Dry Aged Beef - What’s All The Hype About?

Dry ageing meat is a hot topic at the moment so I’m here to find out whether or not it’s worth dry ageing at home. Is the hype worth all the effort? Let’s find out.
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[@smartypants7954]

Love Andy:s style. In the world of online chefs he's a breath of fresh air No ego, attitude, stupid jokes, pointless cooking 'challenges' etc... Seems like a top bloke and his delivery is always clear and engaging Thanks for the videos mate👍

[@andy_cooks]

thanks legend, i appreciate that. and thanks for watching!

[@My_mid-victorian_crisis]

Between the 1920s and mid-40s, my family owned ranches and feeder lots in the US. It wasn't until the KZbin dry age explosion, that I understood some of my mother's stories. They would hang a side of beef in a shady North and East corner outside, in the winter. They would carve off a chunk, cut off the pellicle, and serve it to the hands. It makes much more sense now.

[@3xeplodng_3agle_studios]

North and East. Is that another way of saying Northeast/Nor-East, or did you mean it literally? E.g some at the North, some at the East?

[@jtcattanio]

​@@3xeplodng_3agle_studios Read it again.. slowly.. i think the words will explain it to you...😅

[@3xeplodng_3agle_studios]

@@jtcattanio hm... Yes. Fair enough. *_"A"_* side; "corner" 😐 oops. Thank you 😅

[@jtcattanio]

@3xeplodng_3agle_studios all good. I usually race thru reading stuff.. an i do it to myself a lot. 😅😅

[@My_mid-victorian_crisis]

@@3xeplodng_3agle_studios The northeast corner, someplace that gets a north/east cross breeze. You can maintain a reasonably stable temp anywhere with a north/east cross breeze. Dairies (where you store milk, and make cream and cheese) would historically take advantage of it. Or so Ruth Goodman says.

[@mixitube489]

I have never come across a clear and more encouraging home dry aging video like this. I love how you gave contrast begining with the more professional dry aging set up. I feel it's doable now. Saved this video to watch again and again. I'm definitely trying dry aging beef at home. Thank you Andy and your wonderful team.❤

[@AxlMihai]

I have no experience dry aging yet, but I will surely try soon! I love the content, feels like listening to father talking about what he loves. Thanks, Chef and Not-So-Basic Mitch!

[@jimmyslav4888]

Great video and very informative. Cheers mate, thanks for posting!

[@Keef.Guessin]

as a home cook enthusiast got to say I love all you FB and Insat vids, thanks.

[@brianpine7086]

I have an ink bird that controls temperature and humidity in my wine fridge dry curing cabinet. I also put in a small cool mist humidifier. Takes up some room, but works well curing my sausage and snack stick type sausage. Excellent videos, thanking for your interesting videos.

[@cookiecutter8304]

Fantastic video as always Andy ❤🎉

[@markust8904]

I like the interaction and friendship of Mitch and Andy. good mates for sure.

[@spydermag5644]

My grandfather raised black angus rancher. Every 6 to 9 months we would get half of the cow. They would hang the cow for 30 days before breaking down for steaks and other cuts. It was the best beef I had. I have used the dry aging bags that you use with a vacuum sealer and the results were amazing. I was able to snag a 4 bone prime rib that was 50% after Christmas.

[@RC-bl2pm]

Chef just got your book. Great job really pleased now to work my way through it. Cheers from Canada

[@kazwilson425]

Did love Chef & Mitch's reaction to the grade 9 and how they got momentarily carried away by the yumminess factor and went off script 🤣

[@DirtyHairy01]

This was so awesome thank you!

[@keight007]

Love the video…very informative!! Hope I can try this!!,, 🎉

[@padders1068]

Yes Chef! Andy, Legend, thanks for a very educational, interesting and entertaining video. I'm sure the trimmings weren't "wasted" and you have a vey happy well fed dog. Peace and ❤ to you and all of the team

[@andy_cooks]

Thanks mate!

