Deer Camp Pickled Kielbasa Recipe and Video

[CuseHunter]

There was a buy 1, get 3 free Kielbasa at the local grocery store so I decided to do my first ever batch of canning. Nothing reminds me of hunting camp like some pickled kielbasa or eggs, and a cold Yuengling brew. Like I said, this is my first ever time making pickled kielbasa, let alone being the first time canning in general. I already ate one of the jars worth a few days ago (1 week after canning), and am still alive and it tasted great so I think it was a successful first canning experience.

 

What I used:
Pickling Spice pack (pre-made mixture of spices)

Dried Chili Pods

Peppercorns

Bay Leaves

Cayanne Pepper

Fresh Garlic

White Onion

Smoked and Regular Kielbasa (Hilshire Farm)

Viniger

 

Steps:

1.

Bring to a boil of a large sauce/stew pot of...

-Viniger and Water 1:1 ratio (1gal Viniger, 1 gal water)

-Bay leaves (4)

-2 packs of Pickling Spice

-Half pack of Peppercorns

-Chili pods (10) -For added spice

-Cayanne Pepper (1Tbs)

 

2.

Disinfect (Handwash)  and boil canning jars for 5 min

 

3.

Place Canning lids in simmering water in a wide sauce pan

 

4.
Cut onions into slices (size is preferentail)

Prepare garlic cloves, gently break clove with knife to open them up a bit.

 

 

Next, I filled the jars one at a time. I used a baking dish to fill them in to avoid spilling the hot canning liquid all over the counter.

You can see the video how I did this process. -Mind you, it was kind of hard to film with one hand and use only one hand with handling jars and adding ingredients.

 

 

Notes:

-I didn't cook the Kielbasa since it comes pre-cooked

-I didn't cook the onions or garlic in the seasoning mixture because I thought it would be hard to make sure a clove and onion in the jar when they were already in the pickling mixture.

-Chili Pods were a non-essentail item I got from my work (we use them with asian cooking), I just like my pickled kielbasa spicy if possible.

-I didn't have proper canning racks to heat the jars in, So i just improvised by using tongs and boiling water in a pot.

 

What I'd do different next time:

-Buy a canning rack for the water.

-Read Bell's blue canning book

-Add more spice (cayanne pepper)

-Possibly try cooking the kielbasa in boiling water or in a pan to get rid of some of the fat. When I poured the boiling water in the jars, the fat kind of came out of the kielbasa and just didn't look real "appitizing" in the jar.

 

*This is my first canning experience with no knowledge besides some reading before doing it and watching videos. I'm sure there is more "correct" ways to do it, or this might be completely wrong in some of your opinions. I Just wanted to share my experience and maybe spark someone to try doing somehting similar to bring to hunting camp next year.*

 

 

Edited July 9, 2014 by Cusehunter

[Culvercreek hunt club]

couple questions. Once you poured the hot canning liquid over them did you pressure can them, hot water bath? Are you storing in the Fridge?

[CuseHunter]

The video I made is taking a long time to upload so It'll be up in the next day, It shows the process I used to can them. I didn't have a pressure canner, The seal was solid as I checked all of them. I did store in the refridgerator for a couple days because I was leery of them being stored outside of it. Now they are on a shlef in my basement. 

[Culvercreek hunt club]

"Cuse, Be VERY VERY VERY careful canning meats without a pressure canner. water baths are not sufficient to kill the creepy crawlies. Eggs are another tough one, because they are so dense. water bath is only suitable for acidic non meat items. I would store in the fridge until you consume them. They will keep for months in the fridge in the brine. I do all my eggs like that.

[jim335]

Looks real good.  Smart to use the wide mouth jars, easier to get in and out.  Like how you cut the meat up, pickling can penetrate better.  Fun to experiment with different flavors.  Enjoy!

[thphm]

Do not trust that recipe. Hillshire farms states on there website to COOK there products before serving.

Also if you look at the lables of the pickled ones in the store they all have a presertive in them. LOL.

[CuseHunter]

Here is the Video Link 

[jim335]

those darn glass measuring cups always leave a mess.  You would think they could make them so they don't drip like that.