Beef Jerky Maker/Dehydrator from a bar fridge!

This instrucable will show you how to make an easy jerky make/food dehydrator out of an old bar fridge!

Its not the prettiest thing in the world yet but it sure gets the job done.

I have also included my basic recipe for making jerky.

This is my first instructable so go easy and leave some CONSTRUCTIVE feedback.

cheers

Step 1: Materials

First of all you are going to need to get your materials together. You will need to find:
# an old bar fridge
# a large computer fan (i used a 120mm fan)
# 8 400mm pieces of angle
# 2 100w incandescent lightbulbs
# 2 standard lightbulb holders
# 1m dual core powercable
# 1 square metre of flyscreen
# 16 lengths 400mm flyscreen surround frame
# 6.5m rubber molding to fit flyscreen
# 1 roll duct tape
# 2 speaker grills
# 2 disposable face masks
# 12 volt power supply ( i used an old car battery charger)
# 2 electrical ring connectors

Comments

[Nemesis201077]

Hi, I'm thinking about doing exactly this, except using some 12v car lamps, fan and thermostat so I can regulate the temperature. Very much like the Polystyrene incubators. I already have a fridge, thermostat and fan from an incubator project, so just need to mount it in the fridge.
I'm also thinking of putting an attachement on the bottom to connect to an external smoke box, so I could use this as a cold smoker too.

[spotty162]

chubsey best thing ive found on here mate i was going to spend a $100 on one mate looking forward for ur reply spotty

[spotty162]

ihave a electric 120 ml fan if i put a light dimmer on it would it be enough does fan need to be flat out or medium speed. and it needs to be sucking out not blowing in. eager to hear back from you =. spotty

[burnabybear]

Hi was wondering I gotna small beer fridge but what's the toxicity chance from the plastic and what can I use to block the holes without poisioning meat with the toxins from glue

[seabeepirate]

We got tired of being made fun of, so we just changed the spelling. It's aluminum here in the US, haha. I just typed it into google and it shows the same thing for either spelling.

[Safanu]

Chubsey I must say well done mate , I am a South African living in Hungary and as you know ,Safa´s do something similar to Jerky called Biltong. I built a Biltong box for myself with almost the same Idea. instead I used a wooden cupboard with one door about 60 CM h x 43 Cm d X 48 W . I stuck a light bulb in the bottom 2 x3 Cm CPU fans blowing air in 1 x120 Mm CPU sucking air out on the top with wooden dowels inside to hang the meat from. I must admit adding the fans on the bottom makes a big difference it works very well in circulating the air. Althought Biltong requires a different recipe and thicker cut it takes a bit longer to dry than the Jerky here, I am looking at 2- 5 Cm cuts depending on how wet or how dry I need the Biltong. I am actually looking to creatte the same box but running on Solar power so i can just leave it on the balcony as at the current moment it absolutely devours electricity . Thanks for the cool instructable.

[greatnameless1]

Any tips for making droewors?

[Nicola Tesla]

my parents and I are hungarian

[siggibahama]

I am really hungry

[Safanu]

Chubsey .How long does it take the jerky to be fully dry?

[vandal1138]

Its too bad that isn't the actual fridge. That black flag sticker ups the value at least 300% and makes everything beer flavored! I'm gonna have a T.V. Party Tonight!

[elkhunterx1]

I now you did a good job I made one out of a magic shife but I put a 250w heat lamp in my Dehydrator and put a dimer switch on it to control the tempt on it and put a tempt gauge on it so I no how hot it gets and added a pieces of flax glass so I can see in side if you put a piece of wire screen were the vent holes are you get better sercalasion into the dehydrator. but thanks for showing it. It helped me out allot.

[LordMekk]

Save the Radiator part for you solar water heater

[animal0307]

Ok first Iw would like to say ALUMINUM! Second I use to make jerky in my oven over night. I think I will try this... I will need something to do in Tech-ed class next year... my teacher loves jerkey. Instead of useing a battery charger go to your nearest RC hobby store and but a 12v RC charger that way you can fit it inside your housing. And what if instead of 1 fan on top how about 2 fans on the bottom blowing air in???

[closeupman]

I would just like to say it's 'using' not useing! Instructable looks good, but I'd like to find one that makes it easy to make a non-electric 'hanging' food dehydrator. I found one at Amazon, but it costs $60.

[chubsey]

Ok first Iw would like to say ALUMINUM
im from australia...its ALUMINIUM...just as it is spelled in every other english speaking nation apart from USA!

i thought about blowing air in at the bottom, but came to the conclusion sucking air out the top draws air up past the shelves rather then just forcing it in.

[headache2000]

Ya we Americans always do things the easy (lazy) way. We also spell Colour without the U. as most other English speaking countries do. But then again, it works without the extra letters. ah mate? lol

[joypad]

The Best Jerky in Australia comes from a place in the northan territory called "Territory Jerky"

[iheartjerky]

Great article! Also...use Beef Jerky Recipes if you need more information or another resource for making your own jerky.

It really isnt as hard as people think!

[mas9779]

nice but your fans put air in but thin takes fresh air out try to get some good circulation.

[chubsey]

my fans dont put air in, the single fan at the top draws air out. the unit has very good circulation and blows the humid air out the top, creating lower pressure inside the fridge, causing dry air to flow in at the bottom.

[Mikey D]

Excellent job!

[GorillazMiko]

Awesome job, I love jerky, it's delicious, thanks for showing!

[killerjackalope]

my wee brother loves jerky and it's hard to find in the uk so a baby one of these may be in order...

[XsimonXcoreX]

this is a neat idea for drying fruits and vegetables too! orange peels make great potpouri too