Making Links?

[TyCobbEtx]

I have made hot links in the past and they came out great. The question I have is how do you seal the ends of the links, we twisted them which did not work that great so I resorted to tying them with cooking twine. Don't really like doing that either. I would LIKE my links to look like these:



Is there some secret crimper or something?

Thanks
Ty

[JamesB]

I just twist every other one in opposite directions... After they set up for a bit in the fridge, I cut them into links and the ends stay closed. Maybe give yours an extra twist?
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[teakettle]

What type of casings are you using?

Don in Texas

[TyCobbEtx]

I was using Fresh Collagen Casings. I liked them, they were not tough when I cooked them. I will try giving them a extra twist.

[teakettle]

I've never had much success with the collagen casings making pretty links. They always seemed to come unwound and never had the nice curvature to them the natural casings have.

I have used collagen, cellulose and natural casings and far prefer to work with the natural casings. If you're going to use the collagen or cellulose I suggest you keep the kitchen twine handy.

Don in Texas

[Sarge 569]

Have never used collegen, just natral, but what we do at the store is to fill the whole caseing then pinch out the links and only twist every other link all in the same direction.

[BBQonICE]

only 3 ways to do it.

well four....

...twist them 2 x opposite directions each link....
...make a loooong ring...then layout on table and tie each link with butchers twine
...buy steel or plastic clips and clip them...but these are more for the plastic casings
....last.......just hang in the smoke house and squeeze each ring to hang. but this is only good if you have the right hangers, etc.

We have always just tied them.....one long ring....then tie.
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