Comments on: How to make biltong http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=how-to-make-biltong Whats happening at Computer Solutions Thu, 02 Feb 2012 15:38:35 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Garron http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-1235 Garron Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:15:25 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-1235 Looking good! I've started producing my own biltong in the UK, as I found it difficult to find a decent selection in stores. Box: 70cm (W) x 47cm (H) x 35cm (D) 2x computer fans 1x 40W bulb Recipe: Initial Bath: Malt Vinegar Apple Cider Vinegar Worcester Sauce Brown Sugar Salt All Spice After soaking, I then add: Coarse-Ground Black Pepper Roasted Coriander Can anyone suggest some good recipes? I'm concerned about the temperature and humidity in the box, so I'm looking to purchase a weather station to take measurements... can anyone advise on peak humidity+temperature for drying? Looking good!

I’ve started producing my own biltong in the UK, as I found it difficult to find a decent selection in stores.

Box:
70cm (W) x 47cm (H) x 35cm (D)
2x computer fans
1x 40W bulb

Recipe:

Initial Bath:
Malt Vinegar
Apple Cider Vinegar
Worcester Sauce
Brown Sugar
Salt
All Spice

After soaking, I then add:
Coarse-Ground Black Pepper
Roasted Coriander

Can anyone suggest some good recipes?

I’m concerned about the temperature and humidity in the box, so I’m looking to purchase a weather station to take measurements… can anyone advise on peak humidity+temperature for drying?

]]> By: Ian http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-995 Ian Sun, 30 May 2010 07:27:32 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-995 Lawrence, Add some bicarbonate of soda to your spice mix to avoid the mould. It works well. Lawrence,

Add some bicarbonate of soda to your spice mix to avoid the mould. It works well.

]]> By: Nick http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-913 Nick Thu, 20 May 2010 19:33:39 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-913 I'm from SA living in UK. Been making biltong & droewors & boerewors here with great success. Airing cupboards work well because the central heating pipes keep the air dry. I use a small PC fan to circulate the air as well. I tried drying meat in the fridge with the PC fan inside but the meat took ages to dry. The biltong box should have holes at the top to allow moist air to escape. I’m from SA living in UK. Been making biltong & droewors & boerewors here with great success. Airing cupboards work well because the central heating pipes keep the air dry.
I use a small PC fan to circulate the air as well.

I tried drying meat in the fridge with the PC fan inside but the meat took ages to dry.

The biltong box should have holes at the top to allow moist air to escape.

]]> By: Lawrence Sheed http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-411 Lawrence Sheed Fri, 11 Dec 2009 18:29:28 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-411 Hi Jan, Sure, will work, but remember meat takes a while to completely dry out inside also, so suggest curing for at least a week. Maybe less - good biltong should be faintly red inside, and give slightly when squeezed. See the photos for shots of what we consider ready. Also make sure you have enough room in the fridge to hang, and have a drip tray you can clean and empty daily. Clean the fridge thoroughly before starting. I usually use a mild bleach (diluted) to make sure every surface is squeaky clean, then wipe down again before i start Nothing worse than mold to spoil a batch. I'm no expert at this, but mine comes out ok, even with the crappy meat you get in China. Now that its winter again in China, I'm getting mild pressure from people to make more :) Last thing to remember, this is an art more than a science, especially if its your first go, so make some and see! Hi Jan,

Sure, will work, but remember meat takes a while to completely dry out inside also, so suggest curing for at least a week. Maybe less – good biltong should be faintly red inside, and give slightly when squeezed. See the photos for shots of what we consider ready. Also make sure you have enough room in the fridge to hang, and have a drip tray you can clean and empty daily. Clean the fridge thoroughly before starting. I usually use a mild bleach (diluted) to make sure every surface is squeaky clean, then wipe down again before i start Nothing worse than mold to spoil a batch.
I’m no expert at this, but mine comes out ok, even with the crappy meat you get in China. Now that its winter again in China, I’m getting mild pressure from people to make more :)
Last thing to remember, this is an art more than a science, especially if its your first go, so make some and see!

