How to store biltong

When deciding how to store biltong, it must be stored in a place that is out of direct sunlight and cool and dry. When removing from the package, consider placing the biltong in an airtight container or even a brown paper bag to allow the natural drying process to continue. An open biltong package will typically last for 4-6 days.

Check out our venison biltong from Snowy River Biltong

Key factors to consider when storing biltong

When storing dried meats, particularly biltong there is a few key considerations that come into play when ensuring that the meat remains dry and mould-free while preserving for as long as possible.

Moisture is the enemy

When storing biltong you want to ensure that moisture doesn’t start to build up on the bag or container. To avoid this give the bag or container a light shake or turn it over to prevent moisture from pooling in certain areas.

Keep your biltong cool as well as dry

Being a meat product, you will want to avoid spoilage while prolonging those savoury flavours for as long as possible by storing your biltong at low temperatures

Don’t use a plastic bag

Have you ever bought a bag of lollies that have been stored in a plastic bag, then when they are opened, you have a sticky, moist mass to deal with? The same principle applies to biltong. Plastic bags tend to be notorious for sweating creating unwanted moisture during the storage process.

Ensure your bag is properly sealed

Biltong is delicious. Unfortunately, there are plenty of critters around that think the same thing. Meat is a perfect snack for all sorts of unsavoury pests. Make sure your bag is sealed tight and you won’t have a problem.

Use a piece of cloth or a paper towel

Paper towel has an extensive list of uses in the kitchen; now you can add drying out stored biltong. Adding a piece of paper towel to the base of a container or bag will promote the drying process while mitigating any sweating that may occur.

How long can biltong be stored for?

When storing biltong, it’s important to understand the product’s shelf life under different conditions. Luckily for us, Barbel Foods has pieced together a fantastic table on the shelf life of Biltong.

Image sourced from Barbel Foods

Can you put biltong in the freezer?

Freezing biltong is a fantastic way to preserve the flavour of the product especially if it has been vacuum sealed. Using a vacuum sealer will also help you avoid issues such as freezer burn. A great habit to get into is writing down the date on the package when freezing so you can keep track of exactly how long the biltong has been un the freezer for.

Does biltong have an expiry date?

It certainly does, with all preserved meats, the curing process can extend its shelf life, although it is still susceptible to bacteria and mould. If it has an unusual odour or appearance, it is always better to be safe than sorry, especially with meat products. If you find that you are having mould problems this is usually too much moisture in the bag combined with the seal of the product being broken.

That wraps up our article on how to store biltong. If your stash is out of date or it didnt survive past last nights movie marathon make sure you check out our range of beef biltong and venison biltong from Snowy River Biltong. If you have gotten to this article and are wondering, what is the difference between biltong and jerky then fear no more. Simply follow the link to explore the key differences.