Jerky tips, tricks, recipes?

[DevinLSU]

I just got a dehydrator and am interested in making jerky. Do you have any tips, tricks or recipes for a rookie? Thanks in advance!

 

[general mills]

I make jerky a few times a year to keep a good supply for hurricane's, long car vacations, hikes, ect. I made my own out of roasts and such, using different amounts of soy, brown sugar, teriaky, and they were all good, but the best liked in my house is the ground beef jerky made from the seasoning packs. http://www.lemproducts.com/category/jerky-seasoning. I'm ashamed to admit it, as I like to cook and make everything just about from scratch, but these do taste really good. I then seal them in foodsaver vacuum plastic in portions. Use the leanest ground beef you can get, 90+, and if you catch it on sale and make a lot, you can get away pretty cheap. I will defiantly be watching this tread to see what the resident experts contribute!

 

[kengel2]

My only tip, is dont cut the meat to thin if using a knife. I always cut it to thin and it shrivels up to hardly anything. If you think its to thick, its probably just right.

 

[YoungMarine]

Trim as much fat off meat as possible. I usually cut my jerky slices around 1/4" thick and marinate for 24 hours. Spray dehydrator trays with pam so meat doesn't stick. Rotate trays every few hours to check on it and make sure it cooks evenly. There are a lot of good recipes online, but you will find what you like best by tasting the marinade as you make it. You can make it in bulk and freeze in ziplocs to eat later on. I pulled some out of the freezer after 2 years and it still tasted like the day I made it after thawing. Good luck.

 

[DevinLSU]

Do y'all use a jerky gun for ground meat? What about time and temperature?

 

[cajun 22]

I use deer meat and it turns out pretty good. As kengel2 said, you have to cut it at least a 1/4" thick. I use a dehydrater and it takes about 10-12 hours @ 155 degrees.

 

[kengel2]

I never used ground meat, I let it go about 8 hours and even my to thin pieces come out pretty good, a little thicker piece would be perfect.

Sent from my LG-D850 using Tapatalk

 

[3fifty7]

I'll dig up my recipe from my grandfather tomorrow.
As said buy the leanest cuts you can and trim them.
I usually cut strips six by inch and a half by a quarter to three eights thick.
Let soak in marinade at 18-24 hours.
Dehydrate 18 - 24 hours rotating trays every 6

 

[general mills]

Do y'all use a jerky gun for ground meat? What about time and temperature?

Yeah, I use a jerky gun, works great.I shoot it in there as a spiral so I can get the most in, as I have a round dehydrator. time/temp? Mine is a cheap model with no temp control, I just leave it in there until it seems right, usually around 12 hours.

 

[general mills]

I should add, it took me a while to get the nerve to try it with ground beef, just seemed strange. Seemed like it would make me sick. It does not, it comes out really well, more like cheap commercial jerky (the kind always in the uniform sticks)

 

[BOSS351]

OK now ya'll have me thinking this might be a good Christmas gift for me to put on my list. I've never done it and don't know anything about making Jerky..Just know we like it and my kids love it too. Any suggestions for a newbie in this area. I am considered a very good cook in the kitchen and outdoors so I know my way around a kitchen so to speak...just don't know anything about dehydrating/drying meats. Any info greatly appreciated. Are any of the things at Cabelas worth a crap??? Thanks again to my brothers and sisters on BS!!!!!

 

[whitsend]

You can start without buying any special tools.

Pick a lean roast and have it sliced 1/4".
Marinate with you choice of seasoning.
Place in oven on the lowest heat setting. (cover bottom rack with foil to catch drippings) Prop the oven door open with a wooden spoon to let the moisture out.
Remove when meat is dried out.

You can lay the meat on the rack or hang it.

 

[Neil09]

How do you guys package it, and expected life?

 

[whitsend]

How do you guys package it, and expected life?

I just put mine in a ziploc bag because the expected like of homemade jerky in my house is under 2 weeks.

I have to hide a couple of bags so my boys don't eat it all.

 

[BOSS351]

So I take it most folks use an oven?? I thought you needed a dehydrator or something but I like the idea. I'm guessing the marinade and cut are the critical things?? This is getting interesting!

 

[DevinLSU]

I bought this
http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0090WOCN0/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?qid=1416344009&sr=8-1&pi=AC_SY200_QL40

 

[BOSS351]

Just read some information on them myself. Sounds like the Nesco and Excaliburs are highly rated..looks like a good choice.

 

[general mills]

How do you guys package it, and expected life?

I have this
http://www.foodsaver.com/vacuum-sealers/FSFSSL2244-P00.html#start=10

and I've eaten it after is has been sealed in this after a year and it was fine. Ate some the other day camping that had ridden in a cargo carrier on top of my car from here to the grand canyon and back in July, and it was fine. Really, I'm not sure it would go bad unless the seal was breached, although it may lose taste.

 

[general mills]

So I take it most folks use an oven?? I thought you needed a dehydrator or something but I like the idea. I'm guessing the marinade and cut are the critical things?? This is getting interesting!

I bought this
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/ope...-jerkymaster-dehydrator/pid-27945?N=837681304
at academy and it works great, but the oven will work just fine as well. The cuts and the salting are the critical things (to keep the diarrhea away!), marinade makes the taste.

I use this gun I got from academy
http://www.academy.com/shop/pdp/lem-0-75-lb-jerky-gun/pid-500243
and it also works great. Around here it is known as the meat cannon.

 

[XD45ACP]

Do you need to use sodium nitrate? Or is it just needed for long term preserving? I've made some before with out it and it was good, however, it didn't sit around long enough for much to go wrong with it. Btw, I have a Nesco, it works great.