Best 5 Beef Jerky In A Smoker Recipes

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Beef jerky is a delicious and nutritious snack that can be easily made at home with a smoker. Whether you are a novice or an experienced pitmaster, creating flavorful and tender beef jerky in a smoker is a gratifying experience. With the right ingredients and techniques, you can craft savory and smoky beef jerky that will tantalize your taste buds. Let's delve into the essential steps to create the perfect batch of beef jerky in the comfort of your own home.

Let's cook with our recipes!

BEEF JERKY IN A SMOKER



Beef Jerky in a Smoker image

I make this recipe in my smoker. Make sure you store the jerky in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

Provided by Doug Patrick

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Meat and Poultry     Jerky Recipes

Time 15h10m

Yield 6

Number Of Ingredients 6

4 tablespoons ground black pepper
1 cup soy sauce
1 tablespoon cider vinegar
1 dash hot pepper sauce
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
2 pounds sirloin, cut into 1/2 inch thick slices

Steps:

  • In a large, nonporous bowl, combine the ground black pepper, soy sauce, vinegar, hot pepper sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Mix well and add the meat slices. Cover and refrigerate overnight.
  • Prepare an outdoor smoker for low heat and lightly oil grate.
  • Lay meat strips out on grill so that they do not overlap. Smoke over low heat. Jerky will be done when the edges appear dry with just a slight hint of moisture in the center of the slices, about 6 to 8 hours.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 362.2 calories, Carbohydrate 6 g, Cholesterol 101.3 mg, Fat 22.9 g, Fiber 1.5 g, Protein 32.1 g, SaturatedFat 9.1 g, Sodium 2488.9 mg, Sugar 0.8 g

HOW TO MAKE BEEF JERKY IN A SMOKER



How to make beef jerky in a smoker image

This smoked peppery beef jerky really turned out fantastic! Fire up the smoker and get ready to make some really good beef jerky.

Provided by Will

Categories     Beef Jerky

Time 8h30m

Number Of Ingredients 9

1 lb beef eye of round roast or venison
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup cold water
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tsp ground black pepper
1/2 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp onion powder
1/4 tsp Curing Salt (Prague Powder #1)

Steps:

  • Trim all visible fat from the beef, wrap in plastic wrap, and place in the freezer for an hour or two to partially freeze.
  • While the meat is in the freezer, combine the soy sauce, water, brown sugar, ground black pepper, sea salt, garlic powder, & onion powder in a bowl or ziplock bag and mix well.
  • Remove the meat from the freezer and slice ¼" strips against the grain for an easy chew. Slice with the grain for a chewier jerky. Or skip the freezing phase and use a Jerky Slicer.
  • Add sliced beef to the mixture and marinate for 8-24 hours in the refrigerator.
  • After the meat has finished marinating, remove from refrigerator and strain excess marinade.
  • Pat dry the strips with paper towels.
  • Dry with your Dehydrator, Smoker, or Oven. Click the links or read the post above for more detailed drying information.
  • The jerky is finished when it bends and cracks, but does not break in half.

Nutrition Facts : ServingSize 70 g, Calories 196 kcal, Carbohydrate 6 g, Protein 26 g, Fat 6 g, SaturatedFat 2 g, Cholesterol 70 mg, Sodium 915 mg, Sugar 4 g

BEEF JERKY THE REAL MCCOY! SMOKER REQUIRED...



Beef Jerky the Real Mccoy! Smoker Required... image

Beef Jerky an old staple that people today eat as a convenient snack, but was critical in aiding to the survival of our early forefathers and mothers that brought us here today. Well, with that notion I want to share with you a very authentic Beef Jerky recipe. It is simple and once you master it you will have an excellent foundation for your own special touches to explore the vast variations of ways to flavor your jerky recipe and make it a recipe to hand down generation to generation. I think that is what I like most about food and preparations of recipe's; it is the history, the life, and stories behind them. I love recipes that are rich in history, steeped in stories, and cause for the gathering of friends and families. So here is an old time authentic Beef Jerky recipe, it is important to pay close attention to details here, but it is a simple recipe, and I am sure as you read it, you cannot deny the accuracy of details in the makings here that this recipe is the "REAL McCOY"

Provided by Brett BBQ is my game

Categories     Meat

Time P7DT4h

Yield 4 pounds, 40 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 3

london broil beef, Lets make a decent size batch say 6-7 lbs worth
kosher salt (coarse grind type)
blackstrap molasses

Steps:

