The present invention provides methods for preparing hygienic dried meat products and biltong hygienic dried meat products, the method includes cutting uncooked meat into uncooked meat slices, immersing said meat slices in a vinegar solution for up to twenty minutes to form soaked meat slices, air drying the soaked meat slices for less than 72 hours to form the biltong hygienic dried meat product having at least 100,000 fold less microbes than the uncooked meat.
