Charcuterie

[Angry Perch]

Mmmm...mold!
 

[Macs B]

Following, not sure how I missed this thread.  Excellent work guys.  I cure my own country hams and pork belly commercially and we are getting into Iberian styled Jambon.  I've played with the salamis and pros etc but you guys are really getting it down. 

[merkaba93]

Mmmm...mold!

Looks good!

[Angry Perch]

WOW! You guys amaze me! I consider myself a snack meat connoisseur! Send some to me and I'll tell you if it's any good...

Remind me in 6 weeks or so, and I'll send you one.

LDennis24, you have a PM.

@LDennis24

[MacAttack]

Oh man, I don't know how I missed this...tagging along!

[LDennis24]

Yes I do!

[Angry Perch]

Finally got around to hanging some Bresaola that had been in a cure for 5 weeks or so. Blacktail backstrap with salt, rosemary, juniper berries, etc. Trimmed them a bit, then diced the trim and hand stuffed into beef middles as a little experiment. Bresaolami? The whole cuts then got rinsed, soaked in red wine, and stuffed into 60mm collagen casings. Will hang for a couple months.

[AL WORRELLS KID]

When word gets out about how good your Smoked Squirrel Ham tastes, it will really be "Open Season". Look out Squirrel's! 
Doug

[LDennis24]

Thought I would revive this thread and see what everyone's been up to. Has anyone done anything interesting this year in regards to curing or smoking?

[Angry Perch]

Thought I would revive this thread and see what everyone's been up to. Has anyone done anything interesting this year in regards to curing or smoking?

I've been busy building, and have had my chamber shut down for a while. I really need to gt my butt in gear and fill it up.

[kyle dillehay]

Since you guys have been curing for awhile, are there any things that you would change about your setup?  Is a freezer better than a refrigerator as your curing chamber?  Looking to get started in this after seeing the results that you guys have been achieving.  Thanks.

[Angry Perch]

I chose a freezer over a refrigerator simply because it's easier to find an upright freezer than an upright fridge without a freezer on to or bottom. As long as it's frost free, it makes no difference. one of my biggest pieces of advice is don't waste time and money on a fancy fermentation chamber. A plastic storage container with some steel rods through it for hangers is all you need.
My system is pretty basic, but I can't think of anything I'd change.

Upright freezer
Ultrasonic humidifier
Small dehumidifier (probably optional)
Temp controller
(2) humidity controllers

[kyle dillehay]

Thanks for the reply!   I am cutting up an elk right now and am wondering if you have discovered any particular elk roasts that would cure better than any others?  I don't want to cut them into steaks or cubes if they could make a good cure.  Thanks!!!

[Stein]

I chose a freezer over a refrigerator simply because it's easier to find an upright freezer than an upright fridge without a freezer on to or bottom. As long as it's frost free, it makes no difference. one of my biggest pieces of advice is don't waste time and money on a fancy fermentation chamber. A plastic storage container with some steel rods through it for hangers is all you need.
My system is pretty basic, but I can't think of anything I'd change.

Upright freezer
Ultrasonic humidifier
Small dehumidifier (probably optional)
Temp controller
(2) humidity controllers

I'm taking the plunge and rounding up the equipment buying a bit every paycheck.  I looked at upright freezers, but they all seem to have the coils in the shelves which prevent moving them and restrict the length of items you can hang.

Are there types of freezers that don't have the coils in the shelf, any terms I can google to find them?

I'm looking at a frige/freezer combo and cutting an opening between them.

[Angry Perch]

I chose a freezer over a refrigerator simply because it's easier to find an upright freezer than an upright fridge without a freezer on to or bottom. As long as it's frost free, it makes no difference. one of my biggest pieces of advice is don't waste time and money on a fancy fermentation chamber. A plastic storage container with some steel rods through it for hangers is all you need.
My system is pretty basic, but I can't think of anything I'd change.

Upright freezer
Ultrasonic humidifier
Small dehumidifier (probably optional)
Temp controller
(2) humidity controllers

I'm taking the plunge and rounding up the equipment buying a bit every paycheck.  I looked at upright freezers, but they all seem to have the coils in the shelves which prevent moving them and restrict the length of items you can hang.

Are there types of freezers that don't have the coils in the shelf, any terms I can google to find them?

I'm looking at a frige/freezer combo and cutting an opening between them.

The key is "frost free".