Cured meat products

Meat is a valuable nutritious food that if untreated will spoil within a few days.  However, there are a number of preservation techniques that can be used at a small scale to extend its shelf life by several days, weeks or months. Some of these processing methods also alter the flavour and texture of meat, which can increase its value when these products are sold. This Technical Brief gives an overview of the types of cured meat products that are possible to produce at a small scale of operation. It does not include sausages, burgers, pâtés and other ground meat products. These are more difficult to produce at a small scale because of the higher costs of equipment and the specialist technical knowledge required, or because they pose a greater risk of causing food poisoning.