Question on "dry aging"...

55drum · December 2011

once the meat has aged (20-30 days) is it necessary to trim the outside of the meat (the hardened layer)...many websites say to remove this layer...I don't see why....

stike · December 2011

No. Don't trim. It is completely illogical.

Those who trim the dry aged part after dry aging do it because they have been sold bright red pretty steaks for years and think pretty is preferrable, maybe.

A trimmed dry-aged steak is merely a wet-aged steak which used the outer portion of meat as a very expensive wrapper. If a person prefers trimming, they really ought to consider wet aging, where the flavors and tenderizing from enzymes is identical to that of dry-aged beef. Wet aging prevents any drying, and that exterior which is trimmed by some is what has been dried. So simply wet age if the drying gives you the heebie jeebies

On occasion, you'll get some very dark fat maybe an 1/8" or less. You can trim that, sure. Or any 'tag' of beef that hangs off abd which has become jerky. It's all safe to eat, but those small semi-detached pieces are just too dried generally not what you want

stike · December 2011

...and if you're following the ubiquitous 'internet aging method', please get rid of the towels. They do nothing, except provide an opportunity for the surface to remain wet, and encourage bacterial growth
Unwrap, rinse, pat dry, on a rack over a cookie sheet (even the cookie sheet is overkill). Normals fridge temps are fine

There are no other issues to fret over. Humidity (whether high or low) is not a significant factor for the period of time most people age their meat. And mold is cosmetic. If it happens, wash it off

tfoutch · December 2011

Hey Stike

How long would you recommend aging? We have a standing rib roast we are planning to do for Christmas.

stike · December 2011

you're too late.

hahaha

i go 45 days. have done as short as 21, as long as 100.

45 days is where the sweet spot is.
start now and you will be good. i did one for only about three weeks last year, for christmas.

this is it. looks brand new. about 21 days, maybe 28. don't recall.

i wouldn't do it if you have never had one though. you may not feel comfortable with it, or may be unsure whether what you are tasting is 'right' or not. maybe don't wana experiment with the family christmas roast.

find a butcher near you, pay the premium for a steak, and look at it, take a whiff, then of course cook it. that will give you a good comfort level. you may have had aged beef as a steak in a restaurant, but it is usually aged only 14-21 days. and they didn't show it to you raw... hahaha

here's a chunk from the same rib-eye, aged further, to 60 days

the exterior is where the love is. don't trim it. dense, beautifully crusty, beefy... damn. good stuff.

here's the bad boy after 100 days dry-aging. too dry for most. i lobe the flavor, but the texture is a little dessicated

that free end is the only trimming i do. but even from that i make carpaccio... yes. raw.

45 to 60 days will give you a metallic tingle to the sides of your tongue. at 100, it's like licking a 9-volt battery. hahaha

no, not that much. but it does tingle sometimes. fishlessman thinks maybe it is the bone that does that. dunno.

i now age about 60 days in the cryo (wet age) and take it 45 further as dry-aging. mark my words, you saw it here first. ;)

tried tying it to keep it round, as it tends to flatten out.

David1010 · December 2011

Stike,

Are these day counts in addition to the time aged prior to you taking possession (in my experience 7-28 days)?

stike · December 2011

time in my fridge

Fidel · December 2011

"i now age about 60 days in the cryo (wet age) and take it 45 further as dry-aging. "

This is just ridiculous - in a good way. I think I love you. Send me a steak for Christmas.

stike · December 2011

re: "I think I love you"

hmmm.
>backing away slowly<

Little Steven · December 2011

This is a family forum! Take your love affair elsewhere

Squeezy · December 2011

Newbie question; I have a small PR started 3 days ago, the exterior feels as hard as a brick ... is that mormal? It looks great and no smell as yet....

stike · December 2011

Normal. You ARE trying to dry it out

Waxen surface is what you are after

And to pre-empt our cut-n-paster tweev: If i tend to repeat myself, it's usually because the same questions get asked over and over

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