We love beef jerky here. Not the awful stuff full of ingredients I can’t pronounce but just jerky started with our beautiful grass fed beef or venison and a few seasonings. This is more of a basic how to and a basic flavor. Nothing fancy here.
This jerky will be dried but will not be truly shelf stable because it’s not cured. So I store mine in mason jars in the fridge or freezer , if I’m making a big batch. If we are going somewhere and need snacks, I will take it without worrying about refrigerating it but long term the jerky will need refrigeration to keep it fresh .
Start with 2 pounds of slightly frozen steak so it cuts easily and a sharp knife. Slice thinly with the grain, pressing the steak down with one hand and slicing underneath is what I find easiest. You want to trim all fat off, as much as you can.
After slicing, I toss my beef pieces in a marinade in a bowl and leave for 4 hours in the fridge, covered.
Marinade :
2 Tbsp honey , 2 Tbsp soy sauce , 1 tsp onion powder, 1 tsp garlic powder, 1/4 tsp salt , 1/2 tsp black pepper
Optional : 1/4 tsp cayenne pepper, a dash of liquid smoke
After marinading for 4 hours, take the jerky pieces and lay on a baking rack over a sheet pan. I usually do two to three racks at a time.
In the oven
With the oven on 175 degrees, place the racks in the oven and leave for approximately 4 -5 hours. You will want to check occasionally and remove any smaller pieces as they finish. You want the texture to be pliable, and the jerky dry but not hard or brittle.
Store immediately after cooling in vacuum packed small serving bags or mason jars in the fridge or freezer. It will keep a week in the fridge and three months in the freezer. Maybe longer but we’ve never had it last that long without it being eaten up!
Dehydrator
Place the slices of beef/ venison on your dehydrator racks and set the dehydrator to 155. It can take 7-8 hours to dry completely. The length of time it takes in the dehydrator will depend on the quality . I rotate my racks and turn them around in my Cabellas 6 Tray dehydrator.
Store as mentioned above.
Enjoy as a healthy, protein rich, whole food snack. I love jerky because it’s satisfying and filling so you don’t need a lot.
Love, Jenn xx