  • Lets get our selves ready first to actually make Beef Jerky with some preparation. I can not stress enough about food safety practices here. You are about to preserve meat in a way that requires a low temperature cooking and drying method and you are the preparer; You are the one that has to take these tips I share with you to heart and prepare with care or love.
  • The meat needs a storage container that is sterile and clean, I suggest getting a food container of the likes you can find at any good restaurant supply store or Costco, Sams Club in their food pro catering Isle a nice deep square/ rectangular non reactive container with a very tight fitting lid. Various Tupper Ware types will work but make sure you have an air tight seal that won't give in a few hours or days. We need it air tight.
  • Consider your cutting area we need a good clean butcher block or meat cutting area.
  • Finally, gloves it may help to have some gloves to ensure cleanliness.
  • Okay lets begin:.
  • Preparation, the CUT:.
  • Take your London Broil and identify the grain of the meat, and cut along the grain 1/4 inch to just under 3/8 of an inch thick strips. Your London Broil is usually about an inch plus thick slab of meat. So take each slice and portion that slice length wise to about the same first dimensional cut of about 1/4 inch to 3/8 inch. Now you should have long strips of meat that are about the thickness of a lady's finger. This is important in the final quality of your jerky. I have found staying very close to a precise 1/4 inch precision cut strip to no larger than 3/8 will yield a chewy, but tender result that will satisfy. Many cut into thin wide slices but bare with me and give this recipe a try and reserve your judgements for the final product.
  • Marinading, THE CURE:.
  • We are going to layer the meat, and dress with salt and molasses. We will layer each layer of meat in a directional manner. First layer, lay strips North to South the next layer will be East to West -- But wait Read below first -- Start with your first layer of meat laid North to South covering the bottom of the container completely no spaces no overlaps.
  • This is very critical and it does take a steady hand to prepare your cure box with just the right application of salt and molasses. So WARNING, please read this first do not just dive in -- Okay we need to lay down the salt, I like to start by swinging the Kosher salt box over the curing container that you will store your beef in a back and forth manner that is level and parallel to the meat surface in a nice controlled manner and as you tilt the salt box in your hand over the curing box the salt will begin to throw out nice and even. Important we are not trying to make a perfect layer to cover every square inch of the meat. That would be too much salt, a proper salt layer will actually have granules of salt about every 1/8 to about a 1/4inch of the meat. I know that sounds salty nonetheless but trust me, it is about right. You might want to practice over a baking sheet a little to get your technique down, I highly recommend practicing.
  • Okay great now the Molasses, you want to have the same control here in the application by pouring the molasses with an even parallel swing but slower, its molasses and you want a small thread of molasses to begin pouring out and just as the molasses begins to clear the bottle neck pull back the tilt a bit to reduce it to that very fine thread that will flow in a thread like manner. Now swing back and forth nice and steady laying a thread of molasses at a coverage of about one line space per 1/8 inch North and South, then come back and lay a thread at 1/8 spacing East and West. Wheh -- You did it --
  • Okay great now your next layer, remember this time alternate the direction of the meat lay this layer East to West. Fill the layer completely no spaces. Repeat layering salting, and molasses application till you have no more meat. Cover tightly and refrigerate for one week. Then you are ready for smoking in a smoker. I have marinated/Cured Jerky up to two weeks with no problems, if you are adding flavors and seasonings to this curing process then increasing curing time can be beneficial. see tips at the end of the recipe.
  • Managing the CURE:.
  • Leave your Curing Meat undisturbed in the refrigerator for two days. straight. Once you have two days in to the curing process you can now redistribute the contents. This is important to insure we get an even cure on all of the meat try to get what is on the bottom to the top and the top to the bottom. I hope that makes sense, in other words if you wish you could take a clean spatula and just slip it in one side and just flip the contents over don't worry that all your neat layers are now in disarray that is fine. Do this every day now flipping the contents till you have a full week into curing the meat.
  • Ready to JERK:.
  • One week later your London Broil Strips are now cured. Believe it or not your jerky is safe to eat, but I do not think it would be very appetizing. It will be soon and we are more than half way there but a little more TLC and we will have the best of the best, The Real McCoy of Jerky in your hands soon.
  • Remove Jerky from the the confines of your fridge.
