Skip to main content

Dry-Age Your Own Steaks with UMAi Dry

Charcuterie Capicola Cut UMAi
Image used with permission by copyright holder
Feasting is our column dedicated to cooking, grilling, eating and discovering what’s on the menu across America and the world.

For many, especially if you live in a small apartment, the thought of dry aging your own beef or curing charcuterie at home is daunting. There are space and time issues, not to mention the risk of getting it wrong and serving bad meat to yourself or others. Luckily, for those who’ve been wanting to try the process at home but want to do it safely and effectively, UMAi Dry Artisan Meat Kit is here to make it possible.

Born of the belief that food, especially meat, should be respected and celebrated rather than mass-produced, UMAi Dry makes it possible to dry age steak and cure traditional charcuterie without the need for large dedicated spaces or expensive equipment. Within the past 50 years, wet aging has almost completely replaced dry, making that distinctive, nutty, rich flavor almost a delicacy. But everyone should have access to this kind of quality, which is the mission UMAi Dry stands behind.

UMAi Dry
Image used with permission by copyright holder

“I deeply appreciate the tradition and artistry of food,” Thea Lopatka, company co-founder, said. “Having grown up with a father who was passionate about food – and a charter subscriber to Gourmet Magazine – I was taught and still believe meat deserves to be eaten with respect.”

Related: How to Cure Prosciutto at Home

UMAi Dry
Image used with permission by copyright holder

So how exactly does UMAi Dry work? Using a special polymer membrane to seal the meat, it allows moisture release and oxygen exchange to dry-age beef in your refrigerator in just four to six weeks, no hanging or storage rooms required. During the process, a hard mahogany bark forms over the meat with no mess or odor. When the meat is ready, simply shave away the bark to reveal a beautifully tender and juicy dry-aged piece of meat. Charcuterie cures perfectly in one to six months, resulting in traditional, cave-quality capicola, bresaola, pancetta and more.

Want to learn more? Check out the video below to watch the process in action, and grab your own kit at drybagsteak.com.

Editors' Recommendations

Amanda Gabriele
Amanda Gabriele is a food and travel writer at The Manual and the former senior editor at Supercall. She can’t live without…
Costco Kirkland products are actually items made by Duracell, Keurig, Reynolds, Starbucks, and other big names
You've been getting a deal on top-end products all along
Costco storefront

There's something pretty astonishing that starts happening to everyone around the mid-30s mark. A pure, unadulterated love for Costco. Sure, there may have been a healthy appreciation in those younger years. A love for the $1.50 hot dog and soda deal, perhaps. An impromptu trip here or there with a parent whose card got you through the door. But somewhere between a first mortgage and a couple of kids, you probably started seeing the signs. They start subtly - a lingering gaze at the stacked sweatpants, tempting you with their fleecy softness. Asking the hair-netted sample lady if those mini artichoke quiches are organic. Before you know it, you have your own damned membership card, and all of your gym socks come in packs of 24. It's happened to the best of us. And with this adoration for Costco inevitably comes the love for all things Kirkland, the beloved Costco brand whose label is stuck on just about anything you can find in the enormous store, from batteries to rotisserie chickens.

But have you ever wondered where those Kirkland products come from? If you're anything like us, you may have just mindlessly assumed that there was some humungous Kirkland factory spewing out all of these products on some obscure, magical Nebraskan farm. Or, perhaps you're more rational than that and actually realized that many Kirkland-labeled products are not uniquely Costco's at all. Many of Costco's popular Kirkland products actually come from big brand-name companies that allow Costco to rebrand them for a fee. Perhaps even more surprising is that this isn't anything new or a process that's only used by Costco. Many retailers tap big-name brands to do this.

Read more
Apple cider vinegar: Should you really be taking shots of this pungent potion?
We love a good fermented food, but should you be drinking this one?
an acv shot on table

Wanting to look and feel your best is natural. Feeling this way allows you to live life to the fullest, nail a workout, focus on the job, and sleep better. Thanks to the internet and especially social media, there is no shortage of ideas on achieving longevity and enjoying life. One such way is consuming apple cider vinegar daily.

The pantry staple for salad dressings and marinades can purportedly help you lose weight, manage blood sugar, and improve heart health. Kim Kardashian called a raw version of Bragg Apple Cider Vinegar a "miracle ingredient." No shame if you loved yourself a good Keeping Up With the Kardashians marathon. However, taking medical advice from a Kardashian isn't recommended, and not every social media fad is a good one.
Believe it or not, there is some science behind the purported benefits of apple cider. Still, you'll proceed cautiously, especially if you are living with certain conditions. Here's what to know about reported apple cider vinegar weight loss benefits and more.

Read more
Portland’s VooDoo Doughnut voted most overrated tourist attraction in the world (and we know why)
We welcome you to Portland - and we won't take you to VooDoo, we promise
Austin, Texas USA - January 27, 2020: Selection of donuts on display in a colorful case at Voodoo Doughnuts in a popular specialty doughnut chain shop

 

What was once a Portland novelty has grown into a brand synonymous with the Rose City. En route, VooDoo Doughnut grew a little too big for its own good and lost sight of the same eccentric sweets that made it famous.

Read more