Do you need to know how one can retailer meat with out electrical energy? It’s really so much simpler than you could assume. There are a variety of strategies that you need to use.
On this article, we’ll talk about 14 other ways to enhance the shelf of your meat with out counting on electrical energy.
From the easy to the extremely technical, there’s a course of on this checklist that’s appropriate for any atmosphere, requirement, and choice.
Some strategies are extra sophisticated than others, however all of them have one factor in frequent: they’ll assist maintain your meat recent for a very long time.
You Don’t Want Electrical energy to Get Lengthy Shelf-Life from Meat
Apart from fundamental staples like beef or deer jerky and the chemically preserved meats you may get in a can on the grocery retailer, most individuals lately consider that the one solution to reliably preserve meat is thru refrigeration.
And when speaking about refrigeration, you realize you’re going to want electrical energy – and loads of it for the aim.
That is one thing of a bummer for individuals who need to be ready in the long run with ample shops of meals, together with meat.
Positive, most of us have already got a backup fridge or perhaps a full-size freezer for the job, however what occurs when electrical energy is something however reliable throughout an emergency or long-term catastrophe?
Even you probably have your personal strategies for producing electrical energy, that looks as if a tenuous solution to maintain your meat preserved.
The excellent news is you genuinely don’t want electrical energy, in any manner, to protect meat. Folks in cultures world wide have been preserving meat for millennia with out the advantage of electrical energy, and you may too if you realize what you might be doing.
The next checklist incorporates 14 strategies which can be assured to enhance the shelf lifetime of your meat as long as you implement them accurately and take note of the main points within the course of.
A few of these strategies are extra appropriate for varied climates and environments, however others are adaptable and might be accomplished anyplace.
Irrespective of who you might be and regardless of the place you reside, there may be sure to be not less than a few strategies under that you need to use to preserve meat the old-fashioned way.
1. Drying
Drying might be probably the most well-known methodology of preserving meat, every kind of meats, with out the advantage of any electrical energy.
This time-honored method stretches again in human historical past throughout many centuries and many various cultures all world wide.
In reality, it doesn’t matter what type of meat you are attempting to protect, from beef and pork to poultry and fish, likelihood is there’s a time-tested solution to dry it efficiently.
Drying is sort of easy in comparison with different strategies on this article, however as with many issues, the main points matter.
Drying works by eradicating moisture content material current all through the meat. Disadvantaged of this moisture, microorganisms which can be liable for decay akin to micro organism, yeast, and others can not survive and flourish.
Naturally, because of this your meat will final for much longer with out breaking down. Dried meats which can be rigorously saved can final many months and even so long as a yr.
In case you are planning any form of off-grid or austere atmosphere preservation of meat, drying needs to be one of many first and finest instruments in your arsenal.
It’s versatile, adaptable, and comparatively straightforward to carry out at scale. It additionally lends itself to the actually primitive setting in addition to a technologically enhanced one, even one with out electrical energy.
You’ll be able to air dry meat utilizing nothing however the energy of the solar or rig up a photo voltaic drying equipment, scorching air blower, or different programs to hurry issues up.
2. Smoking
Smoking is one other wonderful methodology of preserving meat that may be tailored to many environments and conditions.
The method works by utilizing smoke and mild warmth to dehydrate the meat whereas additionally imparting it with a particular taste. I feel most readers most likely already understand how scrumptious smoked meats are in varied cuisines!
Smoking works in a lot the identical manner as drying, by eradicating moisture content material from the meat which prevents microorganisms from rising and inflicting decay.
It’s much more efficient at destroying micro organism and different microscopic life that’s liable for the spoilage and breakdown of meat, as a result of it heats the meat gently and evenly.
It is because smoke incorporates chemical compounds generally known as phenols and different compounds that are absorbed into the meat in the course of the smoking course of.
These chemical compounds act as pure preservatives and assist to additional prolong the shelf lifetime of the now-smoked meat.
Smoked, dried meats can final for a number of months if dealt with and saved rigorously, however the greatest disadvantage to this methodology is that you just’ll must burn quite a lot of gas over a protracted time period to generate sufficient smoke to finish the method.
3. Salting
Salting is one other one of many better-known strategies of meat preservation it has been round for fairly a very long time.
Well-known, (or notorious, relying in your perspective) salting works to protect meat by means of one thing of a one-two punch.
It each dehydrates the meat, by drawing moisture out of it, and in addition alters the pH stability of the meat itself.
This makes the “atmosphere” inside the meat, for lack of a greater phrase, extremely adversarial to the microscopic life that causes spoilage and breakdown.
Salting is normally achieved by means of certainly one of two major strategies. The primary one is completed merely sufficient by packing and utterly encasing the lower of meat in a stable shell of salt.
