Ive had this question a few times and Im not sure how to answer.
Im referring to both being smoked. For example, BarM makes a large box of extra hot smoked sausage 'links' (as the box says). The same company makes what looks like the same sausage (in size) and smoked as well, the only difference in the package is that they are just 'hot' and just say 'sausage' and not 'links'. Is there any difference in definition bewtween a sausage and a link?
Kinda a silly question, I know. This is just one of those "I gotta know" things.
Sausage is generally defined as any spiced ground meat, though it is usually pork, though venison, turkey, and chicken are becoming popular. Link sausage is defined as said meat in a casing, either natural (intestine) or colagen. All links are sausage, but not all sausage is in link form. It sounds to me like you are dealing with pre-cooked meat (smoked) In that case, both are likely links, though for whatever marketing reason said company used different wording. Hope that helps!
Link sausage can be fresh, cooked, or smoked and the length of the link is usually determined by the variety of sausage but there are no hard fast rules as to the length of the link. Rope sausage is simply the absence of links.
Breakfast style sausage, several varieties of brats, smoked sausage varieties like polish or southern style, I've made alot of summer sausage, salami, bologna type products. Braunschweiger, head cheese..
did you learn this over your years or did you learn it throught a meat program. reason i ask is not many cutters get the chance to pick up on all the differ sausages coming up unless they had a very good old timer to teach them. i know all i know about sausage making is what i have read about and the few types we use to make in the chain stores. something i wish i knew more about.
Picked most of it up over the years, listening to old timers, etc.. but studied everything I could find on the subject of sausage making, meat curing and smoking... searched recipes... experimented... sausage varieties are a good merchandising tool!
I agree. I've always consider sausage in casing as either rope or link. When making fresh sausage the only difference between my rope and link is I twist one into links.