[@andrewsema359]

Thanks for the advice and setup Andy. Mitch is learning so much.... eating.🤣🤣

[@drunkhas]

Brilliant vid Andy!

[@mckidney1]

Quick note, new research shows that at that humidity temps should be 0-3. 3 and above already show bacterial growth.

[@arthurrapson8183]

I like your longer videos. Thanks for being a no nonsense cook

[@andy_cooks]

Thanks for watching!

[@ix-Xafra]

Really enjoyed this one for the food technology aspect. I Googled the average humidity in Scotland during winter and it's just above 70%. Around Kilcoy look for an old farmhouse with brick chimney as it might have an old meat safe outback usually under a broad tree. Local antique shops may have a small meatsafe Love to see more food preservation stuff on your channel. You explained this topic today in a very accessable way.

[@strictlymitch]

Growing up we had an old meatsafe in the kitchen that came over with my nan from England. Eventually was a linen cupboard in our bathroom. Was always confused how the meat was "safe" until I learnt about dry age beef years later😅

[@cosmogaming5562]

great video. might give this a try

[@AliCousins-uu8xm]

Really interesting. Enjoyed this vid.

[@vincecotton127]

Great Vid! Thanks

[@retchats]

Fantastic video really excellent work! From South Australia ex chef now appreciative connoisseur!

[@PKDionysus]

You are looking TRIM, Chef. Hard work is paying off. 🙌🏾🙌🏾🙌🏾 Also, great video.

[@mckidney1]

As for the fridge and moisture - there is a trap in every fridge at the back wall - lower temperatures means less possible moisture. As temperature increases it does not just immediately go back. Fan would help, except it would require much stronger pressure than a high flow desk fan. The solution is to isolate the back wall that contains the cooling unit - now that is dangerous with bar fridge - walls and glass are poor insulation and increasing the internal one can only be done in the margin before reaching the weakest external on (glass here). So for tinkering: 1) Get a power meter - you need to be be checking for a increase in average cost. If you isolate too much, system will just overcompensate. 2) Household fridge can barely sustain 3C, so you need to be tracking the temperature as best as you can. 3) Food safe insulation. As for your glass of water, it needs agitation to create mist. Simple piezoelectric speaker is used in cheap humidifiers and can be driver by an old MP3 player. I bet recording a PID cycle as a song and leaving it on loop has not been done on youtube :) But I have seen sterilized aquarium fountains for those looking at it... However AS water in the system increases, it needs to be removed as well - you can use chemical traps (what is inside those food packets). Easy to sanitize and reuse in the oven. Otherwise ice will form decreasing the fridge capabilities. Chemical traps also generate heat so potential risk when using weak fridge. The only good solution is to increase the efficiency of the system: Better fans, better insulation and more and more air. The perfect ratio is 3000x times the air to the meat and why it was done outside in the past. Without fans it would require 14(edit) meters of fridge for each 1 meter of meat :) But on the positive note it means by doing only 1 piece, you are already doing 2 times better. :)

[@theamazingfreak]

Hi Andy. Thanks for all the great videos mate. I am still waiting for your Picalilly recipe you promised us before Christmas. :)

[@cabernetguy2000]

Thanks Andy. Great video as always: Entertaining and informative. And of course, hunger and drool inducing!!😄 As to increasing humidity (among the many that I found, this seems to the best for such a scenario): You can try placing a wet towel over the air vents. This will help to trap the moisture in the air and keep it from escaping.

[@nath5178]

Hey Andy, we used a small humidifier placed in the bottom of the fridge. We then used a inkbird humidity controller that automatically switches the humidifier between your set parameters. Love the vids mate!

[@grahamheath9957]

That’s exactly what I was going to say. If you control the humidity with a humidifier and a fan etc, you will have more success with humidity control and inkbird is a good brand.

[@Ittiz]

I just happen to have an extra one of those little fridges. Tempting to try this!

[@joshkelly5265]

I enjoyed Mitch having a taste! Definitely should get him on more for those brief appearances.

