Building a Curing Chamber.

Making cured meats at home can be difficult since you have to precisely control temperature, humidity and air speed.  We only are about to make them during the winter months when the cold cellar is at the ideal temperature.  I wanted to have an automated temperature and humidity rooms were the temperatures can be kept around 49-58 degrees and humidity at 60-95%.

*The project is now finished and we can start dry aging all year around.

Project Participants:  Me and My Dad

Making cured meats at home can be difficult since you have to precisely control temperature, humidity and air speed.  We only are about to make them during the winter months when the cold cellar is at the ideal temperature.  I wanted to have an automated temperature and humidity rooms were the temperatures can be kept around 49-58 degrees and humidity at 60-95%.

The problem with a refrigerator is that the temperature range is between 32-40º F such temperatures are not needed during fermenting and drying sausages. First we striped down an old refrigerator and clean all parts and made sure everything was working. I also removed a lot of the plastic covering and added installation. That is not in the above picture.

I did some research and there is a device called a line voltage thermostat. It is an electronic temperature controller that overrides the refrigerators thermostat. The refrigerator is unplugged and then plugged into the temperature control which is plugged into the electrical outlet. The refrigerator’s thermostat is not controlling temperature anymore and is taken over by the temperature sensor in the controller, which is inserted into the refrigerator. This is the  box with the short cord on the outside of the refrigerator.

Humidity control is much harder to accomplish than temperature. We installed a outlet inside the refrigerator. Then I purchased a humidity controller.  You plug a humidifier into the controller then plug the controller into the outlet that’s inside the refrigerator. The sensor can be set to any level and will turn on or off when the desired level is reached.  Below are a few pictures of the installation.

We have a few more steps and then I will be able to cure anything at any time. I am hoping It will hold about 20lbs of product.