The Sausage Maker FALL2021 Stainless Steel Digital Dry Curing Cabinet User Manual

The Sausage Maker FALL2021 Stainless Steel Digital Dry Curing Cabinet

Congratulations on purchasing this High Quality, Home Friendly, Dry Curing Cabinet! Please take the time to review the material in this booklet. It contains important Warnings, Cautions, Usage Instructions, Recipes, Best Practices and Trouble Shooting Guides. ‘This product is for Indoor Use Only. “The Terms “Appliance”, “Cabinet”, “Curing Cabinet” are used interchangeably throughout.

APPLIANCE SAFETY

The Dangers, Warnings and Cautions listed below are important for you and others’ safety and should be strictly followed.

This symbol will be used throughout the instructions manual to alert you to potential hazards that can kill or hurt you and others. After this symbol, the type of precaution; Warning, Danger & Caution will appear.

• DANGER – Means you may be killed or seriously injured if you don’t follow these instructions immediately.
• WARNING – Means that if you do not heed the Warning provided, it may result in significant product damage, injury or death.
• CAUTION – Means that failure to heed the safety notation may result in minor or moderate injury, property damage or damage to the product.

IMPORTANT SAFETY PRECAUTIONS!
Prior to using the appliance, it must be properly positioned and installed as described, using the precautions in this manual and only after reading and understanding it, in its entirety. To reduce the risk of fire, electric shock or injury when using the appliance, follow basic precautions, including the following:

DANGER

• Electrical Specification – l l OV / 325W / 3AMP / 60HZ
• Plug into a grounded 3-prong outlet, do not remove grounding prong, do not use an adapter or extension cord.
• Do not use power cord if it is cut or damaged. If damaged it needs to be replaced by a qualified electrician.
• It is recommended that you use a separate circuit, serving only your appliance if possible. Use receptacles that cannot be turned off by a switch or pull chain.
• Never clean interior or cabinet exterior with harsh chemicals. See pg. 7 for cleaning instructions.
• Do not store gasoline or other flammable vapors or liquids in the vicinity of the appliance.
• Do not handle electric plug with wet hands.
• Do not attempt to repair or replace any part of your appliance unless it is specifically recommended in this manual. Servicing should be referred to a qualified technician.
• Do not lean on or apply pressure to glass door. It may break and cause serious injury.

WARNING

• Moving and installation should be done with 2 or more people.
• When positioning appliance allow at least 5 inches from rear exterior of cabinet to the wall. This will provide ventilation, preventing heat from damaging wall and fire hazard.
• This cabinet should be used and stored indoors only, or an ared protected from direct sunlight, wind, rain, water spray or drips.
• Appliance should not be located near ovens, grills or other sources of heat.
• Appliance must be installed with all electrical connections in accordance with state and local codes.
• Use at least a 15A fuse (or circuit breaker).
• Make sure the appliance is on a flat, level, solid surface prior to use. Do NOT install on carpeting.
• This appliance is not intended to be used by children. Keep away from children wit?out supervision. Serious injury may result if left unattended.
• Do not use solvents and/ or abrasives on the interior. These cleaners may affect the taste of foods placed inside and mar the finish of the interior.
• Avoid placing i.tems on top of appliance.
• This is an electrical appliance, to avoid injury From electrical shock do not operate the unit with wet hands, while standing on a wet surface or while standing in water. Do not use outdoors or in wet conditions.
• Never pull the power cord to disconnect it from the outlet. Grasp the plug and pull it from the outlet. Do not lift or drag appliance by cord.
• This appliance is intended for household, non-commercial use. Using the appliance outside of parameters outlined in this manual will void any warranty.
• Do not remove the ground prong from power cord.
• Do not move appliance without first emptying it and securing the door in a closed, locked position.

