When you prepare a new meal with some savory Italian sausage, you may find a casing on it. But if the recipe doesn’t say what to do, you might not know if you can remove the shell or even if the meat is edible.
Sausage casings are an essential part of creating sausages, giving them their classic shape and texture But when it comes time to eat, should you peel off the casing or dig right in? Can you actually eat sausage casings?
The edibility of sausage casings depends on the type. While some casings are made of edible materials, others are inedible and must be removed before eating.
In this comprehensive guide we’ll explain the different types of sausage casings which ones are edible, and provide tips on how to eat sausages with natural casings.
Overview of Sausage Casings
Sausage casings come in two main varieties
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Natural casings – Made from animal intestines or plant-based materials. These are edible.
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Artificial casings – Made from materials like cellulose, collagen, or plastic. These are inedible.
Natural casings can further be divided into animal-based and vegetarian/vegan casings. The most common animal-based casings come from the intestines of pigs, sheep, and cows.
Natural casings give sausages a distinctive “snap” when bitten into. They’re often used for sausages like bratwurst, Italian sausage, breakfast links, and pepperoni.
Artificial casings provide a uniform shape and size. They’re peeled off after cooking. You’ll find them on luncheon meats and mass produced sausages.
Are Natural Sausage Casings Edible?
Yes, natural sausage casings made from animal intestines or plant-based ingredients are fully edible. This includes:
- Casings from pork, sheep, beef, lamb, and other meats
- Vegetarian/vegan casings made from plant starches and vegetable glycerin
Most sausages from your local butcher shop or that you make at home will have edible natural casings. They provide a pleasing texture and “bite” when eaten.
Natural casings do need to be thoroughly cleaned and stored properly to avoid spoilage. But when prepared correctly, they are perfectly safe to eat.
Should You Eat Collagen Casings?
Collagen casings are edible since they are made from animal sources. However, they tend to be quite thick and chewy.
Many people find them too tough and unpleasant to actually eat. Collagen casings are also more prone to harbor bacteria if not properly cleaned.
So while collagen sausage casings are technically edible, it’s better to remove them before cooking and eating the sausage.
Are Artificial Sausage Casings Edible?
No, artificial sausage casings are not edible. Casings made from the following should always be removed before consuming sausages:
- Cellulose (made from wood pulp or cotton)
- Plastic polymers
- Cotton
You’ll find these casings on mass produced sausages and deli meats encasing the meat. They provide a uniform shape and size.
Artificial casings are peeled off and discarded after the cooking process. Only the sausage meat inside is meant to be eaten.
Tips for Eating Sausages with Natural Casings
If your sausages have edible natural casings, here are some tips to make them more enjoyable:
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Cook the sausages thoroughly until the casing is very soft. This makes it less chewy or “rubbery.”
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Slice open the sausages lengthwise before cooking. This allows moisture to evaporate, crisping up the casings.
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Fry sliced sausages in oil or butter to get the casings browned and crispy.
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If the casing still seems too tough after cooking, simply peel it off using a knife and fork before eating the sausage.
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For kids or others who dislike textures, you can always squeeze or slice sausage meat out of the casings. Use it for dishes like pasta sauce.
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Choose sausages with thinner, more delicate casings if you plan on eating them. Avoid tough collagen or large diameter casings.
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Consider removing the casings on smoked sausages and bratwurst before serving if texture is an issue for guests.
Key Takeaways on Eating Sausage Casings
Hopefully this guide has helped explain which sausage casings are edible and provided tips on preparing and consuming them. Here’s a quick summary:
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Natural casings from animal and plant sources are edible. Collagen casings are edible but not ideal for eating.
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Artificial casings like cellulose and plastic should always be removed before eating the sausage meat inside.
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Cook natural casings thoroughly until soft and tender. Frying also crisps them up nicely.
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If texture is an issue, peel off casings or squeeze out the sausage meat before serving.
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Check with your local sausage maker to confirm the type of casings on any sausages you purchase.
Now that you know which casings are edible, you can confidently enjoy your sausage – casing and all! Just be sure to take steps to make those natural casings tasty.
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Are Sausage Casings Edible?
The sausage casing is the outer skin or layer that keeps your sausage meat in a specific shape. It makes packaging and cooking easier. The casing can also add or preserve the meat’s flavoring. Is the casing edible, though? In most cases, it is. Different sausage brands do use different casings, however, so the packaging should specify what kind the sausage has.
You can tell if the casing is natural because it will be thin and easy to chew. Inedible casings are used less often and are typically made from plastic or plant-based materials. If it doesn’t say what the casing is made of on the package, you can probably tell it’s not edible because the casing will be thick and hard to chew.
How to Remove Sausage Casings
Whether the casing is edible or not, you can remove it from the sausage meat. The two following processes explain how to remove the casing from the sausage.
Can you eat a sausage casing? if natural Yes! if synthetic/collagen NO!
FAQ
Can your body digest sausage casing?
What happens if I accidentally eat sausage casing?
Is the plastic around sausage edible?
Which casing must be removed before the sausage is eaten?
Can you eat sausage casing?
You can eat sausage casing, but it’s not something you should be doing regularly. Sausage casing is the material that holds sausages together and helps them cook evenly and cook thoroughly. The casing is made with different materials, including pork intestine and collagen.
Are sausage casings edible?
Most sausage casings found in grocery stores and butcher shops are made using natural materials and are edible. Casings that are too thick, although edible, may be unpleasant to eat and, therefore, it is best to remove them. The only inedible sausage casings are those made with artificial materials such as cellulose and plastic.
Can you eat cellulose sausage casings?
Collagen casings are generally used for dry sausages and are edible, but it is not recommended to eat them since they are thicker and don’t break down easily when chewed. Made from cellulose or plastic, artificial sausage casings are typically used for mass-produced skinless sausages and luncheon meats.
Why do sausages have a casing?
When you eat sausage, the casing’s collagen helps keep your skin firm and strong by keeping moisture inside, so it doesn’t escape into the air. The casing also gives sausage its unique texture: if it weren’t there, the meat would just fall apart when cooked. A sausage casing is a thin, edible membrane surrounding the sausages you buy at the store.