Hello newbee with a question

[Mike Eaket]

I found out about dry aging from another fourm I belong too, Bradley Smoker Forum. As soon as I saw the pictures of the aged beef, I knew this was something I had to do.

I do have a question about my beer fridge. My beer fridge in the garage is a fridge only, it does not have a freezer. It is a new fridge but I am not sure if it is frost free, with out having a freezer???

thanks for all your help

Mike

[Ron Pratt]

Welcome aboard, Mike – glad you have joined our merry band of meat agers!

First of all you don’t need nor want to user a freezer compartment even if you had one. As for it being frost free or not how old is it? Even more important how big is it? If it’s just one of those small “dorm room” size you’re have a problem as the aging involves steady cold temperature but also the removal of the moisture from the inside air once the meat starts to release the water. If it isn’t removed then you run the risk of mold and not so friendly bacteria.

Ron

[Mike Eaket]

Hello Ron

Thank you for your reply. It is a full size fridge, about 2 years old, and I understand that you dry age in the fridge not the freezer. I was just thinking that if there is not a freezer compartment, the fridge might not run the frost free cycle, like a fridge with a freezer?
I have ordered a starter set of bags and want to be ready for when they arrive to get my first one started.

MIke

[Ron Pratt]

Mike – we actually have a certified refrigeration guy on our forum and I hope he pops in to answer, but personally I find it hard to believe that new of a refrig isn’t frost free. I mean the freezer is nothing more than a plug in component that can be left off – like in yours or installed while the frost free has more to do with the compressor and the air circulation. I’d bet dollars to donuts that you will be fine. BTW being your beer frig also means you will be opening and closing it from time to time and the exchange of air is a good thing – you’ll be fine IMHO. Ron

[Mike Eaket]

I thought I would log the temp and humidity in my fridge. Here are the results after a day and half.

The temp bounced from 2.5 (36.5F) to 3.5 (38.3) and the humidity 48% to 58%

Not sure if that is a frost free cycle at Wed 3AM where the temp went up to 10.0 (50F)
for a half hour and the humidty to 90%. It didn’t happen again on Thursday 3AM.
I going to log more days and see if there is a pattern.

[Ron Pratt]

LOL – oh BOY…you have that kind of gear and linkage to your computer to monitor the aging meaning you’ll be taking this process to a whole new level on this forum LOL

BTW I have a Thermoworks hydrometer that I have used in my early days of aging and found the humidity fluctuated like a roller coaster – again I bet you’ll be fine.

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