INTRODUCTION TO DRY CURING

Traditional dry curing techniques date back thousands of years and were used simply to preserve meat as long as possible. It was quickly realized that salting meats and hanging them in certain areas pre­served them for longer periods of time. What was actually happening was the salt drew moisture out to the surface and rapidly restricted available water for bacterial growth internally, lowering what is called water activity (Aw). Back in the old days, they didn’t know about bacteria, good or bad, and didn’t know that salt has many trace minerals such as sodium nitrite, which helped to cure meats of botulinum and provided a particular look and taste. This is why modern recipes add sodium nitrite (lnsta Cure™ #1 or #2) as an additional ingredient, because most processed salts today have trace minerals removed. The cool, humid and gentle breezes typically associated with naturally good areas for dry cur- ing are very difficult to duplicate at home. Depending on the recipe, temperatures need to fluctuate from 50-90°F and relative humidity from 65-90%, which, for most, likely means heating and cooling, humidify­ ing and dehumidifying. The risks involved in not maintaining proper conditions can be serious, so the art of dry curing has been mostly localized to areas with those optimal conditions. In the last 10 years or so, there has been a surge of interest in traditional food preservation and this old style of salami-making has seen a very welcome comeback! To help create the optimal environment for making dry cured recipes such as Salami, Sopressata, Pepperoni or even Prosciutto. We developed the Dry Curing Cabinet to be able to control the elements to make dry cured recipes in your own home. Our hope is that you not only enjoy the wonderful products you can make at home with this Cabinet but that it may also inspire you to try your hand at making other traditionally fermented foods in your home such as sauerkraut, wine and beer, cheeses and breads, kom­bucha and kefir.

INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS

WARNING – This appliance is heavy and moving it alone may result in serious injury. Use two or more people to ass’ist moving and installation.
WARNING – DO NOT PUSH GLASS DOOR WHEN MOVING INTO PLACE. Glass may break, resulting in serious bodily harm.

• Appliance should be installed indoors ONLY.
• Do not install appliance in Garage where car fumes, chemicals and other airborne contaminants are common.

Ideal ambient conditions of room where Cabinet is to be installed are:

• Temperature Range: 50° F< Room <90°F
• Humidity Range: Less than 70% relative humidity

Spacing of appliance against wall should be at minimum 4″ ( 10cm) on all sides and 12″ (30cm) from the top to nearest obstruction. This will provide ventilation. Not allowing for proper ventilation may result in damage to appliance. Doe to large amount of water and humidity that is generated during typical usage and potential for spills, appliance should NOT be installed on carpeting.

• Important Note on Moving Appliance
  Great core should be token to prevent floor damage when moving. Lt is advised to cover floor under Cabinet with cardboard or old blanket when moving Cabinet to avoid damage or scratching of floor. Pull appliance in straight motions (do not wiggle or “walk” it).

• Install Appliance near Three-Pronged (grounded) outlet.
  Once your Curing Cabinet has been installed where you would like it, clean it and keep it properly maintained using the procedures outlined in the following Section, “Cleaning Procedures”.

• Leveling Appliance
  Using a carpenter’s level, bring appliance as close to level as possible prior to plugging in. To adjust appliance in stationary position, twist leveling legs in clockwise or counter-clockwise directions for raising or lowering appliance.

APPLIANCE DISPOSAL

Important Note on Appliance and/ or Refrigerant Disposal:
When disposing of appliance or removing/ replacing refrigerant, dispose iri accordance with Local and Federal regulations. Refrigerants must be evacuated by a licensed, EPA certified refrigerant technician in accordance with established procedures.
WARNING – If you are disposing of entire appliance the door must be removed before curbing, acciden­tal child entrapment and suffocation is possible. See next page for Door Removal Instructions.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR REMOVING DOOR
Using a Phillips-head (“cross-head”) screwdriver, remove the four (4) screws holding the black, accent piece along the bottom of cabinet. There will be an additional three Phillips-head screws located on the bot­tom door hinge. Removing these screws will loosen door entirely. Be careful in removing door as it can drop unexpectedly when screws are removed, have someone hold the door while it is being unscrewed.

CLEANING PROCEDURES AND MAINTENANCE:

The most common point of failure with tndking dry cured meats is contamination. After-all, the entire process is essentially a battle between the bacteria we want (which enhances flavor, aroma and shelf­stability), and don’t want (causes of sickness, foul smell and/ or taste, meat degradation, spoilage). To ensure success, we must arm ourselves for victory with starter cultures, strict kitchen hygiene using proven best-practice techniques for processing, sanitized utensils, hands and equipment, quality meats and finally controlling the curing environment. Contamination can come from any of the previously mentioned critical points. To ensure that your hard-work and quality meat does not go to waste, the following pages contain important suggestions and guidelines that should be followed to increase chances of success.

