Started By
Message

Any jerky cooks here?

Posted on 12/30/18 at 6:36 pm
Posted by Relham10
Ridge
Member since Jan 2013
15657 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 6:36 pm
Always loved eating jerky but recently started thinking about making my own. Thinking about purchasing a small smoker, nothing large scale. Also I've seen a few books on jerky making, any recommendations for a good book that covers everything jerky and recipes?
Posted by Jones
Member since Oct 2005
90534 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 6:43 pm to
I would just get a dehydrator like this.

Get an eye of round and have the butcher or yourself slice it as thin as you can get it.

I dont use a smoker at all. I marinate the meat and put it straight into the dehydrator. Unless I want a specific taste, I just start dumping stuff in the ziplocs to marinate.

Make a bunch because when I do, my friends eat the shite like its crack


Posted by TigerstuckinMS
Member since Nov 2005
33687 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:31 pm to
Alton Brown makes jerky with a box fan, two bungee cords, and 4 or 5 air conditioner filters.
Posted by GregMaddux
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2011
18212 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:34 pm to
I own one like that. Works great. Smoked jerky isn’t dry enough. Just my opinion

Eye of round. Cut with the grain. I hate liquid smoke and I like jerky that takes 5 minutes to eat.

ETA not sure how there could be multiple pages of words on jerky making.

Eta occasionally I see eye of round on sale for 2.99. It’s rare but it happens. Buy that shite up.
This post was edited on 12/30/18 at 7:38 pm
Posted by Stadium Rat
Metairie
Member since Jul 2004
9560 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:36 pm to
Look up Monteal Steak Seasoning beef jerky. It's excellent!
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15153 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:49 pm to
quote:

I would just get a dehydrator like this.


I second the dehydrator idea. That is what I've used for years and have made a few hundred pounds of the stuff.

I'll get eye of round roasts when on sale, cut them in slices across the grain about 3/16" thick then season the meat with salt, pepper, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, Worcestershire and a bit of soy sauce. Make sure all pieces are well coated and let this marinade overnight and mix it up a couple times while it is doing so.

Next day, break out the dehydrator and put the meat on the grates, turn it on and let it dry out. Just be sure to check the meat and turn it over at lease once as it dries. I don't let mine dry completely to where it is like a stiff piece of cardboard, but I also don't want it limp. There is a happy medium you can achieve that is to your liking.

With a normal size eye of round I can get between 45-50 slices off it and I'll put the finished stuff in quart freezer bags and freeze what I don't plan to use in a few days. It does freeze well under those conditions, but would be better if vacuum sealed if you have that appliance.
Posted by GregMaddux
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2011
18212 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 7:54 pm to
Pro tip. Take it off the dehydrator lay me down on a pan and stick it in the fridge to cool before putting in ziploc bags.

Pro tip 2. Marinating for more than a day does nothing.
Posted by Bill Parker?
Member since Jan 2013
4473 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:03 pm to
I've used a cheap Nesco dehydrator for years. It takes longer than the more expensive dehydrators, but with jerky it's not too bad.

If you're serious about it, go ahead and buy an Excalibur dehydrator. It has more trays and will be more efficient.
Posted by gumbo2176
Member since May 2018
15153 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:08 pm to
quote:

If you're serious about it, go ahead and buy an Excalibur dehydrator. It has more trays and will be more efficient.


LOL, mine is the tried and true "Mr. Coffee" dehydrator I've had for more years than I can remember. it has 5 trays and I can get about 3/4 of the meat I cut on it to start drying. Naturally, the lower pieces dry faster since they are closer to the heat source as the warm air blows upward, but it is doable with just a bit of attention.

I want to build a cold smoker in my back yard so I can also smoke salmon and other types fish. My bullet smoker cooks it more than smokes it since it tends to get a bit too hot, even with little coals.
Posted by BRgetthenet
Member since Oct 2011
117720 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:09 pm to
quote:

Alton Brown makes jerky with a box fan, two bungee cords, and 4 or 5 air conditioner filters.




This post was edited on 12/30/18 at 8:11 pm
Posted by Fourteen28
Member since Aug 2018
1156 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:46 pm to
quote:


I dont use a smoker at all.


I can't disagree with this enough. My jerky went up 5 levels when I switched from a dehydrator to a smoker.

Alton Browns methods are usuable, but they are primarily geared toward novices. There's a reason all of the best been jerky are made in SMOKEhouses.
Posted by BRgetthenet
Member since Oct 2011
117720 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:50 pm to
quote:

There's a reason all of the best been jerky are made in SMOKEhouses.





And take days, or close to a week, to be done properly.
Posted by pdubya76
Sw Ms
Member since Mar 2012
5978 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:56 pm to
I hot smoke mine over hickory and pecan wood. I’ll marinate 4-6 hours prior to smoking. I prefer that to a dehydrator but to each his own.
Posted by Fourteen28
Member since Aug 2018
1156 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 8:56 pm to
If you're making hundreds of pounds maybe. If you're doing this at home, prep/marinate on day 1, smoke/eat on day 2.
Posted by Tigertown in ATL
Georgia foothills
Member since Sep 2009
29206 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 9:07 pm to
quote:

Any jerky cooks here?


There are a few who are a bit abrasive from time to time.
Posted by thegreatboudini
Member since Oct 2008
6457 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 9:24 pm to
I got a dehydrator last week. I’ve done 2 pounds of jerky so far, and doing another pound and a half tomorrow.

It’s as easy and fool proof as it gets. I don’t know why I didn’t start doing this years ago.
Posted by Relham10
Ridge
Member since Jan 2013
15657 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 9:30 pm to
Thanks for all the replies. I seem to remember a book at cabela's that had a bunch of different jerky recipes in it, that's what I was refering to. I'll give the dehydrator method a try and see if that turns out the way I'm looking for.
Posted by highcotton2
Alabama
Member since Feb 2010
9410 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 9:39 pm to
quote:

Smoked jerky isn’t dry enough. Just my opinion


A lot of this stuff people call jerky like Jack Links is not really what I consider to be true beef jerky. Jerky should be able to last at least a week without refrigeration. Most of the store bought stuff tells you to refrigerate after opening and to consume it within 3 days.
Posted by Degas
2187645493 posts
Member since Jul 2010
11398 posts
Posted on 12/30/18 at 11:46 pm to
quote:

And take days, or close to a week, to be done properly.
Days? Who has the time for that? Also, how is anyone supposed to know what they'll want to eat days from now?

oh, wait...I thought this was a sous vide thread. nm
Posted by NickyT
Patty's Pub
Member since Jan 2007
8612 posts
Posted on 12/31/18 at 12:24 am to
Novice question can you not dehydrate jerky or any other food in a oven at a very low temp?
first pageprev pagePage 1 of 2Next pagelast page

Back to top
logoFollow TigerDroppings for LSU Football News
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to get the latest updates on LSU Football and Recruiting.

FacebookTwitterInstagram