Biltong storage
Canadian Meat Republic biltong is packaged in ‘stand-up pouches (SUP)’ with oxygen desiccants to provide an oxygen free environment in the pouches. Our biltong is also produced with a government required low water activity (Aw) and low pH to make it shelf stable and a ‘Ready to Eat’ product. Our biltong pouches are double sealed during packaging: heat sealed and pouch seal.
Storage guidelines for packaged biltong
Biltong packaged in SUP’s can be stored between 3 to 6 months without refrigeration. That being said, the following will enhance biltong storage:
- If it is possible, store the re-sealed biltong pouch in a fridge. Lower temperatures improve the storage life.
- Keep in mind that the refrigerator uses cold dry air to keep your refrigerator cool and therefore the pouch needs to be re-sealed to prevent the biltong from drying out further (biltong becoming drier is safer but less tasty).
- It is advised to consume the biltong within 3-days after opening the SUP. Remember to re-seal the pouch to prevent excess oxygen from entering the SUP and reduce the effectiveness of the oxygen desiccant.
Storage guidelines for unpacked biltong (whole slab or sliced)
Biltong stored under the right conditions at room temperature will last for at least 6-months but will lose flavour and become drier.
- Biltong should NEVER be stored in a plastic bag or closed container.
- It should be stored in a cool, dry and well-ventilated space, preferably in a breathable bag (e.g. brown bag).
- Storing unpacked biltong in a fridge is not required, but due to the lower temperature and controlled environment it will enhance the storage life of biltong. Keep in mind that the cool dry air in the refrigerator will dry out the biltong even further (making it safer, but at the expense of flavour). A breathable bag should again be used.
- For long-term storage, biltong can be frozen. This is obviously the safest option, but in our view, we do think that long-term freezing changes the taste profile. That being said, freezing biltong is the only option to maintain the initial ‘wetness’ (moisture contend) of the biltong. This is due to the fact that the water molecules are frozen and cannot escape from the biltong. Note: prevent freezer burn by wrapping the whole slab of biltong in newspaper or something similar.
Additional notes on storage
- Biltong could also be vacuum packed, but again in our view it changes the taste profile.
- The term "Biltong storage" is an oxymoron - because biltong is basically never stored, it is IMMEDIATELY consumed!
Nutritional facts table for biltong
The nutritional facts table for biltong are provided below. For convenience it is shown in two formats:
- a 20g serving option, and
- a 100g option for comparison with other products.
Nutrition comparison between biltong and leading brand snacks
What is Biltong?
Air-Dried, Beef Protein Snack
From its origin in South Africa, beef Biltong is a high protein delicious snack that provides more than 50 grams of protein per 100g of beef Biltong. Biltong is beef - marinated with spices and vinegar, and then air-dried at low temperatures. Excess water is removed during drying and a high protein to weight ratio beef snack (50-60% protein) is produced.
The biltong is then thinly sliced into tender bite-sized pieces that have a naturally explosive flavor and then packaged, ready for customers to purchase.
Canadian Meat Republic biltong starts with the finest cuts of beef and is then spiced to perfection using our own hand blended spices (containing no sugar, nitrates, MSG or artificial preservatives and colourants) and vinegar.
Because beef Biltong is made from prime beef and naturally high in protein, it makes a fantastic healthy choice for those on a high protein diet (Ketogenic and Paleo). It is all perfect for a quick snack, meal replacement, school snack or a post-workout snack.
Wikipedia
Biltong is a form of dried, cured meat that originated in Botswana, South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia. Various types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef and game meats to fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or flat pieces sliced across the grain. It is related to beef jerky in that they are both spiced, dried meats; however, the typical ingredients, taste and production processes
may differ.
The word biltong is from the Dutch bil ("rump") and tong ("strip" or "tongue").
Other definitions/explanations
(1)
bil·tong
[ˈbilˌtôNG]
- Noun. South African.
- lean meat which is salted and dried in strips.
(2)
Meat that has been cut into long pieces, flavoured with spices, and dried.
(3)
Jerky’s better-looking brother. South Africa’s favourite snack.