How long for Ground Meat to be Fully Cured

[Panthur]

I was gonna make some snack stix this morning and smoke them this afternoon possibly, instead of leaving them overnight in fridge as per usual...but will 4 or 5 hours in fridge after cure is applied be long enough to start smoking them ?

[Bearcarver]

I was gonna make some snack stix this morning and smoke them this afternoon possibly, instead of leaving them overnight in fridge as per usual...but will 4 or 5 hours in fridge after cure is applied be long enough to start smoking them ?

4 or 5 hours will make it safe, but to get full benefit of safety & curing flavor, it is recommended that it be cured for 12 to 24 hours.

I personally use "overnight" as my minimum, but that's me.

Bear

[Richtee]

4-5 is fine. But as Bear said..you may benifit in the flavor AND evenness of flavor...dep't with an overnight rest.

Really... ground is cured almost immediately - within an hour or two.

[Sam3]

4-5 is fine. But as Bear said..you may benifit in the flavor AND evenness of flavor...dep't with an overnight rest.

Really... ground is cured almost immediately - within an hour or two.

I agree.

I usually let it sit overnight, just to break up the mixing, stuffing & smoking process.
But I have (many times) just whipped up a quick snack stik recipe, stuffed and then smoked.
In truth, it's probably an hour alone just to get them stuffed, tied and hung in the smoker.
I've never had an issue before. 4-5 hours in the frig should do it for you.
Post some pics when you're done!

[Panthur]

Thanks guys. I have revised my schedule and will make them up later today, stuff and leave in fridge overnight and will just smoke them tomorrow morning instead. Then they will get min 10 - 12 hrs cure time. Thanks again.

[Richtee]

Thanks guys. I have revised my schedule and will make them up later today, stuff and leave in fridge overnight and will just smoke them tomorrow morning instead. Then they will get min 10 - 12 hrs cure time. Thanks again.

You will not know the difference..but I'm pretty damned sure there will be one. Good call!

[Bearcarver]

This may be just me too, but since I'm not a night smoker, I like to get everything done the day before, like curing, or brining, or rubbing, etc, etc.

Then I can get started smoking as early as needed the next day, and as Larry says "Git 'er Doooone".

Bear