[@SquawkVFRC]

I’d love to join a cooking class with you! I feel I’d learn so much. Love this

[@tojiroh]

Lovely... Babe will never lack for dry aged beef in the house now, Andy! 😜🥰

[@jimgottberg1975]

Excellent video! I dry-aged for the first time and just cooked the steaks yesterday. I used an Umai bag and aged for 35 days. The results were outstanding. The only downside is having to wait the 35 days lol

[@crazyg74]

love this! The refrigeration process removes moisture from the air in the fridge, that's just a fundamental part of the process. This is most easily seen when you have exposed meat in a freezer. it 'burns' (drys out) very quickly. It would be worth trying a bowl of water at the bottom of the fridge, to try and maintain the balance. That water will definitely evaporate because of the refrigeration, but you can easily keep an eye on it and top us as required. Worth a try, I reckon!

[@andreasleventis]

I dry age all the time, and I use the Umi dry bags, but you need a vacuum sealer. If you do it this way, you should also put a salt block in your fridge. Love you videos, mate and Kia Ora from NZ 💪🏾

[@Boon19871987]

I’ve used them before also, Why the salt block out of interest?

[@andreasleventis]

@@Boon19871987 draws moisture

[@hondomclean6759]

Salt block will draw moisture from the air which will maximise your dry ageing

[@nbourbon1]

you shouldnt need a salt block using the umai bags as the bag stops moisture getting in it to protect the meat, ive done it a few times without the salt block and perfectly fine

[@hondomclean6759]

@nbourbon1 Umai bags are an awesome way to start out dry aging meat. I've tried rump and sirloin and both have worked out great

[@wayneorchard5570]

Great informative vid mate 👍

[@andy_cooks]

Thank you!

[@melissaphillis7247]

Great information

[@MaeasVeryOwn]

Great effort!! 👌💪🔥

[@adambarron4015]

Working with salami, so not a 1 to 1, the humidity really matters at the start. If the humidity is too low at the beginning, a thick pelicle forms before any moisture loss. Essentially, you get a wet, sealed bacterial growth chamber. Your high initial humidity to a drier finish probably cost you some volume, but a slightly more intense flavor. For a home dry age without a designated fridge, try Umai dry age bags. Seal the meat in the bag, place on a wire rack in your fridge, and wait until days aged is reached. So long as you don't bury the meat, you can use your fridge as normal. I used the bags for both strip loin and brisket at 38 days with no problem. Bags run about $30 for a 3 pack.

[@brendanmurdoch7936]

The colder it gets the dryer...raise the fridge temp a couple degrees, great Vid, cheers Andy.

[@AuntDot]

Thanks!

[@USAUSAM82]

Interesting. Id love to try that eventually but i know Mitch is still wanting to try chitterlings! ❤

[@nickyeverydaymeal]

Thank you chef!♥

[@NeonKue]

Would love to see the Aussie marbling scores and taste test of each number.

[@iainhetherington4608]

Bloody great explanation Andy really enjoyed that ,might even have a crack , it’s so hard to buy good quality steaks Cheers from down South

[@recurvearcher6542]

Hi Andy, thank you. I guess if we ignor cost, its then all about at what aging time best suits your palate. Cheese, wine, meat, all benefits from aging, we all love food thats matured caputuring those hidden flavours only time can develop Great posts

[@NStone79]

For humidity you could try an ultrasonic humidifier/fog generator... The kind that looks like a metal puck with a small white disc on it. Cycle it on a timer until you hit your desired humidity

[@ritualchaos7182]

Try an ultrasonic humidifier/mister for humidity control. Maybe an Inkbird controller that home cheese makers use to control a converted fridge.

[@macriggland6526]

Here: Buy a bunch of weird equipment you never knew you needed and experiment with a process you don’t fully understand, buying and wasting loads of meat in the process. Yeah, why would anybody in the food industry want you to be hyped about dry aging?

[@EdwardsComment]

@@macriggland6526 To some degree people are complicating the process and pursuing unnecessary levels of precision. I have dry aged meats for years and never used any special equipment - nor have I thrown out a single aged cut. If people want to choose this hobby, its frankly far better than staring into a screen like a zombie or burning jet fuel on holiday.

