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Dehydrating meat is an old fashioned way of preserving meat. It makes it convenient to take on long trips, backpacking or hiking since refrigeration is not required and it is much more lightweight than regular meat. Dehydrated meat can be eaten as is, typically referred to as jerky, or reheated with moisture to semi-rehydrate the meat to be added into main dishes. Commonly dehydrated meat includes beef, venison, buffalo, chicken and turkey.
Steps
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Combine the meat with the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, salt, pepper and garlic in a large bowl.Advertisement -
Cover with plastic wrap if the bowl does not come with a cover and marinate the meat in the refrigerator for 1 to 2 hours to allow the flavors to penetrate the meat. -
Place the meat and marinade into a saucepan, turn the stove burner on high and bring to a boil. -
Boil for 3 to 5 minutes to sanitize the meat before dehydrating. -
Remove the strips of meat with a pair of tongs and let them drain on paper towels.
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Turn the oven on to the lowest setting. -
Place the strips of meat directly onto the racks, leaving enough space between the strips for air flow. [2] X Research source -
Crack open the oven door 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5.1 cm) to further encourage air flow. [3] X Research source -
Dry the meat anywhere from 8 to 12 hours. The meat is dehydrated when it cracks but does not snap. There should be no moisture present, as this is where bacteria will grow. [4] X Research source
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Let the dehydrated meat cool before storing. Place the strips of meat on cooling racks. -
Put the meat into airtight containers or zip lock bags. [5] X Research source -
Store the dehydrated meat at room temperature for 1 to 2 months or freeze the dehydrated meat for a longer shelf life. [6] X Trustworthy Source National Center for Home Food Preservation Publicly-funded center dedicated to educating consumers about research-backed safety practices for preserving food Go to source
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Community Q&A
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QuestionHow does the saucepan texture compare to the oven method?Community AnswerWhen you're cooking meat, a saucepan will fry and an oven will roast. Making any meat meal in a saucepan makes the meat dryer and crispier. Making meat in an oven (cooked right) makes it juicier and more tender.
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QuestionShould meat be cooked prior to oven method dehydration?Maggie PetersonCommunity AnswerYes, the meat should be cooked prior to dehydrating. Otherwise, it will be too moist to dehydrate properly.
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QuestionCan you dehydrate meat without an oven or a saucepan?Community AnswerYou can slice it very thinly along the grain and smoke it, or set it in the sun if it is very hot. Be sure to follow instructions for doing it either way; you cannot mess around with meat preservation.
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Tips
- Put the meat in the freezer for 30 minutes before slicing; this will make it easier to cut.Thanks
- Use lean pieces of meat for dehydrating; fat will go rancid and spoil the meat faster.Thanks
- Meat can be dehydrated using a food dehydrator; just follow the appliance directions.Thanks
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Warnings
- Moisture will spoil the dehydrated meat so keep it stored in containers or bags with no air.Thanks
- Meat should be precooked before drying in order to safely eliminate any bacteria.Thanks
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Things You'll Need
- 2 Lb. (.91 kg) Meat
- 2 Tbsp. (30 ml) Worcestershire Sauce
- � Cup (118 ml) Soy Sauce
- 2 Tsp. (10 ml) Minced Garlic
- � Tsp. (2.5 ml) Black Pepper
- 2 Tsp. (10 ml) Hickory Smoked Flavored Salt
- Knife
- Large Bowl
- Plastic Wrap
- Tongs
- Saucepan
- Paper Towels
- Airtight Container
References
- ↑ https://www.trail.recipes/dehydrating123/dehydrating123-how-to-dehydrate-meat-for-backpacking-meals/
- ↑ https://www.jerkyholic.com/how-to-make-beef-jerky-with-a-dehydrator/
- ↑ https://www.familysurvivalplanning.com/how-to-dehydrate-meat.html
- ↑ https://www.backpackingchef.com/dehydrating-meat.html
- ↑ https://www.offthegridnews.com/off-grid-foods/how-to-store-meat-for-years-without-refrigeration/
- ↑ https://nchfp.uga.edu/how/dry/jerky.html
- https://www.thekitchn.com/recipe-homemade-beef-or-turkey-snack-recipes-from-the-kitchn-95962
- http://www.solareagle.com/PREP/JERKY.HTM
About This Article
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Reader Success Stories
- "I have never done dehydrated meat and found this information to be very helpful in directing the method I will use. I believe I will use the oven method of jerky and the pan method otherwise. Thank you." ..." more
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"I have never done dehydrated meat and found this information to be very helpful in directing the method I will use. I believe I will use the oven method of jerky and the pan method otherwise. Thank you."
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"This was very informative and very helpful. Many thanks and blessings to you."
"It tasted just like my favorite snack beef jerky. Delicious!"
