PROCESS FOR HUMIDIFYING AND SHIRRING ARTIFICIAL SAUSAGE CASING

摘要

The disclosure describes a process for humidifying an artificial sausage casing on a shirring machine wherein a moisture-providing fluid is contacted with the inside wall of the unshirred casing and the casing is subsequently shirred. The moisture-providing fluid is a mixture of water and from about 0.5-5% of a surfactant having lubricating properties. The fluid is applied to the casing in a proportion to provide from about 0.015 to 0.15 mg. surfactant per square inch of casing. In this manner artificial sausage casings are produced with fewer defects in terms of damage on the shirring mandrel and fewer pinholes and greater elasticity to prevent breakage during stuffing.