DRY AGED BEEF

DRY-AGED-BEEF: A TREND WITH TRADITION

Dry-aged beef is currently being talked about by everyone. Not only chefs and gourmets rave about the unique taste of dry-aged meat, but amateur chefs and enthusiast grillers as well. Many supermarket chains also now offer goods labeled “Dry-Aged”. Although this is seen as a new taste revolution, it is actually a traditional, tried and true craft.

WHY MEAT NEEDS TO MATURE

After the slaughter, biochemical processes acting on the meat begin to unfold. With the initial lack of oxygen to the meat, anaerobic glycolysis starts. This causes rigor mortis, which hardens the muscle tissue and only allows for a small amount of water retention. It is only after this phase that the enzymatic aging begins, which after 8 days is well underway with the muscle again beginning to soften. The length of the aging age-process is largely dependent on the sex, age and breed of the animal.

Meat can mature 8 more weeks under good conditions to intensify the flavor. Incidentally, poultry and pork have to go through this process as well, however they mature at a faster rate, 2-8 days is enough for the meat to become soft following rigor mortis. Poultry and pigs can produce dangerous bacteria such as salmonella, therefore for hygienic reasons, they must not mature for long periods.

THE ROOTS OF DRY-AGED BEEF

A look into the history of the craft shows that dry-aging is not a modern invention. Already in the 17th century, master painter Rembrandt, depicted a scene called “Slaughtered Ox”. An ox hangs in a dark butcher chamber, the red meat crossed by yellow fat. In the background, the curious look of the butcher’s wife. At that time the method was called simply “hang out”, because the meat was hung on the bone with a hook. The biggest problem was the erratic temperatures. Even beef can produce harmful bacteria during the maturation process if it is exposed to inconsistent temperatures. It is only through the development of engineered cooling, that this risk has been minimized. Until the 1970s meat was primarily aged using a dry method. With the invention of vacuum technology, the food industry changed and the ease and cost of wet-aging pushed dry-aging out of the mainstream market. Wet-aging ensures a faster maturation of the meat and has the advantage of less weight loss. As such, more meat could be sold and thus obtain a higher profit margin.

DRY-AGING VS. WET-AGING

A weight loss of up to 30% after four weeks in the standard, traditional dry-aging process is economically disadvantageous. However, with the DRYAGER™ cabinet, weight loss can be managed at about 7-8% while developing fantastic, deep flavor. While the meat is aged on the bone, the unique spicy aroma is developed by the enzyme activities. Under a dry, black outer layer that needs to be cut off after maturation, the nutty-buttery flavour and crumbly structure reveal themselves. The determining factor in flavor, texture and aroma is the length of time the product has been aging. The longer the meat hangs, the more intense the flavor. In the wet-aging under vacuum, there is less water loss. While the meat juices come out, the flesh remains in contact with the liquid. This will continue to develop lactic acid bacteria, which provide a slightly sourmetallic taste. For some meat lovers, this is desirable. When it comes to the tenderness of the meat fibers, dry-aging provides superior tenderness and fullness of flavor.

OTHER AGING METHODS

DRY-AGING IN THE DRYAGER™

DRYAGER™ refrigerator cabinets ensure that the dry-aging process occurs in safe, hygienic conditions. It is suitable for small scale retail and commercial operations and even for the gourmet conscious household, thanks to its space-saving footprint. Together with a food laboratory and butchers, DRYAGER™ has developed all inclusive technology that allows for precise control of the maturing process.

The control elements of the DRYAGER™ ensure a constant temperature, which is regulated in precise 0.1° increments. This makes it suitable for dry-aging fresh meat and for further aging cured meat and sausages.

The humidity is controlled by the integrated DX HumiControl AirReg system and is electronically controlled from 60 to 90% in 0.1% increments. Even with large variations in ambient temperatures, the perfect microclimate remains in the unit.

Despite its compact footprint, the DRYAGER™ offers enough space to allow for even larger pieces of meat. The insulating glass door of the DRYAGER™ protects against UV rays and provides the possibility to visually inspect, assess and admire the aging process. Beyond the amazing product the DRYAGER™ produces, the DRYAGER™ itself is a showstopper.

TIPS & TRICKS

When conditions are as optimal as they are in the DRYAGER™, a good steak can age to perfection without any difficulty. We will give you tips and tricks for the best steak from the DRYAGER™ kitchen.

Timing
Not every piece of meat needs 8 weeks to develop its flavor. A tender filet, off the bone, can be ready in about 7 days. On the other hand, the rib-eye can withstand an average of up to 28 days. Consider your cut and desired outcome when determining the timeline for maturation.

Happy Cows Make Good Meat
Anyone who wants to enjoy a good piece of meat, has to start with the quality of the beef itself. An animal kept in good conditions and that has not been slaughtered under stress, gives substantially more tender meat. The breed also influences the result making Angus and Wagyu favorites for steak lovers.

Spice it Up
The DRYAGER™ uses innovative technology and provides intelligently designed accessories to enhance the process. Thanks to the Saltair system designed with crystal salt blocks, the meat becomes spicy, a bit salty and unique in flavor after dry-aging.

How to Know It’s Good
Color and firmness are the best indications of readiness and maturation. Well matured, tender steak meat is reddish brown in color, and leaves an indentation after touching.