Can you use a smoker to make jerky?

Jerky is easily made in a smoker, oven, food dehydrator, or even left laid out in the sun. But the benefit of making jerky in a smoker is that it creates a great smoky flavor that you can’t get any other way.

How long does it take to smoke beef jerky?

Prepare an outdoor smoker for low heat and lightly oil grate. Lay meat strips out on grill so that they do not overlap. Smoke over low heat. Jerky will be done when the edges appear dry with just a slight hint of moisture in the center of the slices, about 6 to 8 hours.

What is the best meat to smoke for jerky?

Beef eye of round, bottom round, and top round are the best meat for beef jerky. Choosing a cut that has very little fat is important, fat will spoil faster and shorten the shelf life of your jerky.

What temperature do you smoke beef jerky at?

Drying and Smoking the Jerky

1. Hang the strips, place them on smoker racks, or lay them in wire-mesh smoking baskets. (
2. Dry at 140°F (60°C) with no smoke until the surface is dry.
3. Raise temperature to 160°F (71°C), and smoke for 2 or 3 hours.

Do you need curing salt for jerky?

While salt adds flavor, it’s not necessary to cure the jerky, as it is for curing ham or fish for example. Make your own jerky for much less cost than you’d pay in the store. Choose from lean beef, pork or chicken. While you don’t need curing salt, there are a few other things you do need.

Do you use water when smoking jerky?

Bring the temperature up to 180°F to 200°F and add a handful of wood chips to the smoker. Before adding the wood chips, soak them in water for about 10-15 minutes. Smoke at this temperature until the wood chips have quit smoking (about 30 minutes to 1 hour).

Is it better to smoke or dehydrate jerky?

While dehydrating meat is the easiest way to make jerky, it doesn’t result in the best beef jerky. It’s a matter of quantity over quality. Smoking jerky, however, seals in the meat’s juices while providing just the right amount of hickory-smoked flavor.

Can you smoke jerky at 225 degrees?

Heat your smoker or pellet grill to 225° F, and smoke the jerky for 2 or 2 1/2 hours. Turn the smoker off and let everything cool for 10 minutes. You can either enjoy your jerky right away or store it for later. To store for a short time, place the warm jerky into a new gallon bag and seal it.

How do you know when smoked jerky is done?

You can use any type of smoker for your jerky. It will take a couple of hours for it to be properly cooked. The cooking temperature should be between 170°F to 180°F to get the proper texture. When it is done, you will notice that the meat is tender and chewier.

How thick should I cut beef for jerky?

When you’re actually cutting meat for beef jerky, it’s important to cut it one-fourth-of-an-inch thick, and a meat slicer will help with this. If the jerky is too thick it will be too chewy, and it if it’s too thin, it’ll become too tough.

How Long Will homemade beef jerky last?

Homemade beef jerky, on the other hand, should last one to two months if you store it in an airtight container after making it. If you store beef jerky in a Ziplock bag in your pantry, it’ll last about a week. And, if you store your beef jerky in the fridge, you can expect it to last one to two weeks.

Can you smoke beef jerky at 200 degrees?

Light your smoker and let it come to a low temperature of 160-180 degrees Fahrenheit. Remember that most meat you smoke is typically 200-225 degrees, so make sure you turn down the smoker or use less charcoal for making jerky. Put your jerky on the smoker for 3 hours.

Does smoked jerky need to be refrigerated?

Jerky is a lightweight, dried meat product that is a handy food for backpackers, campers and outdoor sports enthusiasts. It requires no refrigeration. Jerky can be made from almost any lean meat, including beef, pork, venison or smoked turkey breast. Freezing will not eliminate bacteria from the meat.

Why beef jerky is bad for you?

Downsides of beef jerky It’s very high in sodium, with a 1-ounce (28-gram) serving providing roughly 22% of your daily sodium allowance, which is set at 2,300 mg per day ( 5 ). Excessive sodium intake may harm several aspects of your health, including heart health, blood pressure, and stroke risk ( 2, 6 ).