Biltong - Cured Beef

Canugghead

Thanks @lkapigian, I'll be leaning towards the dorm fridge setup, in a closed system will a fan help with even curing or is that overkill or could even backfire with heat from the fan? 

lkapigian

Canugghead said:

Thanks @lkapigian, I'll be leaning towards the dorm fridge setup, in a closed system will a fan help with even curing or is that overkill or could even backfire with heat from the fan? 

You’ll need a fan, I have a small USB fan on continuously 

Mark_B_Good

Just a caution on the fans ... get one with a hard on/off switch. The USB one we got will not turn back on automatically if there is a power failure (and the power comes back on) ... it has a digital switch (just a push button) and if it ever turns off, the only way to turn it back on is to push that button.

It sucks if there is a power failure, and you aren't home to reset the fans.

Canugghead

Mark_B_Good said:

Just a caution on the fans ... get one with a hard on/off switch. The USB one we got will not turn back on automatically if there is a power failure (and the power comes back on) ... it has a digital switch (just a push button) and if it ever turns off, the only way to turn it back on is to push that button.

It sucks if there is a power failure, and you aren't home to reset the fans.

Thanks for the heads up, it's a hardwired cpu case fan, no on/off switch... 
  
Thinking of getting this for curing chamber down the road

lkapigian

The last two, Fermented Droewors , stick and Pitina, the were good but Air Dried at Room Temp gets the nod 

Canugghead

@lkapigian still looks good, thanks for blazing the trails and sharing your results.

Canugghead

Getting there slowly. Local SA grocer sold out of plastic hooks and advised me I can use paper clips. I figured why not 14 gauge copper wire. Is this ‘safe’ ?

lkapigian

Canugghead said:

Getting there slowly. Local SA grocer sold out of plastic hooks and advised me I can use paper clips. I figured why not 14 gauge copper wire. Is this ‘safe’ ?

I would not worry about the small amount of surface area coming in contact , that being said, Butchers twine works well just thread it through the meat 

johnmitchell

Paper clips also work just straighten them then bend them into the shape you need

Canugghead

@lkapigian swmbo suggested butcher string too.
@johnmitchell the SA grocer also suggested paper clips.
Well, stupid me, should have googled first 
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+copper+utensils+good+for+health&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA1028CA1028&oq=is+copper+utensil&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBggBEEUYOTIHCAIQABiABDIKCAMQABgPGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIKCAcQABiGAxiKBTIKCAgQABiGAxiKBdIBCDU2NDRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thank you for chiming in. I'll wait till end of Nov when the plastic clips will be in stock, if I need it sooner then I have two good alternatives.

I'll save the copper hooks for curtain rod, lol

Mark_B_Good

Paper clips work fine. I use them, because I don't have enough plastic hooks. Actually making a batch of chili bites right now.

Mark_B_Good

fishlessman

Canugghead said:

@lkapigian swmbo suggested butcher string too.
@johnmitchell the SA grocer also suggested paper clips.
Well, stupid me, should have googled first 
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+copper+utensils+good+for+health&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA1028CA1028&oq=is+copper+utensil&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBggBEEUYOTIHCAIQABiABDIKCAMQABgPGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIKCAcQABiGAxiKBTIKCAgQABiGAxiKBdIBCDU2NDRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thank you for chiming in. I'll wait till end of Nov when the plastic clips will be in stock, if I need it sooner then I have two good alternatives.

I'll save the copper hooks for curtain rod, lol

seeing your into buying things, buy one of these, some ss and aluminum tig (welding) wire and your good for all kinds of projects like this down the road. mines simply screwed on a door frame in the garage so i dont lose it

https://www.duluthtrading.com/wire-tool-wire-bender-28011.html?srccode=GPSHPLIA&srccode=GPSMART&ogmap=PLA|NB|GOOG||||||||18284927928|&gclid=CjwKCAiA3aeqBhBzEiwAxFiOBq6IYv4JOtkURssEXpv4cZmFFA8rWQXBO9Qfp-EMfvpLwou2RkjB5xoC22wQAvD_BwE

Canugghead

fishlessman said:

Canugghead said:

@lkapigian swmbo suggested butcher string too.
@johnmitchell the SA grocer also suggested paper clips.
Well, stupid me, should have googled first 
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+copper+utensils+good+for+health&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA1028CA1028&oq=is+copper+utensil&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBggBEEUYOTIHCAIQABiABDIKCAMQABgPGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIKCAcQABiGAxiKBTIKCAgQABiGAxiKBdIBCDU2NDRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thank you for chiming in. I'll wait till end of Nov when the plastic clips will be in stock, if I need it sooner then I have two good alternatives.

I'll save the copper hooks for curtain rod, lol

seeing your into buying things, buy one of these, some ss and aluminum tig (welding) wire and your good for all kinds of projects like this down the road. mines simply screwed on a door frame in the garage so i dont lose it

https://www.duluthtrading.com/wire-tool-wire-bender-28011.html?srccode=GPSHPLIA&srccode=GPSMART&ogmap=PLA|NB|GOOG||||||||18284927928|&gclid=CjwKCAiA3aeqBhBzEiwAxFiOBq6IYv4JOtkURssEXpv4cZmFFA8rWQXBO9Qfp-EMfvpLwou2RkjB5xoC22wQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the reminder, my problem is I either can't find or can't remember what I have when needed 
Tired of misplacing the pegs so I made this out of scrap 4x4 and secure them with velcro.

fishlessman

Canugghead said:

fishlessman said:

Canugghead said:

@lkapigian swmbo suggested butcher string too.
@johnmitchell the SA grocer also suggested paper clips.
Well, stupid me, should have googled first 
https://www.google.com/search?q=is+copper+utensils+good+for+health&rlz=1C1CHBF_enCA1028CA1028&oq=is+copper+utensil&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUqBwgAEAAYgAQyBwgAEAAYgAQyBggBEEUYOTIHCAIQABiABDIKCAMQABgPGBYYHjIICAQQABgWGB4yCAgFEAAYFhgeMggIBhAAGBYYHjIKCAcQABiGAxiKBTIKCAgQABiGAxiKBdIBCDU2NDRqMGo3qAIAsAIA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8

Thank you for chiming in. I'll wait till end of Nov when the plastic clips will be in stock, if I need it sooner then I have two good alternatives.

