Eli5 How come “aging” food doesn’t make it spoil?

Question

Things like “dry aged” steak.

In: 69

Answer 1

Well, in the case of your example, steak is dried in a controlled environment. They keep it at the right temperature and humidity to stop bacteria from growing. They also use a lot of salt. The same goes with aging cheeses. Salt and dry conditions allow it to age without letting bad bacteria take hold.