Over time, as soon as all of the moisture has been drawn out of the meat, the now onerous crust might be chipped away and the meat eaten.
The opposite methodology entails immersing the meat in an especially salty answer, typically known as brining, earlier than drying it another manner.
Salting has been one of many absolute best strategies for creating long-life, ready-to-eat cuts of meat that perform as rations for anybody on a protracted journey.
Though they often style fairly good, or not less than agreeable, salting does considerably change the style and texture of the meat; it could be an acquired style.
That is one methodology that may maintain meat good for a lot of months and is straightforward to do safely as long as you’ve a big provide of salt to work with.
4. Curing
Curing is a technique of preserving meat that’s very like salting, solely it takes the tactic above and past by utilizing a number of extra components, specifically sodium nitrate along with salt in addition to different spices to each improve taste and supply a measure of antibacterial efficiency.
Curing is one other methodology with a various and wealthy cultural historical past, and is liable for producing distinctive dishes from world wide.
However extra essential to our pursuits is the truth that cured meats can final a really very long time when ready accurately.
After cleansing a lower of meat, frequent salt, sodium nitrate, and varied spices are completely rubbed throughout and into each crevice on the lower earlier than it’s allowed to relaxation in a cool atmosphere for so long as per week.
After this preliminary relaxation, the meat shall be rinsed, wrapped in cheesecloth or different breathable barrier, after which hung up in a darkish, dry atmosphere and allowed to additional treatment for anyplace from a number of weeks to a number of years.
The top consequence seems downright peculiar, however as long as high quality management is rigorously applied the top result’s delectable and utterly suitable for eating.
That is one method that’s adaptable to many various environments, and contemplating the spices used for the method are straightforward to move and simple to deal with, one you might be effectively suggested to study.
5. Sugaring
Most likely some of the stunning entries on our checklist, sugaring (typically known as sugar curing) is a technique of preservation that works with meat in the same solution to salting. Like salting, it attracts moisture out of the meat to dry it out and impair or kill micro organism.
Additionally like salting, it does alter the pH stability of the meat, additional impairing any microorganisms which may trigger the meat to spoil.
Sugaring undoubtedly works, and like salting has been round for a really very long time all through historical past, and was sometimes carried out utilizing a extremely sugary liquid like honey.
Nonetheless, sugaring is much extra difficult and threatening for the preservation of meat in comparison with salting.
If you happen to aren’t paying consideration in the course of the course of or circumstances aren’t right, sugaring would possibly do the reverse of preserving your meat and as a substitute promote spoilage by retaining the meat moist, and offering micro organism with extra meals.
Moreover, in comparison with salting, you’ll additionally should maintain a watch out for blooms of yeast which could possibly be a danger of spoilage on their very own.
Sugaring meats for preservation is a method that’s viable, however one which requires appreciable follow and experimentation to be able to depend on even marginally.
That being mentioned, that is nonetheless a method with a historical past of success on its facet and could be a beneficial addition to your bag of methods you probably have a big provide of honey or sugar readily available.
6. Stewing
While you hear of “stewing” and “meat” in the identical sentence, you most likely begin interested by a dish, be it the aforementioned savory stew or a tasty soup.
However stewing is greater than that, as it may really be a methodology of preservation unto itself. You realize that prime temperatures protect meat by cooking it, killing off any microorganisms that could be lurking inside and stopping spoilage.
However what you may not know is that you would be able to gently cook dinner meat on this manner for a really very long time to be able to maintain it viable.
That is what is called a perpetual stew: a dish and a technique of preservation the place a grasp broth isn’t allowed to utterly diminish and components are always added to the stew pot, saved at a simmer, to be able to maintain the pot replenished.
Maintaining the pot of stew, and the meat inside, at this elevated temperature makes it unattainable for any micro organism or different microorganisms to reside.
That is an particularly viable method in a big camp or village setting the place one will always have an inflow of various components so as to add to the pot and maintain it replenished. It additionally ensures that, even when eaten slowly over time, your meat will stay viable.
Nonetheless, like most different heat-intensive strategies you’ll want quite a lot of gas to be able to maintain the stew simmering, and the entire thing shall be susceptible to spoilage whether it is allowed to chill down for any size of time.
7. Chilling
One other temperature-dependent methodology of preserving meat. Chilling is mostly employed for preserving meat by means of the trendy technique of refrigeration.
Chilling is very efficient and a easy methodology of preservation, however it needs to be famous that it solely slows, not utterly halts, the processes of micro organism that consequence within the spoilage of meat.
If you happen to reside in an space that’s dependably chilly on a regular basis, all you’ll must do to sit back your meat is to set it outdoors in a sealed container and even place it in a root cellar dug for the aim.
