Am I about to mess up my dried beef?

[yance]

I've had a 3.5 lb eye curing with TQ and BS for 14 days.  Took it out this afternoon for its cold water soak, (actually about 4 hours), then into the fridge to dry and pellicle.  I have to take care of some other business for a few days and it looks like Thursday will be the earliest I can smoke/cook it.

My question is;  Will my cured eye cuts be OK just drying in the fridge for 4 or 5 days or should I freeze them for now and finish them off later?

Hopefully I won't have a scheduling conflict when my Canadian bacon  and belly slabs are ready to come out.

TIA

 

[daveomak]

Freeze and dry later.... Freezing will rupture the meat cell walls letting out moisture, which is what you want for dried beef....  it's the ice crystals that cut the cells...... 

Dave

 

[yance]

Thanks Dave.  Plans changed, (truck problems halfway to my destination), so it's now in my MES with Todd's AMNPS full of Pitmaster Blend pellets.