Polyamide-based sausage casing

Abstract

A polyamide-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked meats such as chorizo is disclosed. A polyamide resin is blended with a silicon-based barrier control agent, preferably a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane, to increase the permeability of the sausage casing. The resultant blend can be biaxially stretch-oriented to produce a single-layered polyamide-based sausage casing suitable for use with uncooked sausage meats such as chorizo, and specifically suitable for the gas and moisture permeability needed during the curing process for uncooked sausage meats. Such polyamide-based casings can also be employed for cooked sausages by choosing a silicon-based barrier control agent that increases gas and moisture barrier, thereby increasing shelf-life for unpeeled sausages. A method for improving the peelability of cooked sausage casings by injecting a thin coating of a releasing agent, without the addition of a surfactant, into the sausage casing during the shirring process is also disclosed. The releasing agent is a hydroxypropyl methylcellulose solution that creates a low viscosity releasing agent that effectively improves peelability from any type of sausage casing, but preferably for use with the polyamide-based sausage casing of the present invention.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A film suitable for use as in a small diameter sausage casing, comprising a mixture of: a polyamide; and 
 a silicon-based barrier control agent.    
     
     
         2 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the mixture is extruded and then biaxially stretch-oriented to form the film.  
     
     
         3 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent is a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.  
     
     
         4 . The film of  claim 3 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane has the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is independently selectable from organic compounds having 1-30 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         5 . The film of  claim 4 , wherein R is independently selectable from the group consisting of phenyl, i-octyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, i-butyl, methyl, triflouropropyl, and phenethyl.  
     
     
         6 . The film of  claim 5 , wherein R is i-butyl.  
     
     
         7 . The film of  claim 3 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane is octaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.  
     
     
         8 . The film of  claim 1  wherein the polyamide is a linear aliphatic polyamide.  
     
     
         9 . The film of  claim 8 , wherein the linear aliphatic polyamide is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 12, and any combination or copolymer thereof.  
     
     
         10 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to remain uncooked for a substantial period of time, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         11 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase soft cheeses that are not fully ripened, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         12 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to be cooked or smoked in the casing, and wherein the casing adequately prevents moisture and at least some gases from permeating the casing, but permits at least some smoke to penetrate the casing.  
     
     
         13 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the mixture is in the range of from about 0. 1% to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         14 . The film of  claim 13 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent in the mixture is in the range of from about 0. 1% to about 5% by weight.  
     
     
         15 . The film of  claim 14 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the mixture is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1% by weight.  
     
     
         16 . The film of  claim 13 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the mixture is sufficient to allow printing on the exterior surface of the casing in up to ten colors without permeation of the ink through the casing.  
     
     
         17 . The film of  claim 1 , wherein the film has a film thickness in the range of from about 6 microns to about 80 microns.  
     
     
         18 . The film of  claim 17 , wherein the film has a film thickness of from about 20 microns to about 30 microns.  
     
     
         19 . A sausage casing, comprising a polyamide-based film comprising a mixture of: 
 a linear aliphatic polyamide; and    a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane having the structure:                          wherein R is independently selectable from organic compounds having  1 - 30  carbon atoms; and 6 wherein the mixture is extruded and then biaxially stretch-oriented to form the film.    
     
     
         20 . The casing of  claim 19 , wherein R is i-butyl.  
     
     
         21 . The casing of  claim 19 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane is octaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.  
     
     
         22 . The casing of  claim 19 , wherein the linear aliphatic polyamide is selected from the group consisting of nylon 6, nylon 6,6, nylon 12, and any combination or copolymer thereof.  
     
     
         23 . The film of  claim 19 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to remain uncooked for a substantial period of time, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         24 . The film of  claim 19 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase soft cheeses that are not fully ripened, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         25 . The film of  claim 19 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to be cooked or smoked in the casing, and wherein the casing adequately prevents moisture and at least some gases from permeating the casing, but permits at least some smoke to penetrate the casing.  
     
     
         26 . The casing of  claim 19 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in the mixture is in the range of from about 0.1 % to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         27 . The casing of  claim 26 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in the mixture is in the range of from about 0.1% to about 5% by weight.  
     