]]> By: Jan http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-410 Jan Fri, 11 Dec 2009 14:31:23 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-410 Hi, I am a big fan on biltong but its nowhere to buy in Turkey. I have been reading quite a lot on different websites and something came to my mind. My fridge has a fan build in to evenly distribute the cold air. If I leave cheese, sausages, bacon or similar product uncovered over night the next day they are very visibly dry. Did anybody try to make biltong in a fridge? Do you think it will work? I will start a test run with a small portion of meet over christmas to see if it works, but if anybody has tried it already it would be great to hear the results. Thanks Hi,
I am a big fan on biltong but its nowhere to buy in Turkey. I have been reading quite a lot on different websites and something came to my mind. My fridge has a fan build in to evenly distribute the cold air. If I leave cheese, sausages, bacon or similar product uncovered over night the next day they are very visibly dry. Did anybody try to make biltong in a fridge? Do you think it will work? I will start a test run with a small portion of meet over christmas to see if it works, but if anybody has tried it already it would be great to hear the results.
Thanks

]]> By: Lawrence Sheed http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-93 Lawrence Sheed Mon, 23 Mar 2009 10:04:01 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-93 Thanks for your reply MorpheusUK. I (Lawrence) would be Mr Author :) Thanks for your reply MorpheusUK.

I (Lawrence) would be Mr Author :)

]]> By: MorpheusUK http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-92 MorpheusUK Mon, 23 Mar 2009 09:49:54 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-92 Hi, Nicely done and very precise instructions. The addition of a light bulb is as mentioned to assist in removing excess moisture.(I think 60-80W is adequate in the UK, problem is now we can't get hold of the standard bulbs easily any more and only have the "energy" bulbs) James McIntosh - For the UK place your Biltong box in the drying cupboard, many of my m8s have had success that way with other types of home made boxes made of wood (Google -homemade biltong box and see different type of boxes) I do like this idea and will hopefully be trying it myself. Author - I've made a copy of your guide and will be trying it out, thanks again. Hi,
Nicely done and very precise instructions. The addition of a light bulb is as mentioned to assist in removing excess moisture.(I think 60-80W is adequate in the UK, problem is now we can’t get hold of the standard bulbs easily any more and only have the “energy” bulbs)

James McIntosh – For the UK place your Biltong box in the drying cupboard, many of my m8s have had success that way with other types of home made boxes made of wood (Google -homemade biltong box and see different type of boxes) I do like this idea and will hopefully be trying it myself.

Author – I’ve made a copy of your guide and will be trying it out, thanks again.

]]> By: Lawrence Sheed http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-86 Lawrence Sheed Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:50:14 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-86 Hi James, I made some more in China already, and it came out fine, although one or two pieces did start going mouldy. I tossed those out. The problem for me here was heat - its winter in Shanghai, and it was taking too long to dry out. The light should be in the bottom of the box so that the heat rises. mount it to the bottom of the plastic bin like this _^_ - = Light bulb base (eg the ones you use for ceilings etc) ^ = Light bulb You can put holes in the top if you want, but its not essential to have lots of them. Its more for air flow, than for a breeze. The bulb is to dry out the air (not the biltong necessarily!) - thats essential in humid climates. Not sure that UK counts as a humid climate though! Whats happening exactly that you have to throw the meat away? Going rotten? Don't forget to make sure that the meat has been soaked in vinegar, and when hung, it isn't touching anything - this includes other pieces of meat, and the sides of the container. Hi James,

I made some more in China already, and it came out fine, although one or two pieces did start going mouldy. I tossed those out. The problem for me here was heat – its winter in Shanghai, and it was taking too long to dry out.

The light should be in the bottom of the box so that the heat rises. mount it to the bottom of the plastic bin like this _^_
- = Light bulb base (eg the ones you use for ceilings etc)
^ = Light bulb

You can put holes in the top if you want, but its not essential to have lots of them. Its more for air flow, than for a breeze. The bulb is to dry out the air (not the biltong necessarily!) – thats essential in humid climates. Not sure that UK counts as a humid climate though!

Whats happening exactly that you have to throw the meat away?
Going rotten? Don’t forget to make sure that the meat has been soaked in vinegar, and when hung, it isn’t touching anything – this includes other pieces of meat, and the sides of the container.

]]> By: james mcintosh http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-85 james mcintosh Sun, 01 Mar 2009 09:40:46 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-85 hi trying to make it in uk got a plastic box 100w bulb and fan but having problem with moisture got holes in the side do i need holes in the top, help please cant stand giving turned meat to the bin only to watch greedy foxes gorging themselfs hi trying to make it in uk got a plastic box 100w bulb and fan but having problem with moisture got holes in the side do i need holes in the top, help please cant stand giving turned meat to the bin only to watch greedy foxes gorging themselfs

]]> By: Kobus Pieterse http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/2008/12/how-to-make-biltong/comment-page-1/#comment-76 Kobus Pieterse Mon, 19 Jan 2009 15:09:32 +0000 http://www.computersolutions.cn/blog/?p=52#comment-76 Forgot to tell you that you can add a globe 150 watts in the container to withdraw the moisture on a cold or rainy period. Forgot to tell you that you can add a globe 150 watts in the container to withdraw the moisture on a cold or rainy period.

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