What are you preserving by less common methods?

[moolie]

Storing cooked meat covered in fat is called "potting" and is a very old method of preservation

Or, one could go all fancy and French, and call it "confit"

Mais, oui!

 

[k15n1]

I use my frost free refrigerator to dry my jerky. After I have brined it, I lay it on a cooling rock on a cookie sheet and put it in the refrigerator. The refrigerator draws the moisture out of the meat. Works with anything you want to dehydrate. It is already on to cool your food so you are not wasting any energy to speak of.

Actually, your refrigerator and freezer use more energy when warm stuff is placed inside them. I've heard 0.1 kWH per lb [1]. And frost-free freezers use a lot more power than their old-fashion equivalent. I've heard it's double.



1. www.ext.colostate.edu/pubs/foodnut/08704.html