[@CarlosRodriguez-dd4sb]

Exactly what I was going to recommend. Two Guys and a Cooler have some nice vids converting fridges into agers.

[@macriggland6526]

Still gonna end up throwing away a bunch of meat trying to figure it out. Its a huge industry, a driver or the modern service/decadence economy.@@EdwardsComment

[@EdwardsComment]

@@macriggland6526 In case I wrote too much for you to read, I've thrown nothing away. You don't have knowledge of this topic, which is fine but its probably best to stop here.

[@ThomasSoles]

Loving the Andy Cooks Cookbook!

[@andy_cooks]

epic!

[@Methodman88]

Brilliant video, I watched enough Guga foods to understand everything you were talking about. The problem is the cost of Beef here in Aus, and also the quality of that beef. How much would you be spending for a slab that big. Cost of living is atrocious atm

[@stevenbenson]

Andy, you could try 75% or 84% Boveda bags. Half a dozen bags should be good for a fridge that size. Usually used for cigar storage👍

[@pomchinrose]

Chef kindly share how one can make the outback brown bread , thanks

[@laurameier7069]

Basic Mitch is not so basic. Andy must be so proud!

[@Mack_Dingo]

I get these weed humidifiers packets that keep it to 65% has some gel or liquid inside. Had it in their for 3 months and it's still working. See if they make ones for 75%?

[@aleksydabrowa1114]

I think getting in touch with Guga if possible would actually be really informative. Although not a food “scientist”, that guy has done more experiments with dry aging steak than any other person on the planet I think. Combine that with his love with Australian Wagyu and your connections I think it’d be an amazing compilation.

[@Micko350]

Andy when I gave it a crack way back when, I actually used an old Kegerator I had which I'd converted from a Deep Freezer so it had no dramas keeping cold. I had a Computer Case Fan in there, & for humidity I used a Half Sheet Pan for the Water(much bigger surface area). I never went over 2 Months(because I'm impatient).

[@artemt8055]

Hello Andy, like this video, mine advise order Inkbird Dual Humidity Controller and buy humidifier and dehumidifier........and it will always will be perfect, I just use mine old fridge and have temperature controller and humidity, and they work great for dry aging or charcuterie . cheers.

[@bc4938]

Hi Andy, can the bits you have to cut off be rehydrated or used to make stocks or soups?

[@RobinWyse]

Could you use something like a electric essential oil diffuser without the oils to raise the humidity? It would be a cheap and easy fix if it works.

[@the_j0n936]

Wonder if you could use Boveda, they are a two way humidification device that stores cigars at your preferred % They come in all different humidity

[@kVidStream]

Chef Andy, silica gel absorbs moisture; also can you do a video doing maintenance on a home dry aging box?

[@TimFalk73]

Absolutely right! It's definitely worth it for steak lovers. I bought a small dry ager for it a couple of years ago, which measures just 90 x 40 cm. It fits 8-10 kg of beef loin. An aging time of approx. 60-65 days has proved to be ideal for me. I mainly use the back of a heifer for maturing. I get this freshly slaughtered from my butcher. I can choose the cut on site, as I am allowed to enter the cutting room. The meat then costs me a quarter to a third of the matured meat available in the shop, which has only been aged for 21 days. At the end of the aging process, I have 6-7 T-bone and porterhouse steaks weighing 700 to 900 g each. The flavour and tenderness are second to none. Usually prepared in the Beefer and served with chimichurri. An absolute highlight for my family and me...! 😋

[@matthewbeveridge5635]

Could you look to do a video on curing meats?

[@nanetterolph2972]

Andy i love your videos which is odd because i am now a vegan as of last year!!!! I was never really into meat!!!! I just love the fact that you seem to be a really genuine person and i respect that!!!! Cheers from the srate of Michigan USA!!!!!!

[@andy_cooks]

Thanks legend!