This requires slightly else to be efficient for preservation apart from wrapping the meat in a clear material or another materials.
Now, even in case you reside in a spot that could be thought-about slightly too heat for efficient chilling outdoor, you continue to have choices for utilizing the tactic.
Digging a pit into the bottom or putting in an aforementioned root cellar will let you make the most of the considerably decrease temperatures beneath the bottom and can let you reliably and, most significantly, safely lengthen the shelf lifetime of your meat.
Different choices for individuals in areas that may make the most of it embody stashing your meat in a cave (caves are invariably a lot cooler than the encompassing space) and even inserting your meat in a tightly sealed container and submerging it in chilly, working water of a stream or creek.
8. Freezing
Far and away, one of many absolute best strategies for long-term preservation of meat is freezing. Like chilling, trendy expertise for freezing requires appreciable quantities of electrical energy, however as long as you reside in a cooperative local weather, you’ll nonetheless be capable of freeze meat dependably.
In comparison with chilling, freezing doesn’t simply decelerate the microorganisms that trigger decay; it completely stops them and can destroy a lot of them by bursting their mobile construction because the moisture inside them crystallizes. For sheer reliability and certainty of long-term preservation, freezing may be very onerous to beat.
However this simplicity can also be its disadvantage. You’ll solely be capable of depend on freezing in areas which can be extraordinarily chilly and keep that manner.
Moreover, meat that’s frozen have to be thawed earlier than it may be eaten, and meat that’s saved frozen for too lengthy would possibly freezer burn, negatively affecting its high quality, style, and texture.
9. Pickling
Pickling is one methodology of preservation that everybody is already acquainted with, however one that’s not often encountered for the preservation of meat outdoors of sure culinary circles and cultures.
You already know, probably, that you would be able to pickle just about each type of vegetable and fruit, however it’s also possible to pickle proteins, together with meats.
Some of the well-known, although ghoulish to some, pickled cuts of meat is pig’s ft! Not my dish of alternative, I guarantee you, but when I had a alternative between that or going with out me in any respect I can let you know what I’d select!
Immersing your lower of meat in both a pickling brine for the aim or straight vinegar will radically alter the pH stability and kill off micro organism, or will finally promote anaerobic fermentation which might protect the meals.
Totally different pickling strategies and options will produce a unique texture, style, and alteration to the top product. All perform by eliminating the microscopic life liable for the spoilage of meals.
Pickling as a course of takes time and particular components, and far of the time herbs with antimicrobial properties are added to additional improve preservation and in addition alter the style profile.
That is one methodology that you just’ll should be affected person if you wish to make use of, and have applicable provides readily available however that is one other wonderful possibility for long-term storage.
10. Lye
To most of our readers, most likely the strangest and probably probably the most repulsive methodology of meat preservation is achieved by means of immersion in lye.
Often known as sodium hydroxide, this methodology of preservation depends on the wholesale chemical alteration of each the proteins and the pH stability within the meat. As an alternative of constructing meals too acidic to assist microscopic life, it makes it too fundamental, or alkaline.
Like different strategies counting on pH alteration, style and texture each are modified considerably, and particularly with this methodology, not for the higher.
Because of this nearly all types of micro organism and different microscopic life shall be utterly unable to reside in or on the meat, and meaning it can spoil at a radically slower charge.
Lest you assume I’m loopy, you must know that the preservation of meals utilizing lye is one other methodology with a protracted historic precedent.
Olives and different greens, breads, and extra have all been preserved for hundreds of years utilizing sodium hydroxide, and some of the well-known dishes of the kind is the Norwegian lutefisk.
That is undoubtedly a distinct segment, however viable, methodology of preserving meat. First, you’ll should have giant portions of sodium hydroxide for the aim.
Second, even preserved, there are few individuals who will be capable of get previous the style of meat preserved on this manner.
Nonetheless, whether it is one thing you need to depend on for survival functions or preparation ensure you pattern earlier than you go all in!
11. Jellying
Jellying is a technique of preservation whereby any merchandise of meals is cooked in a substance that can solidify right into a gel state.
Chances are high the time period made you instantly consider jellies, maybe jams and even preserves, and after that gelatin.
You’re heading in the right direction, as gelatin is usually employed for creating the aforementioned toppings however this isn’t the one meals that may be preserved by means of the usage of gelatin and never the one manner to make use of the method of jellying.
Vegetables and fruit are generally jellied for preservation, however you are able to do the very same factor with meat, together with complete cuts, if you wish to.
You’ll want a gelling agent for the duty, and for this you would possibly use gelatin for the aim, maze flour, or proteins derived from different animals.
