Ultimate Guide to Making Jerky
You can make jerky out of pretty much anything. Here is a guide to make fantastic jerky
Ingredients
- 2-3 lbs Lean meat beef, venison, turkey, etc.
- 1/4 cup soy sauce
- 1/4 cup Worcestershire Sauce
- 2 tbsp brown sugar
- 2 tspn smoked paprika
- 1 tspn garlic powder
- 1 tspn onion powder
- 1/2 tspn black pepper
- 1/2 tspn cayenne pepper
Instructions
- Choose your meat. For the best results, choose a lean cut of meat like beef eye of round or top round, venison, or turkey breast. You can also use fish, like salmon or trout.
- Trim any excess fat from the meat and cut it into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thick. Make sure the strips are all roughly the same size so that they'll dry evenly.
- Mix the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar, smoked paprika, garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using) together in a large bowl.
- Add the meat strips to the bowl and toss them in the marinade until they're fully coated. Cover the bowl with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 4 hours, or overnight.Preheat your oven or dehydrator to 160°F (70°C).
- Arrange the meat strips on a wire rack or dehydrator tray, leaving a little bit of space between each piece. You can also use a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake or dehydrate the meat for 4-6 hours, or until it's dry and chewy. Check the meat periodically and rotate the racks if necessary to ensure even drying.
- Once the jerky is done, remove it from the oven or dehydrator and let it cool completely. Store it in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a month, or in the fridge or freezer for longer storage.
Notes
Tips:
- If you like your jerky spicy, you can increase the amount of cayenne pepper in the marinade, or sprinkle some hot sauce over the meat before drying.
- For a smokier flavor, you can use liquid smoke in the marinade or add a pinch of smoked salt to the seasoning mix.
- To make sure the meat dries evenly, try to cut the strips against the grain of the meat.
- You can also experiment with different marinade flavors, like teriyaki or barbecue, to give your jerky a unique twist.