Jerky was traditionally a way to store food during the winter or for long periods of travel. Because of this, it is one of the most simple foods to make. Traditionally, the only ingredient you need to make beef jerky is beef. However, if you want it to have a unique flavor, then you must also add spices.
Here are the four steps to making beef jerky.
Process of Making Beef Jerky
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Picking your cuts of meat and slicing them. First, you have to decide if you’re making jerky from ground meat or sliced meat. Sliced meat from whole muscle cuts, like how Jawbox Jerky creates their beef jerky, offers more nutritional value and a better taste than ground meat.
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Marinating the jerky for flavor.The second step is to marinate the beef jerky for flavor. Whether you choose to marinate it in soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce or stick with dry ingredients such as salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika, it’s important to give the jerky time to soak in the flavor.
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Laying and cooking the jerky. Next, it’s time to cook the meat. Cooking beef jerky can be a careful process because it involves both cooking the meat and dehydrating it to achieve the dried meat consistency. If you’re making jerky at home, you may want to use a dehydrator or cook on a low oven followed by another drying process. However, it is a little easier if you have a commercial method of making beef jerky.
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Packaging and eating!Finally, it’s time to package and eat your jerky. If you make beef jerky at home, it can stay fresh for about a week in your pantry and for up to two weeks in your refrigerator. For commercially sold beef jerky, it’s best to review the instructions on the package to make sure your jerky is stored properly.
If you’re looking for a quality snack that is high-protein and can keep you full for a long time, then you may be interested in eating beef jerky. Beef jerky is one of the easiest snacks to make, and it is perfect for people on the go, children, and as a post-gym pick me up.
