Beef Jerky Smoking For Beginners

Beef jerky smoking for beginners

Whether you’re looking to start making beef jerky for your family or as a snack, there are some simple beef jerky smoking techniques that can help you get started.

For a successful batch, it’s important to prep the meat properly and slice it thinly. A lean cut of beef like flank steak works well for this.

Start with a good cut of meat

One of the first steps to making beef jerky is starting with a good cut of meat. You want to start with a lean cut of meat, because fat will make your jerky spoil faster.

A lean cut of beef will be much easier to cut into thin strips that are sliced against the grain. This helps your jerky cook evenly, which ensures a chewy texture without being too tough.

When you slice your meat, it’s best to use a very sharp knife to get the most precise cuts. This will help your jerky stay firm and chewy while smoking, too.

Once you’ve got your beef sliced up, place it in the refrigerator to marinate for at least 12 hours (and up to 24 hours for the best results). After marinating, transfer the sliced meat to a gallon zip-top bag and remove as much air as possible.

Pick your marinade or spice mixture

When making beef jerky, it’s important to pick the right marinade or spice mixture. A marinade will infuse flavor and tenderness into the meat. It can also help add a touch of sweetness to the finished product.

A basic jerky marinade can be made with soy sauce, brown sugar, Worcestershire, black pepper, and paprika. You can use different amounts of these ingredients depending on your preference.

Once the marinade is ready, place the meat in it and refrigerate for 12 hours or more. Then, you can smoke the jerky.

You can smoke your beef jerky at a low temperature with a smoker or over an open flame using soaked wood chips to produce smokiness. This will add a richer, more intense taste to the finished jerky.

A pellet smoker is an excellent option for smoking beef jerky. It’s easy to control the temperature and air flow, which allows for slow and even drying of the jerky.

Smoke the meat

A good cut of beef will give you great tasting jerky, but the trick is how to smoke it properly. The first step is to slice the meat against the grain into 1/4-inch pieces. This will allow for the best chewiness and a better chance of success.

For a successful smoking session, your jerky must be smoked at a consistent temperature for a decent amount of time. A smoker is the ideal tool for this task, as it is a safe environment to cook at low temperatures without damaging the meat.

Smoking the meat may seem like an intimidating task, but with a little preparation, you can be smoking some quality jerky in no time at all. The most important thing to remember is to keep an eye on the temperature, and move the meat around as needed to ensure even heat distribution throughout.

Store the jerky

A smoker is a great way to add that classic woodsy flavor to lean beef. It also increases meat richness and tenderness by reducing the cooking time.

When storing beef jerky, try to keep it in a cool, dry place like a pantry or drawer. Avoid direct sunlight, as it can accelerate the degradation of the meat.

Another safe and easy way to store beef jerky is in vacuum seal bags. These are a little more expensive than plastic storage containers, but they keep the air out and moisture in, which makes them ideal for long-term storage.

For a quick way to store beef jerky, you can also put it in zip lock bags. This method will preserve your jerky for a week or so. Labeling your jerky will help you track its freshness and tell when it’s gone bad. Spoiled jerky usually becomes drier and darker in color, as well as has a different smell.

Read more great BBQ articles at Bob's BBQ Tips


Shares
|ShareTweet