Search found 573 matches

by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Jul 01, 2021 22:57
Forum: Curing chambers and Related Equipment
Topic: Commercial refrigerator/drink cooler conversion to a curing chamber
Replies: 16
Views: 5467

Re: Commercial refrigerator/drink cooler conversion to a curing chamber

Thanks Lou. I committed to buying a used True brand single door commercial fridge and will be picking it up next week. Can you post some pics of your unit? It will help me setting up the unit and help others in the future. Are you sure your fan actually extracts air rather than used to distribute i...
by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Jul 01, 2021 12:10
Forum: Curing chambers and Related Equipment
Topic: Commercial refrigerator/drink cooler conversion to a curing chamber
Replies: 16
Views: 5467

Re: Commercial refrigerator/drink cooler conversion to a curing chamber

Mine is stainless inside and out. As far as wiring, I decided not to drill anything. I run all the cables through the door gasket. If I need to change a gasket once in a while, it's still better than hitting a line. I also bought it brand new with a 5 year warranty, so if I have a problem, I didnt v...
by LOUSANTELLO
Mon Jan 18, 2021 14:38
Forum: Microbiology of meat and products
Topic: Texel DCM-1 % Percentage
Replies: 4
Views: 5966

Re: Texel DCM-1 % Percentage

Even though DCM-1 suggests that it's not a ph reducer, and I've heard you can definitely use it on ground products also, I gave it a shot using some wine and dextrose, and sure enough the PH dropped below 5.3 in 30 hours. I have attempted to drop the PH in soppressata's using dextrose and wine only....
by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Jan 14, 2021 04:42
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Fermenting without starter cultures
Replies: 30
Views: 13164

Re: Fermenting without starter cultures

Ph is just one hurdle. If you hit 5.4, I wouldn't be concerned.
by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Jan 14, 2021 02:26
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Fermenting without starter cultures
Replies: 30
Views: 13164

Re: Fermenting without starter cultures

I dont understand the question. You hit a ph below 5.3, so where's the issue?
by LOUSANTELLO
Wed Jan 13, 2021 13:38
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Fermenting without starter cultures
Replies: 30
Views: 13164

Re: Fermenting without starter cultures

If you used a culture with the proper amount of dextrose, I never found a time where the PH wont drop below 5.3. What culture did you use? What temperature did you hang them at? DO you happen to know the original PH? Did you add dextrose? If so, how much. How long have they been hanging at that ferm...
by LOUSANTELLO
Wed Sep 02, 2020 03:14
Forum: Curing chambers and Related Equipment
Topic: Fermentation Chambers
Replies: 18
Views: 11195

Re: Fermentation Chambers

Laying them down on racks will give you brown stripes in the salami
by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Aug 27, 2020 16:36
Forum: Sausages
Topic: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop
Replies: 22
Views: 7232

Re: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop

3-4. I normally use a culture and only watched one drop without a culture
by LOUSANTELLO
Thu Aug 27, 2020 16:25
Forum: Sausages
Topic: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop
Replies: 22
Views: 7232

Re: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop

But back to my question. Even adding sugar/dextrose to further drop the ph isnt happening without a starter culture to kickstart it, even if I hung it for the maximum 120 ferment hours. Im lucky if it drops 0.1 on a ph meter with 0.3-0.5% dextrose
by LOUSANTELLO
Tue Aug 25, 2020 13:56
Forum: Sausages
Topic: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop
Replies: 22
Views: 7232

Re: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop

Lou- did you use distilled or boiled and then cooled tap water? Stupid question I know, but after 20 years of making fresh and smoked sausages I have to catch myself and think about the water I am using when making salami. Tap water will kill the starter culture. I always used distilled water when ...
by LOUSANTELLO
Wed May 27, 2020 04:12
Forum: Sausages
Topic: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop
Replies: 22
Views: 7232

Re: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop

Pork Loin, no additional fat. It was about 12-15% fat, fine grind. Typical for me 2.5% sea salt, 0.25% cure #2, 0.3% cayenne, 0.3% ground red pepper flakes and I added 0.3% smoked paprika. I added 0.35% dextrose. The loin was processed on 5-11-20 and I ground the meat on the 21st. 1.6"x12' air dried...
by LOUSANTELLO
Sun May 24, 2020 11:53
Forum: Sausages
Topic: Difficulty with non-culture PH drop
Replies: 22
Views: 7232

Difficulty with non-culture PH drop

This is now my 2nd batch of ground pork 40mm casings, using cure #2 along with 2.5% salt and 0.3% dextrose. Original PH of pork was anywhere from 5.61-5.7. I am now at 60 hours at 70F, 88% humidity with little to no PH drop. In fact, one batch I'm getting readings 0.5 higher than the original occasi...
by LOUSANTELLO
Sat Aug 31, 2019 12:37
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Drying fast fermented sausages?
Replies: 22
Views: 9806

Re: Drying fast fermented sausages?

There is a very easy way to calibrate your humidity controller without a hygrometer. Search online for the salt/ziplock bag method for calibration. Mine was off over 15% and the offset wouldn’t let me adjust for that amount, so I confirmed that I needed a new sensor.
by LOUSANTELLO
Wed Jul 17, 2019 11:15
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Drying fast fermented sausages?
Replies: 22
Views: 9806

Re: Drying fast fermented sausages?

I re-read your original post. I am assuming the question was that you're going to still use a culture, dextrose and cure #1, but you want to eliminate the cold smoke process for the 2nd batch? If that's the case, your fermentation should still reach your PH goal, then transfer them immediately into ...
by LOUSANTELLO
Tue Jul 16, 2019 10:24
Forum: Dry Cured Meats and Sausages
Topic: Drying fast fermented sausages?
Replies: 22
Views: 9806

Re: Drying fast fermented sausages?

Why pass up the fermentation process? Just do everything you normally do with dextrose and starter culture, let the PH drop according to the culture suggested temperature, then transfer them into the chamber? If it's a smaller casing that will only take 2-3 weeks to cure, the only thing you should c...