The tough beef jerky you can buy in packages may be convenient, but it lacks the flavor and quality of homemade beef jerky. A food dehydrator can enable you to make beef jerky at home easily. Choose an inexpensive cut of beef and infuse strong flavors into the meat to create jerky that will tantalize the taste buds. Follow safe preparation guidelines to ensure that you minimize bacteria in the beef before drying it.
Instructions
1. Place the flank steak onto the cutting board and slice it into 1/8-inch thick strips, slicing it with the grain. Transfer the slices to the shallow dish and spread them out evenly in the dish.
2. Mix the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, honey, liquid smoke, pepper, onion powder, garlic powder, salt and paprika in the small bowl. Pour the marinade ingredients over the beef in the glass dish.
3. Cover the dish and refrigerate the beef for at least six hours.
4. Dry each strip gently with a paper towel and place them onto the dehydrator trays, making sure the strips do not touch.
5. Set the dehydrator temperature to 160 degrees Fahrenheit and wait until the dehydrator reaches this temperature. After reaching 160 , turn the temperature down to 130 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
6. Allow the beef to dehydrate in the dehydrator until the meat is completely dry and lacks moisture -- approximately four hours.
7. Remove the beef jerky from the dehydrator and allow it to cool completely on the trays. Store the jerky in a sealed plastic container for up to two months.
Tags: beef jerky, degrees Fahrenheit