Anytime you jelly meat as a technique of preservation you’ll be each cooking and softening it, making it simpler to eat sooner or later.
Nonetheless, although jellying is viable for the preservation of meat when used this fashion it’s undoubtedly finest in case you can maintain it cool or very chilly.
Though not strictly needed, you may nonetheless get a major improve in shelf life even at room temperature in case you select to jelly your cuts.
12. Confit
An older and culturally wealthy solution to protect meat is thru immersing it in lard, sometimes after salting it or cooking it in another manner.
Comparatively labor intensive, this methodology has the additional advantage of permitting you to make use of parts of meat as you want them with out utterly compromising a batch. This affords you a certain quantity of flexibility and your meals provide.
To confit, contemplate that sturdier cuts of meat like beef, pork, and lamb do finest, though the method is viable with most meats besides maybe fish.
If starting with salt-cured meat, you might be able to immerse straight away, however in any other case cook dinner the meat as in case you have been going to serve it instantly.
The ready cuts are then positioned inside a crock and scorching pork fats is poured over it in order that the meat is totally immersed on all sides with not less than a couple of inches of fats.
The confit ought to then be sealed with a chunk of wax paper on prime of the congealing lard, after which the crock or jar itself sealed with a tightly becoming lid.
Positioned in a cool space out of direct daylight, you must count on your cuts of meat to final a minimal of three months, and maybe so long as half a yr.
Simply make sure that everytime you take meat out of your crock you guarantee all different items of meat are utterly surrounded by the fats.
Moreover, in case you reside in a scorching local weather or your confit jar is allowed to heat up, you might need issues with spoilage.
13. Pemmican
Pemmican describes a Native American dish and the method to make it. Pemmican is a mix of dried and pounded meat, berries, and animal fats that proved to be extremely nutritious, long-lasting, and simple to retailer.
Lengthy utilized by the Native Individuals for overland journeys, commerce, and searching forays colonists quickly realized to make their very own to be able to take advantage of their meat and supply themselves with rations for comparable functions.
This course of is one that’s greater than the sum of its elements, with the extra steps and components serving to extend the dietary payload of the meat, but additionally to assist protect the meat longer than it might be if it have been merely dried or smoked.
Pelican has a serious benefit in each transportability and ease of consumption, however the greatest downside is that the method for making it from scratch is very concerned and detailed.
Moreover, many trendy renditions of the tactic fluctuate fairly a bit from one another by way of particulars and components. That is an possibility you’ll should be able to experiment with if you wish to depend on it sooner or later.
However regardless of these drawbacks, pemmican is a usually tasty, long-lasting, and nutritious meals, and one of many absolute best methods to protect your meat in a ready-to-eat manner.
14. Burying
With little doubt, that is most likely going to be seen because the strangest methodology of preservation included on this checklist.
However you aren’t seeing issues, and that’s not a typo: It’s attainable to protect meat by digging a gap within the floor, inserting the meat inside, after which protecting it again up. How?!
Effectively, there may be barely extra to it than that, however solely barely! When you’ve got paid consideration all through this text you might be conscious that spoilage is normally brought on by micro organism within the meat.
Micro organism are tiny organisms, with necessities for all times all their very own. Deprive them of those necessities, and they are going to be degraded and even die off, slowing the method of spoilage.
Accomplished rigorously, and in the correct circumstances, burying can do precisely that – deprive micro organism of what they should reside.
Burying is one thing of a triple risk on this regard, and works by stopping micro organism from getting oxygen, considerably reducing the temperature of the meat, and within the case of sure forms of soil, negatively altering the pH stability of the meat by means of excessive alkalinity.
As an alternative of simply tossing your meat in a gap within the floor, this methodology shall be extra profitable in case you first dig the outlet after which line the whole lot of it with naturally antiseptic wooden ash, or another substance.
Additionally, any meat saved this fashion needs to be cooked first, then positioned within the gap, lined with recent wooden ash, after which lastly lined utterly with dust.
The wooden ash, apart from altering the pH stability of the meat, can even assist repel bugs and animals which could come on the lookout for a free meal.
This method, as you may think, is fraught with peril and will certainly require experimentation and certainty regarding soil kind and ash used for the aim, however it may work, particularly in case you have been in a deep wilderness or different austere environments.
No Electrical energy, No Downside
The long-term storage of meat is one thing that appears solely attainable due to copious chemical preservatives or trendy, electricity-intensive refrigeration. However this isn’t the case.
There are greater than a dozen strategies of preserving meat which were used efficiently by cultures world wide for ages, and you need to use any of them to assist protect your meat with out the advantage of trendy expertise.
Evaluate the checklist, follow your chosen strategies, and fairly quickly you’ll have a few dependable methods for historically preserving your meat.
