The Official Biltong Enthusiasts Thread

[deesef]

Howdy!
Got some topside meat and ready to dry the meaties, want biltong wen altyd.

I was struggling to get the damn halogen bulb though, expected, but found a 40w golf bulb for the biltong dryer (Bought x2 due to stock). I guess it doesn't matter that it's "frosted"

First timer as well, gatvol to pay R330+ per kg and decided to make my own biltong.

Read this forum, I won't lie, I did not go through everything. Ended up doing 50/50 Wochecstererer (aka Worcestershire ) and brown vinegar, to let the meat rest in it for the first 12 hours

View attachment 1829449

Regarding the briefing difficulty getting incandescent lights:

A previous post of mine (Post 1953):

Instead of a light, I use one of those heaters that are used in snake and exotic lizard cages. It's just hanging against the back wall of the box. The outer facing is aluminium so it's very easy to clean, even though it is out of the way of debris falling from the meat. Works great and lasts like forever...

 

[ViciousClone]

Got some silverside for R129p/kg

Grabbed 4kg which they had pre-cut for their own biltong at the butchery, which is a bargain for me to choose the cuts I wanted

Previous round was topside.

Let’s goooo

 

[airborne]

Got some silverside for R129p/kg

Grabbed 4kg which they had pre-cut for their own biltong at the butchery, which is a bargain for for to choose the cuts I wanted

Previous round was topside.

Let’s goooo
View attachment 1831299

After all the costs are factored in for ingredients/equipment/electricity how much does dried DIY biltong typically cost per kg?

 

[Sir Bob]

After all the costs are factored in for ingredients/equipment/electricity how much does dried DIY biltong typically cost per kg?

Very rough maths.
Spice mix is R 15 and lasts forever.
Brown Vinegar and what'sitcallescauce is minimal.
And guesstimate 40/50% weight loss.
So basically double the cost of your meat.

If you want to get technical depends on your charge out rate but if you high level and you add your time cost your homemade biltong cost if ****ing expensive.

 

[ViciousClone]

After all the costs are factored in for ingredients/equipment/electricity how much does dried DIY biltong typically cost per kg?

--
Consumables that will cover a few rounds of biltong.
Worcestershire R49
brown vinegar R18
Local Butcher biltong spice for 200g, R29
Power, 4.8 units for four days of drying, R 14.88
-- R110.88 +-

Once off - R299, Biltong dryer
R299 once off***

Silverside, every two weeks (Will add it to our 2 week grocery runs) R129 p/kg
--

Local butchers are charging around R340-360p/kg for ready to buy biltong.

 

[airborne]

So not an enormous savings but you have peace of mind on what meat and ingredients was used and you can get the dryness just the way you like it. Also DIY is always the best

 

[ViciousClone]

So not an enormous savings but you have peace of mind on what meat and ingredients was used and you can get the dryness just the way you like it. Also DIY is always the best

Pretty much!
Now I can either add some brown sugar, or less sugar and more salt? Whatever the case is, so yeah, for sure there’s that, and as you said, i can see which meat is used.

Then the hobby side of it.
And the continues flow of biltong every week, eyyyy and it’s rugby season ;p

 

[Thrasil]

--
Consumables that will cover a few rounds of biltong.
Worcestershire R49
brown vinegar R18
Local Butcher biltong spice for 200g, R29
Power, 4.8 units for four days of drying, R 14.88
-- R110.88 +-

Once off - R299, Biltong dryer
R299 once off***

Silverside, every two weeks (Will add it to our 2 week grocery runs) R129 p/kg
--

Local butchers are charging around R340-360p/kg for ready to buy biltong.

thanks for this, getting tempted to try it out. To make biltong sticks is it just a case of cutting the silverside into skinnier strips or is it a different process

 

[Grant]

/raises hand

what is the difference between yellow fat biltong & regular?
i seem to recall preferring yellow - but what is the difference beside fat color ?

 

[Jean Claude Vaaldamme]

/raises hand

what is the difference between yellow fat biltong & regular?
i seem to recall preferring yellow - but what is the difference beside fat color ?
View attachment 1886897

Yellow fat comes from old cows.
It looks better, the meat is darker and flavour more intense. Yellow fat also mostly have more fat on the meat and the fat is more "oily"
Its is also more tuff than younger beef, but in biltong its not that important if you cut it thin.