PRIOR TO USING:
Wipe down interior with isopropyl (“rubbing”‘) alcohol on cloth to remove stainless steel cleaner on surfac­es. The cleaner used is an NSF-certified Stainless Cleaner used to remove finger marks during the manu­facturing process. Ventilate cabinet by leaving the door open for some time to air out silicone smell. NSF­certified Silicone is used on the interior to prevent potential contamination. If smell does not subside, place an open box of Baking Soda inside to eliminate odor.

AFTER USE:

• Cleaning Stainless Steel Interior and Stainless Steel Accessories
  Stainless Steel interior walls, Drip-Guard, Bose, ‘V’ -Sti’cks, Hooks and/ or Shelving that may come into contact with meat should be sprayed with isopropyl (“rubbing”) alcohol on cloth and wiped clean. Bleach may be used in place of alcohol with 1 tbsp to 1 gallon water dilution. Allow cabinet to air dry before use.

• Door Cleaning
  Do not clean door with warm or hot water when door is cold. Tempered glass door may crack when ex­posed to sudden changes in temperature. Use surface spray that is non-flammable, non-toxic, preferably Vinegar-based cleaning solution for cleaning glass of door.

Water Treatment in your new Curing Cabinet:
The most attention that you will need to give your new curing Cabinet is regularly scheduled cleaning & maintenance of the Humidifier Box, Wicker- Filter, and of course the Water itself.

WARNING The following tips ore to help ensure long-life of humidifier system and prevent L,ll food-product contamination which may cause food-borne bacteria to grow and cause serious illness. It is strongly advised to adhere to the following precautions, tips and guidelines.
The Water – Poper water management is essential for the Cabinet to function properly.

• Use ONLY 100% Distilled Water.
• Add 1 Level Tablespoon of Baking Soda per Liter of water and mix well to dissolve, this will help alkalize and minimize potential mold/bacterial growth in the water.
• Water should be replaced optimally every 2-3 weeks but at least once per month to prevent bacteria and mold spore development.
• If recipe is in Cabinet during the time period that water is being replaced, it should still be replaced, this will not impact final product, IT IS VITAL THAT THE WATER BE REPLACED.
• If mold appears on water, color of water turns translucent or non-clear color, or “oW’ smell is detected, the water should be replaced immediately.
• To remove Humidifier box from cabinet: Remove the stainless steel drip guard and base plate.
• Humidifier box should be cleaned with sterile/ dean non-abrasive sponge or brush, light detergent and worm water. Once cleaned it should be rinsed thoroughly to ensure no detergent residue is in water before replacing in Cabinet.
• Humidifier box should be cleaned at same time water is replaced, every 2-3 weeks or at least once per month.
• In the first 1-2 weeks it is important to check water level often as the meat and air increase humidity it may also increase the water level significantly. While there is on excess drainage line, it should not be solely relied upon. If water level is at or over 6-liter mark, drain excess water immediately.
• If Cabinet is not being used, remove humidifier box, dean it, remove all water, wicker-filter and replace back in Cabinet for storage, unplug unit.

Water-Overflow Tray
The water overflow tray is the installed in all new Dry Curing Cabinets. During the Defrost Cycle of the Cabinet (every 3 hours), frost is melted and drained back into the Humidifier Tank causing it to periodically increase level of water inside tank. Also for certain high-humidity recipes and times when cabinet is full of meat (expelling significant water into air), the humidity tank may also increase water level to point of over­flowing. In those circumstances, the overflow tray makes removal of excess water easier by making it quick & easy to access and remove/discard excess water when needed.

Wicker-Filter – The Wicker-filter contains anti-Microbial barriers which actively prevent wicker contamination but further aid from customer will ensure long and safe usage.

