RECOMMEND A REFER?

[BRYAN]

My first attempt went wrong. I guess my refer wasnt frost free. I’m looking for a suitable dorm size refer to dry age my meat in, and will keep it at the proper temp. Does anyone have a suggestion as to what brand / model works best for them?

I dont have the room in my house refer, and the misses is not too keen on stashing meat for an extended period of time in there

I don’t want to screw up again – any help will be greatly appreciated

[Ron Pratt]

Bryan,
while the size seems ideal for the job the trouble is those units typically don’t have the proper circulation needed. In other words while they can provide the constant cold temperature the key in the dry aging is also the air flow. That permits the evaporation as the moisture is released by the meat. A year or so ago someone said that he uses a battery operated fan which sits inside his dorm size, but I don’t recall that he ever reported back if that worked. Let me see if I can locate some information for you.
Ron

[Ron Pratt]

found it!!! This is not a product endorsement – I just thought I could find it for you.

http://www.rvshop.com/FRIDGECOOL-FAN-WITH-ONOFF-SWITCH-BATTERY-OPERATED-BY-VALTERRA-A10-2606_p_54796.html
(You’ll have to cut and paste as direct links won’t show properly, even though the http:// prefix was included)

As for your comment about your wife not liking the idea of it aging in the bottom of the kitchen refrig – hopefully she’ll come around after enjoying the aged results. For some reason some people think it is a spoiling, rotting chunk of meat which it is NOT!

[BRYAN]

Thanks Ron, I did use that very same model fan in the frost free trial, and intend to use it on the next try, but till I can talk the wifey in to it, I’ll have to get another refer to do it in. I dont mind having a back up refer that I can use for beers in between dry aging.

I just want to get it right on the next try, so if anyone has had success with certain makes / models of dorm size refers, i’d appreciate a heads up. If not, then is there anything else i need to look into other than it being frost-free, wire shelving & 33 – 38 degrees with the fan?

[Ron Pratt]

Bryan, before you run out and buy a dorm size may I suggest you merely get an old used refrig for your garage? I don’t know where you live, but there is a supply of them that turn up in the want ads or even as trade ins at appliance stores. In our area however our utility has a program of offering people $50 for their old refrig plus they even come and haul it off, which means the inventory here has dried up of the cheapest ones, but $75 to $100 might get you one. Besides that you could paint the exterior with “Bad Bryon’s Beer Stash” or paint flames on it! hehehe
Ron

[BRYAN]

Thanks, I think I get it now. Thats why when I used a chest freezer, with an inline thermostat & a couple of those rv fans, it still didnt work good. It needs an internal fan that will draw air across an evaporator plate to collect / dispose of condensation, and dorm refers / converted chest freezers dont have that *frost free* capability.

We can get used frost free refers for @ $150, and I’m going to get one – better than wasting another $150 rib roast. feels like I stepped over a dollar to pick up a dime.

Thanks, Bryan

[Author]

Posts