How to make beef jerky

Beef jerky is the epitome of high protein, low carb snacks. It is often the first snack people reach out for when trying to cut down on carbs. 

You may think that the store-bought beef jerky a good fit for your diet as it is just dried lean meat and some spices, right? Well, sorry to burst your bubble, but that’s not the case!

The amount of sugar and preservatives used will shock you. The best way to do some quality control is to make it in your kitchen by yourself. 

Contrary to popular belief, you do not require any fancy equipment to make it at home. Your oven will work just fine! Using a good cut of beef and the right ingredients, you can make flavourful jerky in a few hours.

Want to give it a go? Here’s how to make the best beef jerky!

The ingredients required

Most of the ingredients needed for making lip-smacking beef jerky in your kitchen are regular pantry staples. You can swap out the sauces and spices to create your favorite flavor.

• Worcestershire sauce- ¾ cup
• Soy sauce – ¾ cup
• Smoked paprika- 1 tablespoon (adjust it as per your taste)
• Honey- 1 tablespoon 
• Black pepper- 2 teaspoons (freshly ground will add more flavor)
• Red pepper flakes- 1 teaspoon
• Garlic powder- 1 teaspoon
• Onion powder- 1 teaspoon
• Beef- 2 pounds (thinly sliced)

Steps for making beef jerky in the oven

Step 1: Add the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, paprika, red pepper flakes, black pepper, onion powder, and garlic powder in a bowl. Combine the ingredients well.

Step 2:  Now take the thin slices of beef and drop it in the bowl. Please give it a good mix and make sure that all the slices are well coated with the marinade. Cover the container with a cling foil and let it marinate in the refrigerator for close to 3 hours. You can also leave it overnight.

Step 3: Preheat the oven to 80 degrees C (175 degrees F). Take a baking sheet and line it with an aluminum foil. Now take a wire rack and place it on top of the foil.

Step 4: Transfer the beef slices onto a paper cloth to dry. Discard the marinade. Take the beef slices and arrange it on the wire rack. Do not place the slices on top of each other. Line them in one layer.

Step 5: Bake the beef in the over until it is dry and leathery. This will take 3-4 hours. 

Step6: Remove it from the oven when done. Use a scissor to cut it into bite-sized pieces.

Cooking tips for making the beef jerky in an oven

Here are some useful tips to follow to make the best home-cooked beef jerky:

• One important thing to do when making beef jerky yourself is to prep the beef properly before putting it in the marinade. Start by trimming off the extra fat. If dried fat is present on it, the beef will turn rancid when kept at room temperature. So make sure to remove it.
• The next tip is to flash freeze the beef. This makes slicing the beef much easier. All you need to do is keep the beef in the freezer for 30–45 minutes before slicing it.
• If you want your dried beef jerky to have a tough-but-tender texture, cut the beef against the grain. Also, cut it in uniform slices to ensure even cooking.
• It is important to marinate the beef slices for at least 3 hours. This will allow the beef to soak in all the seasonings. If you want a stronger flavor, leave it overnight.
• Always use a wire rack on top of the baking sheet. This will let the marinade and juices drip down and dry the beef properly. It also makes cleaning up easier.
• Finally, do a taste test earlier than later. This way, you can prevent leaving it in the oven for too long and turning it into hard beef crackers.

Conclusion

Making beef jerky is not difficult at all, and now you have the perfect recipe too! Moreover, you can store it at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. So do give it a try! It is preservative-free, made with natural sweeteners, and is irresistibly delicious.

Reference

1. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerky