new member from Queensland Australia

crustyo44

Fire Starter

Original poster

Jul 26, 2011

31

10

Brisbane Australia

• Dec 30, 2012

• #1

Hi,

My name is Jan. Retired now but a keen sausage maker and smoker of all sorts of goodies.

After reading a lot on these forums, I am still a novice really.

I own 2 smokers, one large and the other, larger again. Both have been converted by me from other uses such as a  bread proofer and a plant propagator.

I like to increase my knowledge in regard to curing and smoking, hot and cold and fermenting and drying  sausage and whole muscle meats.

In the pipeline for this summer is building a small walk-in coolroom/curing chamber from 4"insulated panels as I hate to pay exhorbitant prices for salamis etc that are not really that great.

I have been a member of this forum for quite some time now but never actually had the spare time to post much and ask questions.

Hopefully this will change in 2013.

I find this forum a bit complicated, no doubt time will sort this out.

Best Regards,

Jan

 

bigbob73

Meat Mopper

Jul 16, 2011

182

25

Fort Worth Texas

• Dec 30, 2012

• #2

Welcome!

 

diggingdogfarm

Master of the Pit

Jun 23, 2011

4,648

177

Southern Tier of New York State

• Dec 30, 2012

• #3

Welcome to SMF, Jan!


~Martin

 

s2k9k

AMNPS Test Group

Sep 8, 2011

11,324

182

SEUSA

• Dec 30, 2012

• #4

Hi Jan! 

to SMF!!! We're happy you found us! You've come to the right place, we have over 40,000 members and over 800,000 posts so you should be able to find almost anything you want to know. Remember the search bar at the top can be your best friend for finding answers fast!

You might want to check out Jeff's Free 5 day E-course it will teach you all the basics and a whole lot more!

If you have any questions about the forums or need any help navigating around don’t hesitate to ask or send me a PM, I am more than happy to help out!

 

DanMcG

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Feb 3, 2009

5,682

2,900

Central NY

• Dec 30, 2012

• #5

Hey Jan, Been a while, ain't talked to ya in what?........days. lol
Join right in brother , and stop into chat about 8-9 pm est, 11-12 am your time I think.

 

crustyo44

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 26, 2011

31

10

Brisbane Australia

• Dec 31, 2012

• #6

Hi Dan,

It has been a long time, the story is always the same when retired, Son comes over and needs help in our business as he is flat out.

Last time he asked for help for 3 months, it lasted nearly 2 years and 3 months.

Luckily I will have more time to ask questions and contribute some of my limited know-how.

Next month I will have 2 new ends screwed onto my knees bones, so plenty of time to get involved here.

I am still trying to find my way around the forum, for a simple soul like me and a computer nerd to boot, it is rather complicated.

I read the messages above and everybody is ready to help. That's what I like about these forums.

Cheers,

Jan.

 

crustyo44

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 26, 2011

31

10

Brisbane Australia

• Dec 31, 2012

• #7

Hi,

Do we have a section on building curing chambers. I have enough 4"insulated panels to build a 5'x8'x7'H or slightly bigger coolroom/ curing chamber combined. Cooling will be provided by a small window airconditioner, Heating in winter here by a small electric fan or bar heater, humidity by the usual equipment and controls.

Any advise on using a refrigerated airconditioner and heater, as both have fans. Could this be detrimental to drying and curing sausages and whole muscle meat such as Coppa, Brescaola etc etc.

We live in a Sub-Tropical climate with summer temperatures sometimes up to 37 C degrees with 80-90% humindity.

All advise will be noted down for easy access so stuff-up can be circumvented.

Thank you,

Jan.

 

DanMcG

Smoking Guru

OTBS Member

SMF Premier Member

Feb 3, 2009

5,682

2,900

Central NY

• Jan 1, 2013

• #8

I don't believe there's a section for curing chambers, but there are a number of people on here that built them, so maybe they'll chime in.

I like the idea of using the a/c unit to cool it but I'm not sure where your humidity would end up. I guess that would be a trial and error thing.
I'd also be concerned with the breeze the unit will be making, a little air flow is good, to much and you'll get case hardening. might have to hang a curtain around them or something to keep them out of the direct draft.

 

crustyo44

Fire Starter

Original poster

Thread starter

Jul 26, 2011

31

10

Brisbane Australia

• Jan 1, 2013

• #9

Hi Dan,

That curtain idea is great, now you mention it, I have just the right heavy see-through material in mind. We use the same material to weatherproof golf carts.

Case hardening has been my main concern. Refrigerated airconditioners do blow a lot of cold air, especially in a small curing chamber/coolroom.

There again, they would bring the temperature down quickly to what the controller says and with heavy insulation would not start up too often.

Regards,

Jan.