Dan’s Smokehouse Jerky – the Best Pt 1

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

The Meat: Generally, the lean scraps from most venison (elk, deer, caribou,
antelope and moose) work very good. Bear is greasy(sorry Bear), as is pork.
Buffalo is similar to beef and makes good jerky. The best cut of beef that
will yield the most usable lean meat is the top round. If you like turkey,
use large bone in breasts and remove the bone. I haven't done reptiles, but
what the hey, if that's your bag give it a shot. The meat should be
reasonably aged, at least kept cool for a week or so after it's dressed out
and skinned. It is important to trim as much fat off as possible, even if
you have to cut it out or scrape it off. The fat will not take salt very
well when the meat brines, it will become rancid and grow mold quickly. Cut
the meat with the grain, into strips as big around as your thumb (3/4-1"
square) and as long as possible.
The Brine: This is a self brining method and works in two stages,
dehydration and rehydration. The ingredients needed are: A kiln dried
medium salt. Most feed stores have 50# bags for about $3. which will make
about eight thousand pounds of jerky. Medium salt is about the size of salt
that comes on a pretzel. Molasses. I use Brer Rabbit light or Grandma's.
Brer Rabbit comes in pint bottles and have a small top that you can pour a
nice 'string' from. Grandma's comes in a large mouth bottle and it's best
if you transfer it to some sort of a squeeze top ketchup or pancake syrup
bottle (1 pint = about 20# of meat). Black Pepper, medium grind or coarse -
your choice. If you like it hot, use red pepper flakes instead, if you
don't like pepper leave it out. This brine process goes easier and more
quickly if you have a few extra happy hands joining in - the kids, the wife
and myself usually make it a project and when it's done everyone gets to
pat each other on the back. Since we're all together and helping each
other, some interesting conversations usually surface. Anyway, you will
need a flat bottom non-corrosive container and lid, a Tupperware storage
bin, a plastic bus tray or a stainless steam table pan will work well. The
size depends on the amount of meat and the room in your refer - the lids
keep things out and are handy for stacking the containers. Salt the bottom
of the pan evenly, making sure to get in the corners as well. This may not
be as easy as it sounds. Put a few pounds of salt in a bowl, cup your
fingers together and scoop out about a half a handful - not in your palm.
Shake your hand back and forth across the top and about a foot above the
top of the pan. As the salt starts to leave your hand, slowly open your
fingers and let the salt run through evenly. Hand salting may require some
practice. Practice salting the bottom of the pan until it becomes
comfortable and the coverage is without gobs or streaks or voids. If this
method becomes too frustrating, a shaker top jar works too - a mayonnaise
jar with the metal lid poked full of holes by a 16 penny nail. The coverage
amount should be between light coverage (barely covering) and full coverage
(completely covering) - the only comparison I can think of, is sugar on a
pie crust, or, sugar on your cereal. You don't want it too salty, so, one
might consider their first batch of jerky experimental and take it from
there. String the molasses. Same kinda deal as the salt, hold the bottle
about a foot above the pan, start moving it from side to side and pour.
When the molasses starts running try to get a 'string' about the size of a
pencil lead and let it crisscross the pan bottom over the salt. Once the
strings are even in one direction, change directions (perpendicular) and
string evenly across again. Don't forget the corners. When it's done it
will be an even grid about 1/2" square covering the pan bottom. Good
luck... don't worry, 10-12 layers and you'll be able to sign your name with
it. The pepper will vary as to individual taste. One note though, pepper
almost doubles its intensity as it soaks and is easy to overpower the
finished product. I would recommend that a light dusting would be
sufficient for most people (about the way you would pepper a baked potato).
Red pepper flakes, even more so. Again, hold the pepper can about a foot
above, and dust it evenly - good, you remembered the corners. Layer the
meat strips across the bottom of the pan one at a time. Starting on one
side, place the strips next to each other without overlapping and with all
of the strips running in the same direction. Work the meat across until the
layer is complete, without voids. Pat the surface, edges and corners down
smooth and flat. Salt, molasses and pepper the surface as was done to the
bottom of the pan to start. The second layer of meat is done the same, but
it is ran perpendicular to the first layer. Pat smooth, salt, molasses and
pepper. Each additional layer is placed perpendicular to the layer before
it. Continue layering the meat until it reaches to a level about 2" from
the top of the pan. The last layer, or partial layer, gets the salt,
molasses and pepper treatment as well. This brining method will cure the
meat in two days. Place the pan in the refer, cover and let sit undisturbed
for the first day (refrigeration is not necessary if prepared in a cool
climate 35-45F). After about 24 hours the meat should be 'turned' - Dig
your hands in the pan and separate all of the strips, turning it over
several times to get the meat redistributed into a random order. Mash the
meat back down into the brining juices ( at this point the juice will be
thin and watery) cover and let sit for another day. I usually taste the
juice at this point - if it tastes too salty it can be rinsed with water,
but it will not be as good. If the salt is right it will have a slightly
sweet, peppery flavor. During this next day the meat will soak up the brine
juices and when the meat is removed before smoking, it will have a
'candied' texture - sticky and pliable. There should be very little, if
any, brine
continued in part 2

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