Multiple reusable tubular casing, and apparatus and process for using same in the production of caseless (skinless) parboil or raw sausages

摘要

A resuable tubular casing is made of porous polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) membrane for the production of caseless (skinless) parboil or raw sausages. The membrane has a micro-structure comprising PTFE nodes connected by PTFE fibrils with a porosity of about 70-80%, a Gurley No. less than about 28 seconds, a Bubble Point Pressure greater than about 13, and a Water Entry Pressure greater than about 40 psig. The casing is contacted on at least a part of its circumferential area by a porous support such as a cylindrical lattice. A new process for production of parboil or raw sausage involves heating the sausage in casing formed by a reusable non-adherent, vapor permeable membrane to drive off moisture and other volatile materials, and removing the sausage from the casing. The sausage can subsequently be smoked and the casing reused.