While Jen was away this weekend in DC I did one of my favorite things, (besides watch the draft and didn’t have to change the channel at all) made jerky! If you enjoy beef jerky and you want to save money, then this post is for you.

Kitchen Tool – Nesco FD-61 Food Dehydrator

You can make jerky in the oven but my parents gave me this for Christmas which I use it at least once a month to make jerky. You can pick one of  up at Bed Bath & Beyond or you can buy it online as well. The price range from $65 – $85 depending on the trays which mine has 4 and that is plenty for what I do.

Beef Jerky

2lbs flank steak

1 package of jerky cure

1 package of jerky season (http://www.nesco.com/category_12e291b19e72/subcategory_c6e6784e3ae2/session_2cc7b7c1f04d/)

Remove as much fat as you can from the meat and cut into thin strips. If you cut the meat on the crosswise grain, jerky is less chewy than if you cut on the length-wise grain. Put the strips into a large bowl.

Add the jerky cure with 1/4 cup of water.

Cover and put in the refrierator for 4 hours. After 4 hours, add jerky season to the bowl.

Mix the jerky season well into the meat.

Place the strips on the trays.

This batch of jerky took 6.5 hours to try but look at how much jerky I have now!

I let the jerky rest on paper towels for a couple of hours to help get rid of excess fat which expands the jerky’s shelf life.

So now you don’t have to pay the exorbitant prices for jerky slices or sticks at the store and just think you can now tell everyone I make my own jerky!

Happy Cooking!