Smokehouse Jerky Nr 1 (part 1/2)

INGREDIENTS

INSTRUCTIONS

There are probably as many different variations of jerky recipes out there
as there are jerky lovers. This is a bbq list and most of the posts deal
with standard bbq issues, briskets, ribs, butts, *cookers*, grills, smokers
and their related mops and sauces. Occasionally, there are posts outlining
sausage making, which is an art form of it's own and is sometimes difficult
to put a finger on precisely how to 'clone' a closely guarded family or
industry secret. The recipes posted here were of great interest to me and I
admire the effort from those who shared with us - not exactly true bbq, but
invaluable savvy nonetheless. Along the same line, I would like to share a
jerky making process that goes back a long way, before refrigerators,
before electricity. To the best of my knowledge it has never been written
down, just passed along from one old timer to the next - until
now....Showing a person how to do something is one thing, but putting it
into words is,......an incommodiously arduous task?
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 /s 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.
continued in part 2

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