  • Prepare your Smoker with wood natural lump charcoal, light and bring your smoker to a operating temp of 170 degrees F. try to keep it below 200 degrees F. as you maintain this heat level. Prepare your choice of wood chunks by soaking them in water, I prefer Hickory, but all nut or fruit bearing hardwoods are fair game. Clean your racks and lightly oil them but once oiled clean of with a paper towel we do not need the racks oiled heavily. I like to have the very bottom rack covered in tinfoil, if your fire and heat is coming from below. this will cause a more even heat distribution and smoke distribution.
  • Remove the meat and I like to strip the pieces with my hands wearing a food grade glove to remove most to nearly all the marinade. Some of you will fret for the sake of flavor but the less moisture you have on the meat and in the smoker the better to insure our drying time is on cue.
  • Prepare each rack for your smoker by laying the strips across the grate with at least a 1/8 inch of air space between strips. Fill the racks densely though because the fewer racks to rotate in the smoker the better. Place the Beef lined racks in the smoker and maintain the smoker at about 170 degrees F. add wood chunks to add smoke flavor. If your accustomed to smoking you probably have a feel for what is too much smoke or too little. You want a slow steady procession of fresh smoke gently rising with the heat. Use lots of ventilation on your smoker we want the heat to carry away the moisture so do not dampen heavily less you need to squelch a flare up that is causing your temp to sore. Best to ad fuel sparingly. Check the racks of meat about every 30 minutes. Ensure to rotate as needed over under or to just rotate the racks in a clock wise rotation to ensure even drying. Here is what I find works best for smoking and drying time; expect 4 hours at about 170ish to 200 degrees F. and then you may want to stoke the fire then you may want to stoke the fire up one last time at 4 hours to about 200 degrees and then just as that fuel dwindles, fully vent the smoker and allow to air dry to full cool for another four hours. Remove from smoker, remove from racks. You know it is right when you bend the meat you will see it give into exposing the meat fibers in the bend and possibly splinter slightly. If it splinters easily you are to dry, if it bends but will not expand and expose meat fibers to a few splintering it needs more drying time. You can air dry on baking racks inside, or in your oven to perfection. Another great gauge for perfection is your pallette go ahead and try it dry to your liking this thick cut should be chewy, but pleasant to work and not be so hard to cause severe gum and mouth abrasion. I hope that all makes sense here.
  • Storing: Once you have your finished product it is important to store correctly. Zip locks are great and even vacuum packing is better, with each batch of jerky store with two paper towels folded into a single flat to lay on one side of the bag. The Paper towel will help with collecting moisture and keep your product in better shape. It is completely normal to see the paper towel wick a colored stain into itself. change the paper towel on longer stored jerky. Room temperature for short periods is fine say a week to ten days. Longer storage you can freeze up to many months, or refrigerate for many weeks.
  • Tips on Flavor:.
  • Okay the natural smoke flavor of the Real McCoy already should make you feel as though all Jerky you ever, ever, ever ate from a mass producer is only fit for a Dog. I know the first time i made it just as described I nailed it not too salty, not too sweet and the London Broil was a premium cut with next to no fat or connective tissue just pure premium meat. My dogs were smelling this for hours in the smoker and when I had the first chew I got that overwhelming feeling so primal and so natural of an instinct to hunker down and cover myself from prying eyes as though I discovered a very special secret -- Like striking gold and hiding the prize from claim jumpers. So all by it's simple self this recipe screams perfection.
  • To jazz things up here are my best tips from my years of production and trials. If you want heat then make as per the recipe above but dust the finished product with Ground Red Pepper when storing -- Making a heated up hot sauced marinade will only mellow in the smoker and the pepper sauce and spices may take on more bitters of the smoking process. Seasoning with spices is always better at storage time. Try making your favorite smice rubs and blends and see what you think.
  • My favorite and very best of the best recipes has been the addition of julienned strips of Habenero peppers, and a product called Sweet Spicy Ginger Teriyaki, from East West Specialty Suaces -- Pouring the liquid marinades, citrus, peppers, or red pepper flakes in after your two day soak is best -- It is not necessary to add your flavor ingredients in the first production of making layers. I encourage you to let the curing of the salts and sugars of the molasses to do their job first then flavor it all up in the toss up and flip of the meat after your two day cure soak. I have found this to work the best.
  • Enjoy and please, comment feel free to comment, our journey in the pursuit to the REAL Mc Coy is a shared experience and collaboration of us working to the same pursuit of hapiness. Cheers.

