How is biltong different from jerky?

Beef jerky is commonly sliced into strips before the cooking and drying process. Biltong is air dried as a whole piece and then sliced into bite-sized pieces. Due to the drying and slicing process, most biltong is softer and fluffier in texture whereas beef jerky has more of a steak-like chew.

Why is importing biltong illegal?

Biltong, Dutch for “meat strip,” has been eaten in Southern Africa for centuries. The cured snack was originally brought from European settlers and adapted by natives as a hunting snack over the years. Because of the way the meat is cured, it’s illegal to import it into the U.S.

Whats healthier biltong or jerky?

How is biltong healthier for you than beef jerky? “As far as nutritional facts go for biltong, in general, it’s normally much healthier than jerky, as it tends to be much leaner. An average serving contains almost 50 percent of your daily protein,” says Viterale.

Why is my biltong white?

The white bits are likely to be some of the salt used to marinate the product trying to rehydrate due to humidity. This poses no danger to product consumption, but if you don’t like the look of it just wipe the price with a little cider vinegar and it should go away.

Why is biltong bad?

Biltong tends to be very high in sodium, with some types packing as much as 20% of your daily sodium allowance per ounce (28 grams) ( 9 ). Research suggests that excessive sodium intake may negatively affect your heart health, blood pressure, and stroke risk ( 10 ).

Is Wet biltong safe to eat?

If you like your biltong slightly wet i.e. not dry all the way through, then this is even more important since the higher the moisture in food the more chance it can get moldy. Storing biltong properly will ensure it keeps it’s taste and is safe to eat.

Does biltong get old?

“In general, biltong should last for at least 4-6 days before being at risk of mold. The best methods to extend that time are to vacuum seal it (preferred) or keep in the fridge. In a well ventilated, non humid environment biltong sticks / pieces can last for week or even months.

Is eating too much biltong bad for you?

Eating too much biltong could harm your health due to the way it’s processed, as well as its high sodium and fat contents.

Can you live off of beef jerky?

For lean jerky, the total cow weight needed goes up even further. Put into weight, you would need to eat around 5 pounds of beef jerky every day to meet a 2000 calorie diet. This is partially because jerky is such a dense preparation of beef. One could theoretically survive for an extended period on jerky alone.

What’s the difference between biltong and beef jerky?

The beef used in biltong is typically from thicker cuts of meat and takes a longer time to dry. Whereas jerky is almost always made from very lean cuts of beef. In addition, biltong is usually cut into wider strips that are easier to hang dry compared to jerky where the meat is thinly sliced into smaller pieces to make it more suitable for cooking.

What kind of meat is used in biltong?

Biltong is a cured meat snack just like jerky. Various types of meat are used during production ranging from beef, game meats and fillets of meat. The most common ingredients of biltong include:

What’s the difference between biltong and air dried beef?

Biltong is the term that describes air dried beef in South Africa. It’s a combination of two old dutch words – Bil and Tong. Bil means meat or rump. Tong means strip. So it’s a strip of meat. In a nutshell it is strips of raw meat, marinated in vinegar and spices over night and then hanged in circulating air for 5 to 10 days.

What kind of vinegar do you use on biltong?

Biltong is specifically air dried for up to a week by hanging on hooks. Biltong’s use of vinegar – whether white, brown or apple cider – is not specifically for taste (that’s a bonus), but as a curing agent, and to help keep flies off the meat as it dries.