I'll save the copper hooks for curtain rod, lol

seeing your into buying things, buy one of these, some ss and aluminum tig (welding) wire and your good for all kinds of projects like this down the road. mines simply screwed on a door frame in the garage so i dont lose it

https://www.duluthtrading.com/wire-tool-wire-bender-28011.html?srccode=GPSHPLIA&srccode=GPSMART&ogmap=PLA|NB|GOOG||||||||18284927928|&gclid=CjwKCAiA3aeqBhBzEiwAxFiOBq6IYv4JOtkURssEXpv4cZmFFA8rWQXBO9Qfp-EMfvpLwou2RkjB5xoC22wQAvD_BwE

Thanks for the reminder, my problem is I either can't find or can't remember what I have when needed 
Tired of misplacing the pegs so I made this out of scrap 4x4 and secure them with velcro.

thats why i attached mine to the door frame going into a tool room. that way its always there. that way its not in a drawer in the living room, catch all in the kitchen, supply room hallway, fishing tackle room, in the boat....thats at the camp, dont know where the one is back home....

Canugghead

Too lazy to shop/search for steel paper clips and don't want to buy a roll of steel wire for this small one time project. So I salvaged the steel rods from a couple of long expired (colour faded to white) utility demarcation flags that litter the neighbourhood 
 
Hooks 2.0

Canugghead

Finally got my diy Biltong box up and running. Was going to use a smaller box wih fan at top, ended up with this bigger one after watching a guy's blog that I really like. Hanging rods are just over 16" long and spaced 3.5" apart.

Don't want to make too much until I get the hang of it, found a small 1.5lb chunk of outside round in the freezer. Followed the same guy's no rinse recipe. Used a cobblers awl to thread the butcher string through the meat, hung string from hook to lower the short slabs. The drip pan is redundant since there isn't a single drop of marinade.

I'm over thinking this... will the strong 49 CFM fan create the so-called 'case hardening' problem? I blocked four of the eight holes at the back guessing it'll reduce the air flow, hope it doesn't backfire. There are no holes at the top and long sides. 

Thanks guys for all the help, wish me luck! 

Mark_B_Good

I don't think you need to block those holes. Billtong in the traditional method is hung in a garage in south africa with a large fan blowing across them.  I think flow and humidity just determine whether you are drying for 3, 4 or 5 days.

Canugghead

Thanks @Mark_B_Good. 

Saw this video where the guy warns of excessive air flow that could cause case hardening problem; that's if the exterior dries and hardens too fast, the interior will remain wet.

Anyway, I've been logging the cumulative weight loss daily, ya call me crazy  The four pieces of different thickness are losing weight fairly evenly. After three days I got 25%, 32%, 36%. I'm shooting for at least 50%, at this rate I probably won't get there by end of day 5, but again since the pieces are so small there's not much moisture to lose. Just unblock all the holes, I plan to slice the thinnest piece tomorrow to check. 

Indeed I'm overthinking this, hard to get away from the low and slow mindset, lol.

lkapigian

Canugghead said:

Thanks @Mark_B_Good. 

Saw this video where the guy warns of excessive air flow that could cause case hardening problem; that's if the exterior dries and hardens too fast, the interior will remain wet.

Anyway, I've been logging the cumulative weight loss daily, ya call me crazy  The four pieces of different thickness are losing weight fairly evenly. After three days I got 25%, 32%, 36%. I'm shooting for at least 50%, at this rate I probably won't get there by end of day 5, but again since the pieces are so small there's not much moisture to lose. Just unblock all the holes, I plan to slice the thinnest piece tomorrow to check. 

Indeed I'm overthinking this, hard to get away from the low and slow mindset, lol.

While you are weighing it, make a mental note of “ the feel and smell” you’ll stop weighing things soon enough 

Mark_B_Good

lkapigian said:

Canugghead said:

Thanks @Mark_B_Good. 

Saw this video where the guy warns of excessive air flow that could cause case hardening problem; that's if the exterior dries and hardens too fast, the interior will remain wet.

Anyway, I've been logging the cumulative weight loss daily, ya call me crazy  The four pieces of different thickness are losing weight fairly evenly. After three days I got 25%, 32%, 36%. I'm shooting for at least 50%, at this rate I probably won't get there by end of day 5, but again since the pieces are so small there's not much moisture to lose. Just unblock all the holes, I plan to slice the thinnest piece tomorrow to check. 

Indeed I'm overthinking this, hard to get away from the low and slow mindset, lol.

While you are weighing it, make a mental note of “ the feel and smell” you’ll stop weighing things soon enough 

Agreed, I go only by feel ... from what I read, it will be good around 50% weight loss, but I never reconciled that, so not sure. The feel I'm looking for is a dry outer, and it squeezes with say 50% of my pinch force ... just a subtle squeeze left in it.

@Canugghead ,  when you eat it ... don't forget this, to get the true taste. The real good flavor comes out after chewing for a while, at least 20 chews ... the first few chews are okay, but you need your saliva to work in and extract flavor. Don't be quick to swallow it.