When I think about making sausage, I always remember my Hungarian grandma working in our basement. The smell of spices and fresh meat would fill the air, and the whole family would gather to help. Those memories make sausage-making feel like more than just cooking—it feels like a celebration of family and tradition. That’s why I want to share how you can make your own sausage, just like the butcher shops here in Pittsburgh do every day.
Why Make Sausage at Home?
Making sausage at home is fun and easy! It lets you pick exactly what goes into your sausage, so you know it’s fresh and tasty. Plus, you can try new flavors and make special recipes just for your family. In Pittsburgh, we’re lucky to have so many great butcher shops nearby. Places like Milk House Meats in Beaver Falls, PA, have years of experience and know all the best tips for making sausage.
How to Make Sausage: 5 Easy Steps
1. Gather Your Ingredients and Tools
You’ll need ground meat (like pork, beef, or chicken), sausage seasoning, and natural hog casings. You can find everything you need at local butcher shops or online. Here are some great places to shop for sausage-making supplies:
- Natural Hog Casings (for stuffing your sausage): Buy them here: Natural Hog Casings
- Sausage Seasoning Mix (to add flavor): Try this recipe or buy a mix here: Sausage Seasoning
- Sausage Stuffer Kit (to fill the casings): Get a kit here: Sausage Stuffer Kit
- Meat Grinder (to grind your meat): Find a quality grinder here: Meat Grinder
- Vacuum Sealer (to store your sausage): Buy a vacuum sealer here: Vacuum Sealer
2. Mix the Meat and Seasoning
Put your ground meat in a big bowl. Add your sausage seasoning and mix it well. You can use your hands or a big spoon. Make sure the seasoning is mixed in all the way.
3. Prepare the Casings
Take your natural hog casings out of the salt and rinse them in cold water. This will make them soft and ready to use.
4. Fill the Casings
Attach the casing to the sausage stuffer and slowly push the meat mixture into the casing. Try to keep the sausage the same thickness all the way through. If you don’t have a stuffer, you can use a funnel, but a stuffer makes it much easier.
5. Twist and Cook
Twist the sausage into links every few inches. You can cook your sausage right away on the grill, in a pan, or freeze it for later. Just like at Milk House Meats in Beaver Falls, you can make sausage that’s perfect for any meal.
Watch a Local Sausage-Making Expert
Want to see how the pros do it? Check out this popular YouTube video from Zarra’s Restaurant in Pittsburgh, where they show you step by step how to make homemade Italian sausage:
Watch: Sausage Making 101 – Zarra’s Restaurant, Pittsburgh, PA
Connect with Pittsburgh Butchers
Making sausage at home connects you to the same traditions that local butchers like Milk House Meats in Beaver Falls have kept alive for generations. Next time you’re in their shop, ask for tips or try their homemade sausage. You’ll see why making sausage is a special part of Pittsburgh’s food culture.
Making sausage is a fun way to bring family and friends together, just like my grandma did. Try it yourself and taste the tradition of Pittsburgh!
Pittsburgh Butchers Directory 