Mettwurst and Bratwurst are types of German sausages usually made of pork and beef. Here, Tastessence tries to clear the fuzz by pointing out the major differences between the two.
Know their German origin!
★ Brät means finely-minced meat and wurst is sausage.
★ Mett translates to ‘minced pork without bacon’.
Preserving meat as sausages is a traditional and delightful way to have it. Wursts form a big part of German cuisine, and are available in around 1500 different types. Wurst (sausages) are natural or synthetic casings that are stuffed with finely minced meat (especially pork).
Metts and Brats come in a number of varieties, and have numerous ways of preparation. Also, they can be paired with other ingredients like cheese, mustard, bread, etc.
Being amidst the most popularly-eaten sausages, these two can seem resembling; they share many mutual properties, but they are actually very different―different cooking and eating styles, flavors, etc. Ponder on.
Mettwurst Vs. Bratwurst
Introducing The Two
★ Mettwurst is a type of soft, spreadable Rohwurst (raw wurst) which is a German sausage that is made from pork, and cured and smoked. It is jammed in casing but squeezed out of it, hence spreadable! In some regions, it is cured for longer time to resemble a salami
★ Bratwurst is a unique wurst which is made of pork, beef, and veil. It is usually cooked in broth and beer. It is one of the most common and popular sausages of all.
Differences in Cooking
★The spreadable Mettwurst needs no cooking as it has a soft texture, and hence can be eaten raw as well.
★The firm type of Mettwurst can be baked, grilled, or stewed.
★ Bratwurst needs to be cooked before eating, though it is also available precooked in some markets.
★ It is usually grilled, poached, stewed, or fried in a cooking pan.
Flavor and Seasoning
★Mettburst has a strong flavor. It is seasoned with pepper and coriander, and can be served with onion and lentil soup.
★ Bratwurst has a mild flavor, seasoned with subtle spices like nutmeg, marjoram, caraway, ginger and sometimes garlic.
Eat it Right!
★Metts can be cooked and eaten like sausages, but since they are soft, they can be spread on bread or crackers.
★Bratwurst is usually served on a hot-dog bun, but it can be eaten grilled or baked with mustard, sauerkraut and other salads.
Shelf life
★Their shelf life is shorter since they have a high moisture content.
★ Comparatively, they have a longer shelf life.
Substitutes
★Kielbasa for the popular Cincinnati mettwurst and tee-wurst for spreadable mettwurst can be substituted.
★ Weisswurst, boudin blanc, and bock-wurst make good substitute of Bratwurst.
Pair these sausages with sauerkraut, french fries, potato salad, mustard, bread rolls, ketchup or mayonnaise, and enjoy the goodies!