I'm continuing to play with my new food dehydrator - this time making beef jerky. After researching recipes online, I made a quick run to Target to pick up some angus flank steak and onion powder. I already had the other marinade materials on hand.
It was surprisingly easy. I trimmed as much fat off the steak as I could, then sliced into thin pieces (they recommend freezing the meat for 2 hours prior to cutting to simplify trimming into thin, uniform pieces but I couldn't wait). It takes just a few moments to fix up the marinade in a ziploc bag and toss the thin pieces in. Refrigerate for 3 hours. Remove the steak from the marinade and pat dry. Layer onto your dehydrator trays and you're off to the races. I set this to go right before bed, and figured it would be done when I woke up. The recipe said it would take 12 hours. Mine went about 10 hours and was definitely done. Perhaps a little too done, but still very tasty.
Next time I'll adjust the marinade to half the recommended pepper (it's a little spicy!), and dehydrate during the day so I can monitor it better. Other than that I would say this was a success.
Here's my math:
1.65 pounds angus flank steak - $11.53
marinade materials - estimated at $1.50
Jack Links beef jerky is typically $3.99 for a 3.25 oz. bag.
Next time I'll buy the meat when it's on sale, so it's an even better savings. I definitely plan to do this again. It's yummy, and really easy to do. Plus I know that I'm using very good quality, lean meat.
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