Friday, July 19, 2013

Tips In Making The Gourmet Beef Jerky

By Carmella Watts


Gourmet beef jerky are quite easy to make. One should make sure to get high-quality lean meat to process. The chosen lean meat will be trimmed to remove the fat, cut into thin strips, marinated, salted, and then dried. When the processed lean meat are preserved properly, it will surely make an excellent snack.

Some people might prefer the commercially processed products. Not only is it tasty, it can also be consumed even after 12 months. It has a longer-lasting shelf life. However, it is still preferable to enjoy homemade products. The person can make use of seasonings and meat of his or her choosing, after all.

In order to achieve the best taste when it comes to the homemade products, the person should remember some tips related to the preservation of the said meat. One of the many tips that can be used for this is to observe the moisture-protein content of the meat. The meat should be correctly dried to prevent the growth of bacteria.

There is also a need to pick the right cut for the meat. The best choice that one can make use is the lean cut meat such as round eye, sirloin, or top round cut. Remove the fat of the meat too. It is also appropriate to chop the meat into slices. When slicing, make sure to decide whether wider strips are preferable or the thinner ones are.

Slicing the meat to be preserved should be done easily by using a thin and sharp kitchen knife. It is highly recommended to slice this meat against its grain. The benefit to doing so is that the meat becomes easier to chew after the person has finished with the preservation process.

Marinate it well. The said meat strips must be soaked in the marinade recipe that one makes. It should be soaked for at least half a day to overnight in a refrigerator or freezer. The longer it is soaked in marinade, the better the flavor will be absorbed by the meat. This is also a curing method that one can use.

There are surely some preparations that the person has to conduct before the meat is dried. Among the many preparations that people has to consider is the heating of the meat. It is highly recommended to heat this meat for a few minutes at 70 degrees Celsius. Also, sprinkle some salt onto the meat to dehydrate it.

During the drying process, it is a must to be careful about it. There are surely lots of options one can use when it comes to drying the said meat slices. When using any of these options, make sure to spray the rack first with a non-stick cooking spray. With the application of this substance, the person should be able to stop them from sticking.

Storage is another matter that one has to consider in making homemade gourmet beef jerky. The homemade product should be placed in plastic bags or containers. It should then be stored in a refrigerator or freezer. Homemade ones can be eaten within one to two months compared to the 12 months shelf life of the commercial product.




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