Typically, meat was salted and smoked to preserve it. Since food doesn't have a sell-by date in HnH, maybe it grants an extra benefit? Increases FEP by a percentage, since you're doing more work?
I wouldn't use a drying frame. The oven might be better.
I'd prefer salt coming from a new salt flat biome (think acre clay mud flats), where you can boil the crystallized water and extract the salt, or chip salt from crystals like people used to do before machinery.
I kinda hope they avoid the whole 'food has a lifespan' aspect in that thread. The game gets grindy enough at times as is, and I don't think it would add much to the gameplay or mechanics.