Sweet and Savory Beef Jerky

This instructable is to make sweet and savory jerky using ground beef or deer.

Step 1: Prepare your ingredients

INGREDIENTS:

1 lb. of thawed ground beef or deer burger
1 tsp. of salt
2 dashes of pepper
1 dash of worchestershire sauce
1 dash of liquid smoke
A liberal covering of papaya enzyme or meat tenderizer
A handful of chopped dried fruit (cherries, blueberries, and strawberries work well)

Comments

[PyroTeen213]

I am in the process of making some and only made 1/2 pound but still there was more than i expected.

[PyroTeen213]

Man i started to do this with my own seasoning until i realized the meat i was using was already cooked and not raw. Well at least i have good taco meat now.

[lego187]

ok so u say 4-6 hours at 200 degrees with the oven door open well i live in kuwait and its like around 114 here this time of year. do u think i could do this outside in the sun? just wondering

[J@50n]

also, i think you could just leave it on the rack without a fire. since its so HOT there!!!

[J@50n]

YES! here is a video i found on youtube, showing you just that!!!!

[Tobita]

watch for dhub and falcons xD (i'm partly saudi)

[explosivemaker]

would be good to have something to grind it really fine, it works okay with a jerky gun, but not great...also, when I make it I let the meat soak overnight or so....good strong flavor

[electronicfreak22]

Can someone explain to me why do don't have to actually cook the meat? I'm a noob to jerky. Thanks

[Red_Icculus]

Without fat or moisture it won't spoil easily. Plus the oven or dehydrator gets it up to pasteurizing temperature. I just ate some jerky in the back of my fridge that was dated more than a year old. It was delicious.

[Brennn10]

Wow! We have a hunter that hunts the deer in our field. I believe we get some venison ground beef, and lots of it! Well made Instructable, and I will try this soon!

[Red_Icculus]

Deer jerky is the best! If it is too "gamey" for some, the next batch can be neutralized with a pinch of baking soda. It is my first instructable, thank you!

[oinkoinkzoopals]

Can you make the jerky without the fruit because to me meat mixed with fruit doesn't sound appetizing

[Red_Icculus]

With the fruit, it is a modified pemmican recipe. It is a great mix of sweet and salty, but you can definitely make it without the fruit!

[SGutshall]

This looks delicious. Do you have to use a dehydrator, or can you use wire racks instead? Maybe some other alternative?

[Red_Icculus]

You can use almost any drying method from a dehydrator, to an oven set to 200 degrees, to a cold dry method using a fan as long as there is enough circulation and it isn't too humid.

[dacker]

I have yet to try it, but I am curious to try Alton Brown's technique which he has used several times on his "Good Eats" TV show:

Alton Brown's technique

Special Equipment: 1 box fan, 4 paper air-conditioning filters, and 2 bungee cords.

Evenly distribute the strips of meat onto 3 of the air filters, laying them in the grooves and then stacking the filters on top of one another. Top these with 1 empty filter. Next, lay the box fan on its side and lay the filters on top of it. Strap the filters to the fan with 2 bungee cords. Stand the fan upright, plug in and set to medium. Allow the meat dry for 8 to 12 hours.

[SGutshall]

Awesome. Thanks. I've never made jerky before, but I think I'll give this a try.