Why Is Salt An Essential Component For Preparing Biltong

Posted by bullandcleaver on March 20th, 2018

Once, there was only a single method to prepare the South African biltong- the delicacy that has established its supremacy almost all over the world.

The fresh meat pieces were cured and hung in the sun with nothing but salt and spices rubbed evenly on its surface. This dried meat served as a food material in winters, when the availability of meats was less.

Many years hence, the preparation method of Biltong saw lots of changes with drying methods getting better and hygienic, and use of other certain elements to enhance the taste of the product. However, what has not changed since its evolution is the use of salt to treat and preserve the meats.

Why Is Salt Used?

Whether it’s the traditional biltong or the modern Droewors, salt is one of the integral components while preparing biltong. And this has, not one, but many reasons. Here are some of them to add to your knowledge:

• Salt Absorbs Moisture:

In order to dry the meat faster, a rub of salt could be one of the most effective alternatives. It absorbs almost all the moisture that resides inside the meat.

And additionally, it may even drag and dry any remnants of blood or other harmful body fluids which are not at all favorable for the human beings to consume.

• Salt Kills Microbes:

You cannot deny your meat being affected by bacterial components such as salmonella, E-coli. and Listeria etc. which are highly dangerous for the human digestive tract. And for a common person to find this out in the meat is almost next to impossible.

But a careful rub of salt over the meat ensures that no such harmful bacterial or viral elements reside in the meat to harm your body.

• Salt Enhances The Taste & Flavors:

Are you in true love with this South African delicacy? Why so?

Most of them love biltong and jerky because of their scrumptious taste that spells a magical charm on their tongue. And no savory dish could ever be imagined without the presence of salt in it.

Salt helps to enhance the taste and flavor of biltong, making it one of the most demanded dried meat product across the globe.

These are some major reasons why salt is added to biltong. And no doubt the modern dried meat incarnations of biltong such as (biltong chili bites and Peri Peri Biltong etc.) have some additional flavors to offer, nothing could replace salt as one of the most necessary materials to prepare the delicacy.