     
         28 . The casing of  claim 27 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in the mixture is in the range of from about 0.2% to about 1% by weight.  
     
     
         29 . The casing of  claim 27 , wherein the wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane concentration in the mixture is sufficient to allow printing on the exterior surface of the casing in up to ten colors without permeation of the ink through the casing.  
     
     
         30 . The casing of  claim 19 , wherein the film has a film thickness in the range of from about 6 microns to about 80 microns.  
     
     
         31 . The casing of  claim 30 , wherein the film has a film thickness of from about 20 microns to about 30 microns.  
     
     
         32 . The casing of  claim 19 , further comprising a releasing agent coated on the inside wall of the casing.  
     
     
         33 . The casing of  claim 32 , wherein the releasing agent comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and a solvent.  
     
     
         34 . The casing of  claim 32 , wherein the releasing agent does not include a surfactant.  
     
     
         35 . The casing of  claim 33 , wherein the solvent is water.  
     
     
         36 . The casing of  claim 33 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose concentration in the releasing agent is in the range of from about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         37 . The casing of  claim 36 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose concentration in the releasing agent is in the range of from about 3.5% by weight to about 8% by weight.  
     
     
         38 . The casing of  claim 33 , wherein the releasing agent has a viscosity in the range of from about 2 cp to about 100 cp.  
     
     
         39 . The casing of  claim 38 , wherein the releasing agent has a viscosity in the range of from about 5 cp to about 6 cp.  
     
     
         40 . A method for improving the peelability of a cooked sausage casing, comprising: 
 preparing a releasing agent; and    injecting the releasing agent into the sausage casing, wherein the releasing agent forms a thin coating on the inside wall of the casing.    
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the releasing agent comprises hydroxypropyl methylcellulose and a solvent.  
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the releasing agent does not include a surfactant.  
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the injecting step occurs during the shirring process.  
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the solvent is water.  
     
     
         45 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose concentration in the releasing agent is in the range of from about 1% by weight to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the hydroxypropyl methylcellulose concentration in the releasing agent is in the range of from about 3.5% by weight to about 8% by weight.  
     
     
         47 . The method of  claim 40 , wherein the releasing agent has a viscosity in the range of from about 2 cp to about 100 cp.  
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the releasing agent has a viscosity in the range of from about 5 cp to about 6 cp.  
     
     
         49 . A method for altering the barrier properties of polyamide, comprising: 
 blending a silicon-based barrier control agent with the polyamide to form a master blend; and    extruding the master blend to form a polyamide-based film; and    orienting the polyamide-based film to produce a casing with consistent barrier properties.    
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49 , further comprising orienting the polyamide-based film to produce a casing with barrier properties suitable for specific applications.  
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the extruding step includes adding pure polyamide to the master blend prior to forming the polyamide-based film.  
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the orienting step includes biaxially stretch-orienting the casing.  
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent is a polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.  
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane has the structure:  
       
         
           
           
               
               
           
         
       
       wherein R is independently selectable from organic compounds having 1-30 carbon atoms.  
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 54 , wherein R is independently selectable from the group consisting of phenyl, i-octyl, cyclohexyl, cyclopentyl, i-butyl, methyl, triflouropropyl, and phenethyl.  
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 55 , wherein R is i-butyl.  
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 53 , wherein the polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane is octaisobutyl-polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxane.  
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to remain uncooked for a substantial period of time, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase soft cheeses that are not fully ripened, and wherein the casing adequately permits moisture and gases to permeate the casing.  
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the casing is suitable to encase meat that is to be cooked or smoked in the casing, and wherein the casing adequately prevents moisture and at least some gases from permeating the casing, but permits at least some smoke to penetrate the casing.  
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the film is in the range of from about 0.1 % to about 20% by weight.  
     
     
         62 . The method of  claim 61 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the film is in the range of from about 0.1 % to about 5% by weight.  
     
     
         63 . The method of  claim 62 , wherein the silicon-based barrier control agent concentration in the film is in the range of from about 0.2 to about 1% by weight.  
     
     
         64 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the film has a film thickness in the range of from about 6 microns to about 80 microns.  
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the film has a film thickness of from about 20 microns to about 30 microns.