Nutrition Facts :

STOVE TOP SMOKER BEEF JERKY



Stove Top Smoker Beef Jerky image

Technically and traditionally, beef jerky isn't smoked, but allowed to air-dry slowly. However, the drying process was often given a boost by hanging the strips of meat over a smoldering fire. So, when adapting the process for jerky to a stove top smoker, start with a small amount of wood and low heat and finish with a lengthy drying process that takes place in the oven, not around the campfire. Use oak, mesquite, hickory, or cherry wood chips. From the "Smokin" cookbook.

Provided by TxGriffLover

Categories     Lunch/Snacks

Time 10h

Yield 6 serving(s)

Number Of Ingredients 4

2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 lb bottom round beef roast, cut into 1/4 x 1/2 x 3-inch strips (see note)
1 tablespoon wood chips

Steps:

  • Stir the salt and sugar together in a small bowl. Toss the beef strips in the marinade.
  • Refrigerate, covered with plastic wrap for about 6 hours, tossing several times.
  • Drain the beef thoroughly in a colander, but do not rinse or pat it dry. Lay the beef strips on the smoking rack, making sure there is space between each so the smoke can circulate. Set up the smoker using the wood chips and smoke the beef over medium heat with the lid cracked until the first wisps of smoke rise and close lid; then reduce the heat to medium-low once the lid of the smoker is closed, for 30 minutes.
  • While the beef is smoking, set the oven to 'Warm' or 200ºF.
  • After the beef is done smoking, transfer the beef on the rack to a baking sheet. Oven-dry the beef until it is leathery but still slightly pliable, about 4 hours. Leave on the rack in the oven to cool.
  • Store the jerky at room temperature in an airtight container or resealable plastic bag. Jerky will last indefinitely.
  • Note: When buying beef to make jerky, choose a piece that is about 3 inches long and fairly thin. It will be easier to make strips of the right size. First, cut with the grain into 1/4-inch strips. Lay the strips flat and cut them lengthwise intl 1/2-inch or so widths. Finally, if necessary, cut the strips to about 3 inches in length. Don't worry if the pieces are irregular, that's part of the fun of making your own jerky. Do make sure they are no thicker than 1/4-inch or they won't dry properly.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 174.6, Fat 10.2, SaturatedFat 3.9, Cholesterol 48.4, Sodium 2368.8, Carbohydrate 4.5, Sugar 4.4, Protein 15.3

TERIYAKI BEEF JERKY



Teriyaki Beef Jerky image

Strips of beef are marinated in teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, and a blend of pineapple and garlic in this easy smoked jerky recipe.

Provided by chris70

Categories     Appetizers and Snacks     Meat and Poultry     Jerky Recipes

Time 12h15m

Yield 12

Number Of Ingredients 7

2 cups teriyaki sauce
1 cup soy sauce
1 cup brown sugar
1 dash Worcestershire sauce
¼ pound fresh pineapple, peeled
2 cloves garlic
2 pounds beef round, cut into 1/2-inch thick strips

Steps:

  • Mix teriyaki sauce, soy sauce, brown sugar, and Worcestershire sauce in a large bowl.
  • Place pineapple and garlic in a food processor or blender; process until smooth. Pour pineapple mixture and teriyaki mixture into a resealable plastic bag. Add beef, coat with the marinade, squeeze out excess air, and seal the bag. Marinate in the refrigerator for 6 to 8 hours.
  • Preheat smoker to 225 to 250 degrees F (110 to 120 degrees C). Drain beef and discard marinade.
  • Smoke beef in the preheated smoker until jerky is dry and chewy but not crispy, 6 to 8 hours. Store jerky in the refrigerator.

Nutrition Facts : Calories 206.7 calories, Carbohydrate 28.5 g, Cholesterol 26.1 mg, Fat 4.3 g, Fiber 0.4 g, Protein 13.4 g, SaturatedFat 1.6 g, Sodium 3068.5 mg, Sugar 25.9 g

Tips:

  • Choose the right cut of beef: Brisket, flank steak, and chuck roast are all good choices for beef jerky.
  • Slice the beef against the grain: This will help the jerky to chew more easily.
  • Marinate the beef for at least 12 hours: This will help to flavor the jerky and make it more tender.
  • Use a smoker that is set to 165 degrees Fahrenheit: This is the ideal temperature for smoking beef jerky.
  • Smoke the beef jerky for 6-8 hours, or until it is dry and chewy: The exact time will depend on the thickness of the jerky.
  • Let the beef jerky cool completely before storing it: This will help to prevent it from becoming moldy.

Conclusion:

Beef jerky is a delicious and healthy snack that is easy to make at home. By following these tips, you can make beef jerky that is perfect for your taste.

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