How to Preserve Meat

Knowing how to preserve your meat can make preparing meals a lot easier and result in less time spent at the grocery store. Mankind has been finding creative ways to preserve meat for centuries and many of them have good points and limitations.

Instructions

1. Store meat in your freezer. If you plan to use it within a week you can leave the meat in its original packaging. Otherwise, be sure to rewrap it in tin foil or plastic wrap. Before freezing, trim off excess fat and rinse well.

2. Rub salt into your meat. Just take the meat and cut it into blocks. Next, rub coarse salt into each block and pack them in a barrel or keg. Fill in the spaces between blocks with salt for the best preservation.

3. Pickle your meat. Storing in vinegar or another acidic solution will prevent bacteria and preserve meat for a long time. This is done by first marinating the meat in brine or vinegar, then storing it over a long period of time in the same solution. Herbs and spices are often added for taste.

4. Smoke the meat you obtain while hunting or camping. Prepare a fire in a closed area to trap the smoke. This fire should produce a lot of smoke rather than flame. Slice the meat thinly and drape it over a rack. Smoked overnight in this manner, meat will last about a week.

5. Dry your meat. Jerky and other dried and packaged meats have long been an American staple, and dried meat is easy to make on your own. Simply cut the meat into strips and trim off the fat. Next, marinate it and dry with low heat. This will preserve meat for weeks if done properly.

Tips & Warnings

• Always wash your hands and sterilize any utensils or equipment that comes into contact with raw meat.