How to Make Your Own Beef Jerky

How to Make Your Own Beef Jerky

If you're a fan of beef jerky, then this step-by-step guide on how to make your own delicious beef jerky is for you, my friend. With just a few simple ingredients and a bit of patience, you'll be enjoying the succulent flavors of homemade beef jerky in no time. So, let's get started! 

First, let's start with a list of some of the basic necessities: 

Beef Jerky Ingredients

  • Lean beef (More on this is step 1 below)
  • Worcestershire sauce
  • Soy Sauce
  • Garlic Powder
  • Onion Powder
  • Black Pepper
  • Cayenne Pepper
  • Brown Sugar
  • Dehydrator or oven

Once you have all of your ingredients, it's time to get started!

6 Steps to Making Beef Jerky

1. Choose your meat

The first step is to select the type of meat you want to use for your beef jerky. You can use any type of steak, but for the best flavor, we recommend using a leaner cut like flank or sirloin. Just make sure that whatever steak you choose is at least 1” thick so that it doesn't dry out during the cooking process.

2. Cut your meat into strips

Once you've selected your steak, it's time to cut it into strips that are about ¼” thick. Cutting the meat into thin strips is essential for making tender, flavorful beef jerky. If you have a hard time cutting the meat thinly enough, you can always put it in the freezer for about 30 minutes so that it's firm but not frozen solid.

3. Season your meat strips

Now it's time to add some flavor to your beef jerky! You can create any seasoning blend that you like, but we recommend using a combination of salt, pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika. Simply mix together your desired spices and rub them onto both sides of the meat strips.

4. Marinate the meat overnight

Once your beef strips are seasoned, place them in a large resealable bag and add your marinade of choice. We like to use a combination of apple cider vinegar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, and brown sugar—but feel free to get creative! Just make sure that all of the beef strips are evenly coated in the marinade before seal up the bag and placing it in the fridge overnight.

5. Dry your beef jerky strips

The next day, remove the beef strips from their marinade and pat them dry with paper towels. Then, Place them on an oven-safe rack that has been lined with foil or parchment paper and slide them into an oven preheated to 200°F. Bake for 3-4 hours or until the beef is no longer pink in the center.

6. Enjoy!

Once your homemade beef jerky is cooked through, Remove it from oven and let it cool completely before eating. Store any leftovers in an airtight container for up to 2 weeks. Jerky lasts up 3 months if stored in a freezer. But if we're being honest, it probably won't even last that long because it's just too delicious! 

Homemade beef jerky is both easy and fun to make. Following the steps above, you'll be able to whip up a batch of delicious beef jerky in no time at all! Enjoy!

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