Shirred casing article and method

A shirred casing article comprising:

• a. a length of cellulosic casing having a moisture content insufficient for stuffing said casing to a recommended stuffed diameter for said casing, said casing being in shirred form to provide a tube of shirred casing composed of pleats formed one against another and said pleats defining a bore through said tube, and said pleats being capable of swelling and expanding longitudinally responsive to the imbibition of additional water;
• b. said casing having a first end which is closed thereby closing a corresponding first end of said bore and the opposite second end of said bore being open to permit entry of a stuffing horn into said bore;
• c. hanger means attached to said casing at said closed end including a closed loop for suspending said casing after the stuffing thereof;
• d. restraining means extending from said closed first end and removably disposed longitudinally about said tube of shirred casing and extending across the open second end of said bore for restraining the swelling and longitudinal expansion of said pleats comprising said tube of shirred casing responsive to imbibition of water by said casing;
• and
• e. said restraining means comprising said closed loop wherein said closed loop has a total length sufficient for locating longitudinally about said tube of shirred casing and said closed loop being removable from about said shirred casing for use as said hanger means to suspend said casing after the stuffing thereof.