Sausage Review - we review sausages

The well stocked farm shop is a short drive up Colne Road (A120 / B1024 junction) near Coggleshall, north towards Earls Colne...easy to find but still a scary junction when turning right to cross the dual carriageway, so do take care.

This time we picked up some traditional pork sausages however, the fact that all their sausages are now in those collagen tubes, was very noticeable. I broached the subject with the butcher who served us, and his reaction was a sort of a shrug of the shoulders and an indication that "that's the way it is now"...  Hmm, shame, still they're 87% of quality local pork with some good seasoning so still do sound pretty good.

However, I'm sure you know already what we found? Yes cooking up everyone suffered split skins and looked a right state in the pan. The meat filling held it's shape but how tatty did these sausages look?

We made a point of cooking these carefully over a lower heat and for slighlty longer than we would normally given the skins, but still a big failure. We know split skins don't detract from the taste, but presentation matters. Yes you could say "it's only a sausage" but we've paid good money for our food that's let down visually.

Perhaps airfrying, oven baking or using in a casserole these "may" produce different results, but we doubt it. The casserole may be OK on reflection as the sausages cook in a liquid.

The texture was good though being on the smooth side of medium, and they did retain reasonable succulence. Mind you we are surprised, as the skins are supposed to retain the juices and moisture to keep succulence in...not let it escape in to the pan.

Taste-wise yes Ok they were very good. The seasoning about right. The bite and chew pretty good too.

There was a touch of shrinkage but not significant however weight loss was more than could be ignored to be honest.

Would we buy again (or others like them)?   Unlikely, given the UN-NATURAL skins...


Blackwells (Coggleshall) - Traditional  (Sep 2025)

Here's the sample details:
125x30mm before cooking, 125x28mm after.
85g before cooking, 76g after.
That's a shrinkage of approx 6% & weight loss of approx 10%
6 loose sausages (524g) £4.98   (£9.50/kg)

 


Blackwells Farm Shop
Herons Farm,
Colne Road,
Coggeshall,
Colchester,
Essex, CO6 ITQ

01376 5625006

www.blackwellsfarmproduce.co.uk