Step 1

Prep. Before making sausage, please familiarize yourself with best practices as described in our article on The Science Of Sausage Making.

Step 2

Slice the meat and fat into cubes removing gristle and sinew. Place it on a plate or pan in the freezer, along with the grinder parts that will contact the meat. Leave it there for about 20 minutes until it is firm but do not let it freeze. This makes grinding easier.

Step 3

Grind it with a 1/4" (6.3 mm) die. Mix in the other ingredients. To get the right classic brat texture, transfer the mix to a food processor and pulse till smoothly emulsified.

Step 4

Pinch off a small piece of the sausage and cook it in a frying pan let it cool and taste to see if the seasoning is to your taste. Brats are almost always served as links, but if you wish, nobody will arrest you if you form it into patties, meatballs, or skinless tubes. At least not outside of Wisconsin.

Step 5

Cook. You can then grill or smoke it, or store it in the fridge for about 5 days or in the freezer for about a month.