on a quality smoker.
7. Be Particular with Its Safety Features
You and your family’s safety is of paramount importance, so don’t forget to make sure that the smoker you’re getting is safe to use.
9. Don’t Forget to Read Reviews
Last, but not the least, make sure to read reviews to learn more about the performance of the cooking equipment you’re after. Doing this can help you determine if the product is a right match for you.
Final Verdict
As mentioned above, the smoker for sausage-making can depend from one household or user to another. The wide variety of options available today guarantees that you’ll find the right match for your needs, so there’s no reason to worry about your choices.
What you should focus on is in determining what you need so you can make the most out of your cooking equipment.
With the versatility of the best smokers, you can also whip up so many smoked dishes at home. So if you want to take your outdoor cooking skills to the next level, this type of cooking equipment can be a worthy addition to your home.
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