• Wicker-filter should be visually inspected during scheduled cleaning and water replacement every 2-3 weeks, at least once per month.
• Install Wicker-filter with Yellow side facing the door and grey (anti-microbial barrier) side facing interior.
• Look for spots of mold . If water and humidifier is kept clean this should not occur. If mold appears on Wicker-filter:
  • The entire filter should be submerged in cleaned/ sanitized container with 1: 1 ratio White Vin­egar to Distilled Water.
  • Mold spot should be gently worked with fingers.
  • Leave filter submerged for additional 5 minutes.
  • Remove, gently rinse under cold water, then air or pat dry with paper towels before placing back in humidifier box.
  • It may have a faint acidic smell for a period of time but it will subside and it will not affect taste of final product in Cabinet.
  • This sanitizing process is ecological, safe on hands, is not using harmful chemicals and does not contaminate the water. Bleach and other chemicals are not recommended to remove mold. In cases where bleach needs to be used in place of vinegar please note that use of bleach may impact sur­face mold growth on food product.
• It is recommended that when Wicker is being replaced, it be rotated 180° (like turning a steer­ing wheel (½ turn) so that part of wicker that was facing down and in the water is now out of the water. and facing upward These scheduled rotations will increase wicker life.

DISPLAY, BUTTONS AND USAGE

Plug Cabinet into a 3-prong (‘grounded’) outlet that does not have other appliances plugged into it.

Understanding the Display Icons

• CAUTION: The buttons !located on either side of the display) are “capacitive touch”, similar to a smart-phone and do not need to be pressed firmly. Repeated, firm pressing or using sharp instrument to press the buttons may damage display.

Using the Controls
To Set the Temperature and Humidity:

1. Press and Hold (3-seconds) the button on Top-Left  to enter Editing Function (°F blinks).
2. Press SET. The right side will blink. Adjust Temperature using UP/DOWN Arrow Buttons.
3. Press SET. The right side will change to blinking Humidity, adjust same as #2. Press Set.
4. After about 15 seconds you will hear a ‘Beep’, this will disengage Editing Function.

*To Turn Ceiling Light ON, Press the Round Power Switch on the Far Left of the Controller.

Display Icons
The indicator icons from top left are:

• This icon is shown when Cabinet is in active Cooling Mode.
• This icon is shown when Defrost Mode is entered by Cabinet.
• This icon is shown when Heat is activated.
• There are two fan icons, they are described below:
  • On the Left side of display indicates when circulating blower in rear is ON.
  • On the Right side of display indicates when Humidifier fans are ON.

The Snow Flakes located in the bottom-center of the display are continuously ON and are not indicators.

BASIC RECIPE WALK-THROUGH

This is a basic Mold Inoculated, Fermented & Dry Cured Sopressata recipe utilizing the Dry Curing Cabinet. It contains Best Practices for recipes that are using:

1. Mold Inoculation: Spraying the casing surface of sausage will encourage a particular, beneficial mold to grow. This mold will protect against momentary increases/ decreases in humidity as well as pathogenic mold that would otherwise use the casing as a substrate for growth.
2. Fermentation Stage: Increasing the shelf stability through increasing meat acidity (lowering pH value) is the best initial step towards a safe product. By using a Starter Culture, adding proper sugars & controlling the environment, a successful Ferment will end when the meat’s PH value is 5.3 or lower.
3. Drying & Aging Stage: This is the stage that takes patience to accomplish. Using cool temperatures and relatively high humidity will ensure even water expulsion from meat, flavor and aroma development nitrate reduction, and a safe final product.
   WARNING – The underlined are steps, procedures, ingredients or techniques that need to be followed for every Dry Cured Sausage recipe to encourage best and safest results. Not following these steps may impact the quality and safety of the final product.
   Keep minimum 15 lbs. of Meat in cabinet at any time to ensure best humidity control. Due to air movement, less product can equate to greater variance in humidity. Maximum recommended capacity = 50 lbs. Salami or 70 lbs Whole Muscle

First 48 Hours – Cabinet Preparation, Sausage Stuffing & Hanging
Prep your Cabinet for Recipe by cleaning interior (using techniques in “Cleaning Procedures and Maintenance” Section and adding distilled water to the level 4 mark (approximately 1 gallon). Plug in Cabinet and set to optimal Inoculation & Fermentation settings (90°F & 90%RH) as described below:

1. Press “SET” Button once. This will start the Temperature setting to Blink.
2. Press UP /DOWN Arrow(s) until you reach 90°F. Press SET to start Humidity setting to Blink.
3. Press UP /DOWN Arrow(s) until you reach 90% for Relative Humidity. Press SET to activate Curing Cabinet to heat and humidify to set parameters.

