Beef Jerky Made with a Dehydrator

By phoenixrises75

Use your countertop, electric dehydrator to make nitrate free, protein packed, flavorful jerky everyone will love :)

Ingredients

• 1 pound round steak
• 4 tablespoons soy sauce
• 4 tablespoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 tablespoon ketchup
• 1/4 teaspoon pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 teaspoon onion salt
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• A few dashes Tabasco, optional
• A few drops Liquid Smoke flavoring, optional
• An Electric Food Dehydrator is needed that cooks at 145°F or above. (You can determine your dehydrator's operating temperature by putting in a cooking thermometer after machine has been on for 20 minutes, and is empty.)

Preparation

Step 1

Remove the fat as desired from the meat and place in freezer for one to two hours. When it is semi-frozen, cut it into 3/8 to 1/4 inch thick strips. (To save time, you can ask a butcher at the grocery store meat counter to slice it very thin for you. This skips the need to freeze the meat for slicing.) Keep in mind, meat cut against the grain will be tender and break easily, meat cut with the grain will be chewy.

Mix remaining ingredients together in a bowl to make the marinade. Place meat into a glass container and pour marinade overtop. Cover and place in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour (I have had great success with leaving it overnight.)

Drain meat in a colander and place on dehydrator trays. Do not overlap the meat and turn once while drying. Dry at 145°F for 8 to 10 hours. I begin to check progress after 4 hours. It is ready when it bends like a willow without breaking. Store in refrigerator in ziploc bags or Mason jars.