Fermented Sausage
Backwoods Pepperoni
Classic Style Pepperoni
- Internal temp
- 35-40% weight loss
- Smoker temp
- 65-70°F / 18-21°C (cold smoke)
- Casing size
- 2 inches
- Casing
- Fibrous Casings or Beef Middles
What goes in it
- Kosher Salt
- Cure #2
- Dextrose
- Coarse Black Pepper
- Cayenne Pepper
- Paprika
- Red Pepper Flakes
- Anise Seed
- Garlic Powder
- Starter Culture (T-SPX)
Amounts are calculated for your batch weight in the app — including the cure, which is held at a fixed, food-safe rate.
The meat
Lean Wild Game · Lean Beef · Pork Fat
How it's made
- Grind meat through a 3/16" plate for a fine, uniform texture. Keep below 34°F.
- Dissolve starter culture in distilled water per package directions.
- Mix all dry seasonings together. Add dissolved culture.
- Mix into ground meat until very tacky and well-bound.
- Stuff into 2" fibrous casings or beef middles. Pack tight, no air pockets.
- FERMENT: Hang at 85-90°F, 85-90% humidity for 18-24 hours until pH drops below 5.3.
- SMOKE (optional): Light cold smoke at 65-70°F for 4-6 hours.
- DRY: Move to 55°F, 75-80% humidity. Dry for 2-4 weeks until 30% weight loss.
- Slice thin. The flavor develops more over the first week after drying.
- SAFETY: Cure #2 and starter culture amounts are locked. Do not reduce.
Wood
Oak · Beech
Safety
- Cure #2 and starter culture are required — do not substitute
- Maintain proper fermentation temperature and humidity
- Dry until target weight loss is achieved before consuming