Process, prepare, mix and stuff the meat into your desired diameter sausages using best practices and extra clean hands (or using disposable Latex or Nitrile Gloves).

1. For Simplicity and consistent results use Sausage Maker’s Seasoning for Sopressata, add 1 tsp lnsta Cure #2 per 5 lbs. ground meat and 1 /2 tsp Bactoferm TM Starter Culture (recommended are Bactoferm ™ F-RM-52, T-SPX, LHP or F-LC) per 5 lbs. ground meat.

2. Proper amount of Starter Culture should first be added to distilled water to create solution which is then poured onto and thoroughly mixed into meat mass after other ingredients have already been mixed (follow usage instructions on Culture Packets).

3. Stuff seasoned and inoculated meat either into Natural Casings (Beef Middles preferred) or Collagen Casings for best meat-to-casing ‘cling’, breathability and best mold substrate. Tie both ends securely, ensuring knots, casing rings and or clips do not slip during hanging. Stuff two short pieces called ‘chubs’, stuffed to full diameter but short (ball-shaped), these will be used for testing purposes & discarded later.

4. Once sausage has been stuffed, it is very important that all air pockets be pricked out of sausage with sanitized sausage pricker or sewing needle. Each air pocket is a potential aerobic breeding ground for usually questionable types of mold.

5. Preferrably using a hanging scale, weigh each Sausage and post a small note or on masking tape with written initial weigh-in (to the nearest ounce) at the ends where sausage is tied.

6. At this point the sausages should be sprayed with or dipped into Mold Culture solution thoroughly (preferably Bactoferm TM Mold 600), using best practice & usage instructions that are on packet.

7. Sausage should be carefully hung on Stainless Steel ‘V’-Sticks, spaced out at least 1″ inch freely around (sausage should not make physical contact with interior Cabinet walls or neighboring sausage). Sausage should be at least 3″ from the back-interior of the unit to prevent air flow from being impeded.

8. Secure door in locked position with Key, door locks at bottom center of door.
   Hold in this position for 48 hours. This is the Fermentation Stage!
   During the 48 hour period, visually inspect the water level twice per day. Excess water is drained through the overflow tube on the side of humidifier box, to a removable overflow tray directly in front of humidifier box. Overflow tray should be emptied when water is visible in it. If overflow tray becomes full, excess water will spill onto floor of unit and possibly outside cabinet as well. If water level increases to over the 161 mark on the Humidifier Box, the excess water should be manually removed. If at the end of 48 hours there does not appear white, velvety (not hairy) mold spotting on sausage surfaces. You may reapply Mold Solution (one final time). If spotting is occurring or mold coverage is taking place then do not reapply.

9. At end of Fermentation Stage, remove only one of the ‘chubs’ from Cabinet. Cut chub in half, making a cross-section through the middle. Take a small 1″ strip of pH paper (showing 0.1 increments, measuring between 4.5 and 5.6). and place it in a small cut-away section in center of meat chub. Hold there for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Using color guide that comes with test strips, check pH value of meat. If color indicates meat is at or below 5.3, Fermentation is complete. If color indicates meat is above 5.3, keep meat in Fermentation Environment for additional 8 hours, then retest with second chub.

The Following 30 – 45 Days – Drying / Aging Stage

1. Once Fermentation is Complete. The Sopressata should now be moved to a cool and humid environment for the duration of the Drying and Aging Process.
2. For this process, change the Temperature to 55° F and Humidity Setting to 85%. Hold at this setting until the Cabinet lowers the humidity to 85% (may take a few hours in some circumstances). Then lower the Humidity to 80%, and once reached, finally set Humidity to 75% for remainder of recipe. Humidity is lowered gradually because removal of moisture from the air is done by defrost cycle and cold-dry air blasts. Gradual humidity reduction will minimize ice-buildup that can occur in evaporator if under long-term continuous operation.

