Got beef?

[DrDonnyBrago]

Jerky that is.

Thought I'd show you all my produce, any other BCFers make their own beef jerky?

I have been making this every now and then for about 3 years now, I have tried various combinations of herbs, spices, sweetness, sauces, methods etc etc etc but this is the one I make most often. You can essentially use whatever you want in the marinade but I feel that the essential ingredients for an awesome jerky are beef stock, a source of sweetness (sugar/honey), salt, wholegrain mustard and pepper. To this add whatever flavours you want; chilli, worcester sauce, soy sauce, chinese 5 spice, various curry spices, BBQ spices etc etc all work excellently.


Step 1: The beef; I generally use cheap frying steak as sold in supermarkets as it is quite lean and generally the correct thickness (7-10mm). I have used beef joints and cut them to size (freezing slightly beforehand helps in getting a straight cut) and this time I used something I haven't tried before, precut frozen beef strips from Asda. They worked well but several pieces had large fatty sections which make the final product spoil quicker than a lean jerky.
https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06205.jpg


Step 2: Assemble your ingredients; this can be pretty much anything you want as mentioned above. I haven't actually ever written down the recipe so it is slightly different each time but what you are aiming for is a really rich, sweet and beefy sauce for your marinade. Several stock cubes help tremendously.

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06204.jpg

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06208.jpg

Step 3: Marinade it overnight in the fridge.

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06209.jpg

Step 4: Dry your beef. The best thing to use is a purpose made food dehydrator, I tried several ways prior to buying one but they were all crap. using the oven on a low heat for several hours didn't really work and would use a lot of energy, a fan oven might be better though.

I got my dehydrator a few years ago from a german mail order company called westfalia, cost me about £35.

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06211.jpg

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06212.jpg

Step 6: Leave it to dry for 5/6 hours, test a few pieces here and there, you want a flexible dark coloured meat at the end. Rotate the pieces and the trays around to get an even drying.

Eat your beef, marvel at the taste and laugh at those eating inferior supermarket jerky at stupid prices. I used to take mine to work/the gym/uni/night clubs in case I got hungry, it can look like drugs if wrapped in foil though.

https://i1015.photobucket.com/albums/af271/DonnyBrago/DSC06213.jpg


Interested to hear if we have any other jerky manufacturers out there .

[colin1]

Excellent !

Unfortunately, this means I now want a dehydrator.
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colin1 is officially faster than god

[DrDonnyBrago]

[yuri2085]

Mm I want beef jerky.

[Whosthedaddy]

Pffft Jerky? Biltong baby!

I did try making Biltong once but found a RSA shop that makes it our back so just bought lbs of i till I felt sick. Not had it since, quite fancy some chili jerky mind?
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[WishayKillie]

Never made Jerky but I did have a go at making Biltong last year at work. I started a thread on it but cant be arsed digging it up.
We used silver side beef, great big 5kg chunk and cut it into medium strips. Marinade it overnight (6 hrs) in worchestershire sauce, salt (lots), pepper and chopped up birds eye chillies.
Hung it up in the Engine Room for 2 days and then proceeded to stuff my face.
Cant do it at my new rig, the boss wont allow it

Here are my efforts:

Hanging in the engine room

https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/WishayKillie/P9141045.jpg


https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/WishayKillie/P9141047.jpg


On the Desk ready to eat:

https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/WishayKillie/P9141052.jpg

https://i62.photobucket.com/albums/h99/WishayKillie/P9141049.jpg


I had wanted to try and make some at home but the wife wasnt too happy. So I just order it online from Susmans
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[colin1]

I love the use of paper clips.

I dont have an engine room or a dehydrator, but I do have an airing cupboard.

I'm not sure theres enough air movement though.

I guess maybe if I just did a small amount at a time...
____________________
colin1 is officially faster than god

[WishayKillie]

[oldpink]

[Louise]

Have done my own Jerky before - but used the oven method (low heat, door slightly open) Worked well but as above - too much energy and drained my eletric.
Turned out very nice tho!

[colin1]

[TUG]

[DrDonnyBrago]

I did read about using a cardboard box and a light bulb on an american forum years ago, never tried it though. For the sake of a free box and old lamp I should have given it a go, I'd be wary of starting a fire though.

Wishay, the engine room beef strips look great, could you taste the engine oil?

[WishayKillie]

[Pickledswede]

Someone I know built their own 'cupboard' out of wood, pretty cheap to do, and then just put a light bulb in it. Works really well!