Make Beef Jerky Yourself: How to Make Your Homemade Jerky Especially Delicious

Beef Jerky is not only delicious and practical, but also rich in proteins and numerous other nutrients. Do you feel like making the tasty snack yourself? We will tell you how to do it.

Making Beef Jerky Yourself: What Do I Need?

To make beef jerky in your own kitchen, you actually don't need much. The most important things are a suitable piece of beef and a very sharp kitchen knife. In addition, you need a marinade or spice mix of your choice. A food dehydrator is particularly suitable for drying the strips. If you don't have one, don't worry – you can also use the oven instead.

What Meat Do I Need for Beef Jerky?

For making beef jerky, you need beef with a relatively low fat content. Too much fat would negatively affect the drying process, shelf life, and texture. Suitable cuts are especially from the back, hip, and hind leg. It is also important that you use particularly fresh and high-quality meat. The better the fresh meat used, the tastier your finished jerky will be.

In our article "Which Meat is Suitable for Beef Jerky?" you will find more detailed information on this topic.

Beef Jerky Recipe: How to Make Delicious Jerky

Once you have found a suitable piece of meat, you can start right away. However, keep in mind that a lot of weight is lost during drying – from one kilogram of beef, usually between 300 and 400 grams of beef jerky are produced.

Prepare a Marinade of Your Choice

Before you start processing the meat, you should prepare a marinade of your choice. Here you can let your creativity run free or stick to a classic recipe. Simply mix all ingredients in a bowl. Alternatively, you can also just use salt and pepper or a ready-made mix. However, it is important that you use salt or soy sauce to marinate your meat to extend its shelf life.

Here you will find a recipe for a classic American jerky marinade:

Ingredients for the Beef Jerky Marinade:

• approx. 180 milliliters Worcestershire sauce
• approx. 180 milliliters soy sauce
• 1 tablespoon smoked paprika
• 1 tablespoon honey or sugar
• 2 tablespoons pepper
• 1 tablespoon chili flakes
• 1 tablespoon onion powder
• 1 tablespoon garlic powder

Cut Your Meat into Strips

First, shape your meat with a very sharp knife into the desired form. If you put the beef in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours beforehand, it will be easier to cut. First remove visible fat and connective tissue. Then carefully cut the meat into thin strips about 4 to 5 millimeters thick. To avoid long meat fibers, it is recommended to cut the meat across the grain. Alternatively, you can use a slicer.

Marinate Your Strips

Then place your meat strips in the marinade or spice mix. Make sure all pieces are evenly covered. Let the marinade work for about 4 hours or overnight in the refrigerator. Then take the strips out of the sauce and dry them thoroughly with a kitchen towel.

Dry Your Strips

Now comes probably the most important step in making beef jerky: drying. Spread your marinated strips on a slatted rack or directly in the dehydrator. Make sure the pieces do not touch each other.

If you have a dehydrator, you should plan for the drying process to take about 10 to 12 hours. Set the machine to a temperature of 45°C. To achieve the most even drying possible, you can swap the racks in the machine every two hours. The bottom rack moves to the top and the upper ones each move one level down. A dehydrator offers the advantage that both the flavor and nutrients of the meat are particularly well preserved.

If you don't have a dehydrator and decide to dry in the oven, you should pay attention to a low temperature. In most cases, it is recommended to set the lowest temperature. Set the oven to convection and be sure to place a wooden spoon in the door to allow moisture to escape better. For even drying, you should turn the meat after about four hours. After 8 hours, you should check about once an hour whether your strips have reached the desired consistency.

Enjoy Your Beef Jerky

Once your homemade dried meat is ready, you should let it cool well and then consume it quickly or store it properly. In our article "How to Store Your Beef Jerky Properly" you will learn what you need to consider.

Does making beef jerky seem too complicated, you don't find enough free time, or are you not satisfied with your result? In our shop, you will find numerous different flavors that you can enjoy without any effort.

Frequently Asked Questions: Making Beef Jerky Yourself

What do I need to make dried meat myself?

To make dried meat yourself, you actually only need a good piece of meat, a sharp knife, and an oven or dehydrator.

How long does homemade beef jerky last?

The shelf life of beef jerky depends on the type of storage. If you store it properly, it usually lasts 1 to 2 months.

Is homemade beef jerky healthy?

Beef jerky has the advantage of being rich in protein. How healthy your homemade jerky is depends primarily on the quality of the ingredients used. The better the meat and the ingredients for the marinade, the healthier your dried meat will be.