• Step 2 above may take 1-2 days to complete. During this time the temperature will keep
  reduct in o timal a in condition, it is im ortant to follow the uidelines for cabinet health.

  3. During this time, door should only be opened periodically to change the water, optimally every 2-3 weeks {as outlined in “Cleaning Procedures & Maintenance” section) clean the humidity box or to adjust sausage if it looks unstable or has fallen.
  4. Secure door by locking with Key, door locks at bottom center of door.
  5. The sausage will continue to lose weight, look more vibrantly red (or more white with mold). Keep sausage hanging in this environment until it has lost at least 35% of its original weight {losing >40% is optimal for consistency and slice-ability).
  6. When any recipe is complete, Cabinet may be used for continued Product Storage by lowering Cabinet temperature to 45°F and 65%.
  7. If not using Cabinet, always remember to dean and empty humidifier box and Clean Cabinet interior. For extended periods of non-use, unplug Cabinet.

CEILING LIGHT
If you should need to replace the LED light that is located in the ceiling follow these easy steps:

1. Lamp cover
2. Screw
3. Top ceillng
4. 1nterior Section
5. Bulb
6. Lamp holder

WARNING – Risk of Electrical Shock if hands are wet. Always ensure hands are completely dry when replacing light bulb in ceiling area.

PARTS LIST

WARRANTY INFORMATION

The Sausage Maker, Inc., through its Distributors, warrants each new product sold by it to the initial user to be free of defects in material and workmanship for a period of one year from the date of sale of the equipment.
The Sausage Maker, Inc. will provide a new part or repaired part, at its election, in place of any part which is found upon inspection to be defective in material and workmanship during the period described above. Purchaser must present proof of purchase and purchase date at the time of exercising this warranty. This warranty does not apply to failures occurring as a result of abuse, misuse, negligent repairs, corrosion, erosion and normal wear and tear, alterations or modifications made to the product without express written consent ofThe Sausage Maker, Inc. or failure to follow the recommended operating practices and maintenance procedures as provided in the products operating and maintenance publications. The warranty provided herein does not apply to equipment sold hereunder but manufactured by others as they are warranted by their respective manufacturers directly to the user. This warranty is in lieu of all other warranties (except of title) expressed or implied and there are no warranties of merchantability or of fitness for a particular purpose.

LIMITATION OF LIABILITY

The remedies of the user set forth under the provisions outlined above are exclusive and the total liability of The Sausage Maker, Inc. or its distributors with respect to this sale of the equipment and service furnished hereunder, in connection with the performance or breach thereof, or from the sale, delivery installation, repair or technical direction covered by or furnished under this sale, whether based on contract, warranty, negligence, indemnity, strict liability or otherwise shall not exceed the purchase price of the unit of equipment upon which such liability is based.
The Sausage Maker, Inc. and its Distributors shall in no event be liable to the user, any successors in interest or any beneficiary or assignee relating to this sale for any consequential, incidental, indirect, special or punitive damages arising out of this sale for any breach thereof, or any defects in, or failure of, or malfunction of the equipment under this sale whether based upon loss of use, lost profits of revenue, interest, lost goodwill, work stoppage, impairment of other goods, loss by reason of shutdown or non-operation, increased expenses of operation, cost of purchase of replacement power claims of user or customers of the user for service interruption whether or not such loss or damage is based on contract, warranty, negligence, indemnity, strict liability or otherwise.

TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE

IF YOU ARE EXPERIENCING ONE OF THE FOLLOWING CODES ON THE DISPLAY: Pl, 2L 2H, HA, LO, FF.
THESE ARE WARNINGS RELATED TO SENSORS AND ERRORS THAT CAN IMPACT THE FUNC­TION OF THE CABINET. In the case of these codes, continue operation and call customer service@716-824-5814.

The Sausage Maker, Inc.
1500 Clinton St. Bldg. 123, Buffalo, NY 14206
Tel: 716-824-5814
Fax: 716-824-6465
www.sausagemaker.com
WWW.SAUSAGEMAKER.COM

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