Sausage Steep/Steam

Sausage Steeper/Steamers

I developed two different varieties to accomplish the same end; steeping the sausages in beer for an extended time and also to steam the buns.

I put together the first with a CorningWare Electromatic hot plate which just fits a ½ size S.S. commercial steam table pan. I next took a ¼ size S.S. pan and hammered it in gently to fit into the left side of the ½ size pan; and equipped it with a standard non slotted cover. On the right side I made a cover from a serving tray that had one section just right in size to fit the opening, with a little cutting and added a knob for a handle. Inside the bottom on the right I put a perforated false bottom to hold the buns above the water. Inside the left pan I put a small dish to hold the peppers. Seems complicated, but it isn’t – most of the stuff can be purchased at a restraint supply store. The outfit can hold about 10 sausages comfortably (I usually do only 5 for the two of us), and the right section can steam 4 buns at a time. The ½ size pan is 4” deep and 10-1/4” by 12-5/8” and the ¼ size is 4” deep and 6-1/4” by 10-1/4”.

UPDATE: 12/22/11    I just put together another of these, however, the ¼ size pan wouldn't fit into the ½ size pan I had, so watch out when buying the pans. The ¼ size pan should slide into one end of the ½ size pan just about to the bottom. It will need some hammering on the lip to fit in snugly.

Here's a list of the parts that work:

• ½ size pan SS: Vollrath Super Pan II #3024-2 4" deep
• ¼ size pan SS: Crestware "saf-f-stak" 18/8 #2144 4" deep
• ¼ size un-slotted SS Cover: Vollrath #75140 or equivalent
• ¼ size "false bottom" SS: Vollrath #20400 or equivalent
• Cover: ¼ size Clear plastic low temp 2.5": Vollrath #8022410 or equivalent. Turned upside down over the open area of ½ size pan to cover the false bottom for the bunscompartment. You can drill a hole in the center of the bottom for a wooden knob.
• 1/9 size Vollrath Super Pan II 30922 2" deep - to hold the peppers on the false bottom while the sausages steep. Any other container can also be used.
• The Corning hot plate: the handles have to be cut off with a hack saw so the ½ size pan will fit on it.

The second setup is similarly arranged, series of pans. But will accommodate a much larger quantity.

I put it together from commercial S.S. Steam Table pans on a “Buffet Server, Griddle" by Chefscape. First comes a 4” deep S.S. “water pan”* that fits into the ring that came with the Server, then 2 ea 4” deep 1/3 size pans. (If you’re not going to make a lot of sausages, you can use one of the 2” pans that came with the server. Then you’ll need one 1/3 size S.S. cover, a 1/3 size false bottom to hold the buns out of the water when steaming. One of the covers that came with the server is fine. Then you’ll need two 12” adapter bars**, 2 ea 1/6 size S.S. covers and one 2” deep 1/6 size pan.

Here’s how it is used; Put enough water into the “water pan” to just cover the bottom curve of the 1/3 size pans. Then, after you fry the sausages, they go in the left pan with enough beer to cover them (2 cans). When the peppers are done, they go into the 1/6th size pan and S.S. covers goes on it and the sausages as well as the back opening***. Just put the right pan in empty. Turn the temp control to 300 and let the sausages and peppers steep for as long as you want, but at least 2-3 hours. About an hour before serving, add just enough water to the right pan so as not to cover the false bottom. Put one of the plastic covers on and let it develop steam.

Between 20 min and a ½ hour before serving, put the buns in the right pan. They’ll be just perfectly steamed. I use a ½ oz, S.S. ladle to get the juice out of the pepper container and a pair of tongs to handle the buns, sausage and peppers.

It’s just fun to serve the sandwiches in the wax paper lined baskets, but certainly not essential.

* You can’t use a normal full size pan as the other pans won’t fit in it. Try before you buy.

** In case you’re wondering, the rails go across the water pan to support the 1/6 size pan and covers.

*** I know the back opening looks uncovered, but I put a second 1/6 size pan in it, some day I’ll buy another cover. ‘Till then the pan does just fine.