Biltong, a popular South African dry-cured meat, is delicious but not always the easiest thing to make. If you’re in a rush, these essential facts on making biltong Auckland should help you along the way.

Why does biltong melt?

Biltong is an edible dry meat product from South Africa which is rubbed with coarse cracked sea salt before being air-dried for many days. It’s traditionally cooked for up to 12 hours over the coals of a fire and then eaten like jerky. Biltong can be found at most butcher shops around the world in different ways: like chips, strips, or even fillets (made using salted fish).

The history of biltong in South Africa

Biltong is a beef jerky that has been very popular in South Africa for decades. However, it did not become popular until World War I when many imported meat products were difficult to supply and the local soldiers liked it because the traditional methods of drying meat gave this jerky a distinctive flavor. Retaining some of the original flavors by using a well-used vertical blade or two, preparing biltong requires a skill that’s rarely found in store-bought versions.

How should I store biltong?

Biltong, or “biltong”, is a type of dried and aged beef jerky reminiscent of salted, air-dried beef.

It originated on the plains of Southern Africa in the 1800s among hunting people and livestock farmers. Biltong can usually be stored for as long as 2 years in a dry environment. When not being stored or if forgotten, place in a sealable bag and refrigerate or freeze.

What are the chemicals used to make my biltong last?

Most people don’t know what chemicals are used to put flavors in food. If you or someone you’re cooking for is allergic or sensitive to certain food additives, there’s a risk of violation from accidentally ingesting them. There can also be other side effects that might be harmful. 

How long can I store old batches of biltong?

Biltong is a popular South African snack that requires drying meat that is then smoked in a Dutch oven outdoors. You can store the dried meat for up to 10 years if you have proper storage conditions. Of course, the biltong’s best if eaten within the first year.

Could smoking affect how well it lasts?

Biltong is most commonly made from deer, goat, and kudu meat. However, biltong can also be made from beef Jerky, ostrich, or fish. Biltong keeps for a long time before it spoils- 8 to 12 weeks in regular room temperature is normal – because it doesn’t have a lot of water or moisture in the cut and dried sheets of meat.

Can you cook a large batch of biltong at once and will it last?

Biltong is the South African version of beef jerky. It typically does not require refrigeration, can last for months in a closed package and cooks quickly at low temperatures. Cooking it stewed slowly in milk keeps the flavor intact for as long as one wishes to keep eating it slices. The components used in making biltong are stripped from roast beef, salt, brown sugar, pepper powder, onion salt, garlic powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and just enough water to get it done.

biltong Tauranga on one hand is a type of seasoned comminuted meat, similar in taste to jerky. However, biltong is not just cooked with salt, but also the following ingredients in South Africa: coriander, chives, ginger, thyme, oregano, peppercorns, cinnamon, cloves, and paprika.