Fermented sausage casings

Abstract

Casing is part of sausages, giving it shape, size and integrity, but also having a role in volumetric, structural and chemical changes which occur in sausage during different production phases. For fermented sausages, natural or artificial casings can be used. Artificial casings have an advantage from the hygienic point of view, because microbiological contamination is negligible, storage at low temperatures unnecessary, and there is no problem with product spoilage during storage and transport. Today, artificial sausage casings are a better choice for production of large diameter sausages, while they are equivalent to natural casings for production of small diameter sausages.