Making meat jerky is a fun way to do some experimenting. There are many recipes to choose from, and they are all valid! So we do not have to limit ourselves to just one type of jerky. They are a very diverse category of food, so we can have some pretty nice sticks!
The main component of meatJerky is the grind. There are several different grinds used for making jerky, each with their own flavor and texture. The best ones are use coarsely ground meat, fat, and connective tissue. The balance of these elements in one stick varies by recipe.
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Remove visible fat
Once you have discovered your optimal temperature for meat, the next step is to figure out how to make your meat less fat.
Most people cook meat in a pan or cast iron skillet for a few minutes and then puts it on a grill or stovetop so that it is hot after it is cooked.
This makes it very hard to tell the color of the meat as it cools and makes it very hard to change its temperature. To remove the fat from meat, you must first dry the meat thoroughly!
Dry-aging your meat can be done by putting the meat in a oven-proof dish, putting a cover on the oven if there is one, and leaving it at least one day without food or water. This requires some expertise in doing so, but we will get to that later!
Another way to reduce the fat on meat is to use grass-fed products. The majority of beef and lamb sold today is not grass-fed, which can make a big difference in how much fat you want in your food.
Cut into thin strips
Next, you want to make sure your meat is well-cooked. If it is very moist or wet, it will stick to the pan or roaster as it cooks.
Using a scalpel, you can easily cut into the meat to create a strip look. Try not to cut too deeply, or the jerky will be stringy. If that happens, add some more meat!
Make sure you are using enough meat to make your jerky thick and long-lasting. If you need to make a little bit more, use two more pieces of meat per batch!
Last thing to do is season your jerky! Some people like plenty of salt and pepper on their meat, so take those requirements into account when buying your meat.
Mix seasonings together
Once your meat is cut, the first step is to season it. You can do this either by mixing together the ingredients or by placing them in a container and mixing together. Both options are good!
In order to add the lactic acid that breaks down when mixed with meat, you must first mix together seasonings like garlic, basil, and pepper. This creates a key ingredient in your jerky — the rest of your mixture — which you can then combine with your meat of choice.
Make sure to use large amounts of salt and pepper for your mixture in order to create some thick, strong dogs. Look for brands that have less of a flavor than other brands may have but that include enough for the whole batch to have some flavor.
Dry season the meat strips
After you have trimmed the meat to your desired length, it is time to season the meat. This means that you must give it a brief dry period to take effect. This allows the meat to retain its crispness while cooking, as well as creating a more savory snack.
Many people make their meat jerky with beef, but we suggest keeping pork and chicken out of this recipe due to concerns over pork loin being too dry. To make this recipe even more savory and unique, add some raw vegetables like carrots, potatoes, or peas.
Dry-seasoning your meat will also help keep it from being wet and mushy when cooked. If you do not want to do this, then leave the piece of Meat into the casing in order for it to continue cooking.
Place in dehydrator until firm
When cooking meat, let it stand for about an hour after you take it out of the oven or grill until it is firm. This makes it easier to shred and cut.
If you cook right off the heat, this process is similar to grilling. You put your meat in the pan, turn up the heat, and let the meat cook until done.
This process may sound complicated, but it is really fun to do with a friend! You can do your own or other people’s meat while keeping cost down by using cold meat instead of warm.
Once cooked, try cutting into small pieces to make eating easier! If you like yours very thick, let them sit out a little time to become soft so you can easily shred and cut.
Finish drying with heat
Once the jerky is completely dry, it is time to wrap it up. If you did everything correctly, the jerky will break down with temperature and storage as it sits.
To make life easier, try using a vacuum-sealed bag to keep the meaty part of the package from getting damaged in storage.
Alternatively, cut off the top of one of your old bags and put in two new ones to create a second bag. You will have to do this twice due to expansion and contractions of the meat as it sits.
Put your jerky into the oven and let it sit for an hour or so before cutting into pieces. This ensures it gets nice and warm all through out and cuts down on any hardening of the lines or uneven heat distribution.
Mix additional seasoning with oil
When making meat jerky, there are a few key steps that you and your meaty friend must take. First, you have to decide what kind of flavor you want to add to your jerky. Then, you must mix some kind of oil with your meat!
Many people use vegetable oil instead of canola or peanut oil to make their jerky. This is a good choice if you do not want to eat the finished product. You can also use another type of oil if you do not like the flavor of coconut oil or olive oil.
You can experiment with these types of oils to find the one that works for you and your dog!
The second step is to mix the seasoning and/or water into the dry ingredients in your food. This helps get it mixed with your dog’s tissues and organs so it gets cooked properly.
Coat dried meat in oil/seasoning mixture
When making meat jerky, we recommend that you coat the meat in oil/seasoning mixture first. This helps to create a solid exterior that holds onto and contains the jerky inside. It also helps to create a source of moisture to help make your meaty treat stick.
We used canola/olive oil mixture for our meaty treats, but any type of oil will work. If you do not have canola or olive oil, use peanut oil or vegetable oil instead. Either of these would be fine!
Let the dogs enjoy their dog treats too! If you put them in a bag and let them play with it, they’ll enjoy trying to pull out the bag and get what is inside.
Make your dog treats last about a month if you keep giving them to your dogs every day.