The Official Biltong Enthusiasts Thread

[egenis]

nice ....dont post pics online next to exotic animals

It's ok - I don't have a modelling contract!

 

[faniebraai]

I see the Mellerware Biltong King is on Takealot for R239, today only.

 

[bwana]

I am trying to decide if its still worth making my own biltong. Dont get me wrong, I enjoy the challenge and process, but Dirk's butchery in Durban sell awesome biltong for R160something /kg and their biltong is what I wish my biltong would taste like. Silverside and Topside is between R60 and R70 / kg. If you lose 50% weight in the drying process, there is hardly any saving (once you add spices, electricity, vinegar etc). Perhaps I am buying my meat from the wrong places?

I was speaking to my butcher yesterday and he reckons that it's closer to 66% - iow 3kg of meat yields 1kg of biltong.

The reason I was talking to the butcher about biltong is my dad heard about a Capetonian selling biltong in The Village for $35/lb… that's over R800/kg

 

[I.am.Sam]

I see the Mellerware Biltong King is on Takealot for R239, today only.

cheap ...i made my 5th batch this week

think my biltong maker has been paid off

 

[I.am.Sam]

I was speaking to my butcher yesterday and he reckons that it's closer to 66% - iow 3kg of meat yields 1kg of biltong.

The reason I was talking to the butcher about biltong is my dad heard about a Capetonian selling biltong in The Village for $35/lb… that's over R800/kg

i think i need to weigh my biltong next time

i think the longer you leave it to dry the more you lose

after 2 1/2 - 3 days mine comes out and im sure i dont lose more than 50% ..maybe even less than that

 

[faniebraai]

i think i need to weigh my biltong next time

i think the longer you leave it to dry the more you lose

after 2 1/2 - 3 days mine comes out and im sure i dont lose more than 50% ..maybe even less than that

I bought a cheap scale a while ago... to weigh the meat... what a piece of schit scale, you weigh something, take it off, put it back, and it weighs different. piece of schit

 

[I.am.Sam]

I bought a cheap scale a while ago... to weigh the meat... what a piece of schit scale, you weigh something, take it off, put it back, and it weighs different. piece of schit

the scale was for food ...not for you

 

[faniebraai]

the scale was for food ...not for you

said something not someone, you half wit.

 

[I.am.Sam]

said something not someone, you half wit.

 

[pulling wire]

I was speaking to my butcher yesterday and he reckons that it's closer to 66% - iow 3kg of meat yields 1kg of biltong.

The reason I was talking to the butcher about biltong is my dad heard about a Capetonian selling biltong in The Village for $35/lb… that's over R800/kg

Have you seen the price of biltong at Woolworths. Its just ridiculous!

 

[pulling wire]

i think i need to weigh my biltong next time

i think the longer you leave it to dry the more you lose

after 2 1/2 - 3 days mine comes out and im sure i dont lose more than 50% ..maybe even less than that

True this. ^^
I would weigh the meat after trimming fat and sinew, before vinegar and spicing, then again after you have put in spice/vinegar mixture. and finally once it has dried to your preference.
Having your vinegar/spicing ratio to meat weight you can work out how much moisture has been drawn out of the meat.

 

[pulling wire]

Wet biltong 50% weight loss.
Dry biltong 66% weight loss.

 

[BigAl-sa]

Fan just died on Biltong King, I think I've done 10-12 batches. Happened to a friend as well. On my way to buy a new one now, just to finish current batch.

I have found a source for 220V fans, but they are around R200. However, I will still experiment and see what happens.

 

[I.am.Sam]

Fan just died on Biltong King, I think I've done 10-12 batches. Happened to a friend as well. On my way to buy a new one now, just to finish current batch.

I have found a source for 220V fans, but they are around R200. However, I will still experiment and see what happens.

guarantee ?

 

[StuartC]

Fan just died on Biltong King, I think I've done 10-12 batches. Happened to a friend as well. On my way to buy a new one now, just to finish current batch.

I have found a source for 220V fans, but they are around R200. However, I will still experiment and see what happens.

If it helps I have heard these guys are quite good for fans ... http://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Query=sunonand

 

[BigAl-sa]

guarantee ?

I may look at the guarantee now that I have another one. The problem is one never knows how they handle the guarantee - straight exchange or check up first. My current batch needed the fan now. Also, same make of Chinese fan in the new one.

If it helps I have heard these guys are quite good for fans ... http://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Query=sunonand

Thanks, will check them out. I've been given the name of a company in Silverton where I got the R200 quote.

 

[I.am.Sam]

i paid R180 for my biltong maker and you can get it on special for around R250

so R200 for a fan is madness

 

[BigAl-sa]

If it helps I have heard these guys are quite good for fans ... http://www.mantech.co.za/Stock.aspx?Query=sunonand

This one looks as though it may do the job:
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=70M0361

 

[Drifter]

My latest batch is now ready. I didnt use the globe this time round, took 5 days, and the biltong is not so red and hard as with the globe.

 

[StuartC]

This one looks as though it may do the job:
http://www.mantech.co.za/ProductInfo.aspx?Item=70M0361

A guy I know bought some of them for a home made project and he is chuffed ... I believe the standard fans on the biltong king are rubbish ... so atleast this should last a long time.