[@pierre-olivierdufour8880]

Hello chef !! First off amazing job on all the video's ! I don't know if this'll work but my wife keeps high humidity for her tropical plants in our mini green house with small balls of clay soaked in water kept in a small bowl. She has that green house at around 75 to 85 % humidity only with the lights. However the temperature is at almost 25 degrees celcius. Don't know if this would help. I'd love to know if it does. Keep up the excellent work !!

[@franzb69]

i saw a guy get an old fridge added a temperature controller that''s more precise and a humidity controller hooked up to a fan and that's how he dry ages his meat. can even do that for aging cheese as well.

[@d.t.m.]

And now my mouth is watering and I’m definitely having steak for lunch. Sadly not on the bbq though as the weather here in England is atrocious.

[@ericgustafsson9008]

Nice video! Have you heard about or tried the dry aging vacuum bags (for the fridge)? I've been tempted but not yet tried it..

[@andy_cooks]

I have and they work pretty well

[@johannesr.2752]

You could try those cigar humidor acrylic crystals. They release humidity in a controlled manner and are available for different target humidity levels. Should work pretty well since it is the same concept as with cigars.

[@andy_cooks]

II haven't tested them but I don't think they're strong enough to deal with a moist product like a piece of meat as opposed to something that's already reasonably dry like a cigar.

[@corinnethighman]

Damn that looks so good 🤤 Dry aging is top tier

[@felicitystronach4656]

I saw a guy in the states that was using an aging wrap on his joints but also an old glass fronted fridge with a humidifier and a sensor that would switch it on and off to keep humidity at 80%. He was also running it at a higher temp around 8 DegC. Keep up the good work Andy, love the shows

[@felicitystronach4656]

KZbin channel called 2 guys and a cooler, mainly doing cured meats but he has a nice homemade set up that looks easy enough to pull together from Bunnings.

[@clivenaylor]

Does a tray of rice at the bottom help sock up the moisture?

[@guzimirHR]

When I cured pork cheeks my low tech setup included super-saturated water and salt 'brine' (a tray with water and a mound of salt in it to keep the humidity at the sweet spot (water would evaporate if humidity was too low and salt would soak up the hunidity from the ambient if it was too high). Must've read about it either in Ruhlmann & Polcyn or on the fabolous eGullet forum. HTH

[@zeebass2690]

Most domestic fridges operate between 25-35% RH. Thats why the bags are ideal as they are designed to work at the lower RH. Commercial fridges (in NZ called Skope) usually run close to ambient (75-85%) and they are ideal for aging with plenty of room and are very cheap secondhand.

[@timoleary8751]

Happy to be a taste volunteer 🙋‍♂️

[@benpearce852]

Maybe try some cigar humidor packs. Can get them in different percentages

[@BrettWilliamson]

I have never tried Wagyu like that before. Your reaction just made me mighty jealous.

[@madkate3299]

There is an Aussie food scientist named Anne Reardon that could probably help explain more of the science behind dry aging. Think that would be an awesome collab, tbh

[@danielpizzo665]

How is the usb fan running in the fridge?

[@violentmeadow]

Maybe Boveda packs that they make for cigar humidors?

[@thetattedpharmacist3215]

There’s a cool system called Umai Dry. They are vacuum sealed membranous bags, and all you need to do is put your meat in them, seal them and chuck em in your regular refrigerator on a cooling rack with airflow all around it. Guga on his channel Guga Foods used to use this system before he got proper dry aging cabinets and it always looked like it worked flawlessly.

[@simmo7670]

You could give the Boveda humidity packs a go. a Large 320 pack at 69%. I use then for my cigars so it should be safe for beef. May need to use 2 or more depending on the size of the bar fridge. Im gonna give it a go when I get my bar fridge.

[@user-se1ev7my6f]

My mom was a terrible cook🤣. One day my father came home with 5 steaks - I had never had a steak before. He was repairing a refrigeration unit at a high end steakhouse. The owner offered him the steaks and my father refused them at first because ‘they had mold on them’. The owner trimmed them and he brought them home. My mother wasted no time in destroying those steaks - she put them under the broiler in our oven and promptly burned the hell out of them😕. I never ate another steak again until I was in my 30’s! True, story.

