dried Chorizo Questions

[Franco]

I am looking into a similar system, if you go to any of the professional gardening suppliers they sell an even better system that controls the humidity with a very fine mist, I will post the address when I find it.

At the moment I use a baby's humidifier that I bought on ebay these are ideal for small scale production as they control the heat also.

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll? ... 67401&rd=1

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Franco

[aris]

Looking at Len Poli's site, I think he says to use a cool-mist humidifier (quite difficult to find in the UK). Reason being that though the warm-mist does keep the humidity up, it also warms the air.

Where exactly do you keep the warm-mist humidifier when maturing your salamis?

[Franco]

Aris,
in the first days of salami production you need a relatively high temperature, if you use a warm mist humidifier this is done by the machine, if you use a cool air humidifier you would need to find a seperate heat source, after the initial incubation high humidity isn't as critical.


Franco

[aris]

Ah, ok you are using this for the incubation phase - good idea. My big problem is the maturation. I don't really have any place with the right conditions.

[aris]

I tried the mini-fridge solution for air drying pancetta. It was too dry (10%), so I put in a pan with salted water. It increased humidity to 40% for a little while but the moisture clinged to the cooling element and then it droped down to 10% again. Now I have to defrost the unit since there's a big chunck of ice on the cooling element. I like Oddley's micro-climate idea. My GE fridge mainatains 40% humidity so I'll get a big tupperware with small holes and a pan of water inside.

I was thinking of the newer mini-fridges which run off 12v DC and do not use an element or compressor - rather they use the Peltier Effect to bring the temperature down.

[Paul Kribs]

Aris

You can get a warm mist / cool mist humidifier for �80.
http://www.healthy-house.co.uk/products/products.php?product_id=48&prod_gp_id=22

Regards, Paul Kribs