Drying is the most popular method used for preserving meat for centuries. The process takes away the water content that breeds unwanted microorganisms responsible for causing food spoilage.  The traditional ways of drying include using the sun’s heat to dehydrate the meat. Today, people are using dehydrators or ovens as an ideal and safe drying method in the beef jerky recipe to dry the meat strips at some specific temperature without overcooking the.

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Typical Beef Jerky Drying Time

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A standard food thermometer is essential to check the air temperature circulated by the oven or dehydrator. Pre-heat the dehydrator or oven to 145°F for 15-30 minutes to make sure that any bacteria are killed before drying.

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Assemble all the strips on the dry baking tray without touching them. Set the tray in pre-heated oven or dehydrator and let them dry for 6 to 10 hours until completely dry.

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When is Beef jerky Dry?

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Let the beef jerky strips cool down at room temperature and then slightly bent one of the strip. An adequately dry jerky does not break into half but should crack instead when bent. It displays a leathery texture that tastes chewy with a nice crunch.

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The exact dryness of your beef jerky depends on the time settings for drying beef jerky. Use any beef jerky recipe to get your favorite flavor and use the right dehydrating technique.