[@Mr16bit]

I've had a few different dry age steaks. 150 days was the best. 250 days was waaaayyy to blue cheese. At home I just like to dry out the surface of an individual steak for a day. It really improves the crust.

[@m.theresa1385]

I do the same thing just by leaving it on a pan/ rack with a bit of parchment loosely over it in the bottom of my fridge, sometimes for up to three days. I used to put it in my meat drawer but now that’s full of cheeses etc. it makes a huge difference on the sear.

[@duttatreyobagchi9711]

I used to spray a bit of water in the fridge at times along with keeping a bowl of water in…it kinda worked for mee..sometimes i used to increase the temp for like 5-10 mins just after keeping the bowl of water in so that the humidity increased sharply for sometime and then return back to normal settings…a very coin flip trick but it did work fr me 😊

[@HighAvenger]

Is there anything you can do with the trimmings? Beef stew, dog food?

[@pricey4566]

Hey Andy loved the video and learned a lot just curious though I'm on the Gold Coast and there is a few meat centres here and good butchers but the weight of that Wagyu would be maybe 5 kg and would i be paying around $ 100 a kg or more ? which i would pay i'd just hate to destroy a beautiful piece of produce Thanks mate love Back of House as well 👏

[@ivanbutler6079]

Wonder what it would be like to dry-age and since its a big piece of meet, then to cut up and vacuum seal and freeze it.

[@joshuaoliver2619]

"The first thing I do is give it the sniff test, it shouldnt smell strong, it should smell nice and clean" the same can be said when dealing with women!

[@Indra_Ninja]

Dry aging feels like a fancy and more marketable term for decaying meat (in a controlled manner)

[@blueenglishstaffybreeder6956]

Our ancestors were a lot smarter than we give credit for, this is an extremely informative vid thanks Andy

[@i_groms]

chef andy, being in queensland surely your feeling the heat at the moment. would love to know some easy to cook cold foods. loving the content, from a fellow kiwi living in queesnland!!

[@kazwilson425]

I'm pleading for a gazpacho as we speak.

[@swisski]

Adding to the Gazpacho comment, I recently looked up a recipe for a cold Turkish soup made with yogurt and cucumber, or cacik. It’s similar to Tzatziki, but more liquid- perfect for when it’s too hot to eat dinner but you want something refreshing.

[@kazwilson425]

Oh sweet, thanks for that mate will try it out.@@swisski

[@jojomafia3851]

I’m curious if you ever make any homemade wines! 🍷 Some desserts would be Epic too. 😁

[@notold37]

I haven't ever tasted dry age meat, but living on a pension, it is out of my price range, and I can't afford to throwing out meat, I'd rather just add some MSG to season it, and get a beefy flavour like that, yes a very interesting video and lot's to learn how to safely do dry aging, and hopefully my situation can change, and I'll be able to try it out, thanks Chef Andy

[@BreonNagy]

Have you heard of Umai dry age bags? I dry aged a ribeye roast for 45 days in my normal fridge and it came out amazing.

[@andy_cooks]

Yep, they work pretty well

[@BreonNagy]

@@andy_cooks since you're trolling comments right now, did you see french guy Alex referenced you in his latest video?

[@despair268]

The process is interesting and the taste is amazing, can understand why it's hyped.

[@6099x]

good food and poe, what else :D

[@despair268]

@@6099x heh, something nice to drink as well.

[@goodlearnerbadstudent756]

are there any changes with respect to the fat when dry aging? I remember watching some content creator talking about fat trimmed off dry aged beef, and i am wondering if dry aging beef fat(without the meat) could be a "cheat" option?

[@ZionMG]

Great!

[@willrobinson6054]

I dont know is you can still get them but i use too see dry age bags online for sale If they are still available that would be a good test to try against traditional dry aging and if they actually work