The basic processing directions for making either product are the same. Only the seasoning is different. Venison or any meat that may contain trichinae, should be heated until the internal temperature is at least 160°F (71°C).
Lean meat, such as venison bottom round or top round, is preferable because fatty meat processed into jerky turns rancid quickly. Keep in mind that there will be a 40% to 50% weight loss when making jerky. Ten pounds (4.5 kg) of raw meat will become 5 to 6 pounds (2.25 to 2.75 kg) of jerky.
The following jerky seasoning formulas are not true marinades, and they are not true brines either. They are somewhere in-between. Nevertheless, these cures work very well for jerky, and they can be used as models to make countless other jerky seasoning formulas.
SEASONING FOR 5 LBS (2.25 KG) OF SLICED MEAT
- 3 Tbsp. (45 ml) Bradley Cure — any flavour (Do not use more than this amount.)
- 1 tsp. salt
- 1 tsp cayenne pepper
- 4 tsp. (20 ml) ginger powder
- 4 tsp. (20 ml) garlic powder
- 4 tsp. (20 ml) pepper, black
- 6 Tbsp. (5 ml) liquid honey-soy marinade
- 4 Tbsp Cracked Pepper
Note: If the meat weighs either more or less than 5 pounds (2.25 kg), the amount of cure mix applied must be proportional to that weight. For example, if the weight of the meat is 2 1/2 pounds (1.15 kg), then each ingredient, including the Bradley Cure, needs to be cut in half.
Preparation and Seasoning
- Begin with hunks of meat, rather than with meat that has been cut into steaks or chops. (Steaks and chops are cut across the grain of the meat. This makes them unsuitable for jerky.) Chill the meat thoroughly. Cold meat is easier to cut, and bacterial growth is retarded.
- Trim the fat from the meat. It is impossible to remove the streaks of fat that are marbled into the meat, but you should remove all fat that can be removed easily.
- Use a long slicing knife or an electric meat slicer to slice 1/4 inch (7 mm) thick strips. The strips should be 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) wide. The meat must be cut with the grain, not across the grain. If the meat is cut across the grain, it will be too fragile after it dries. You can determine if the strip has been correctly cut with the grain by pulling on the ends of the strip. If it has been properly cut with the grain, the strip will stretch; if not, the muscle fibers will separate, and the strip will tear.
- Chill the meat again while preparing the seasoning mixture.
- Stir the seasoning blend well until all ingredients are dissolved. Chill the mixture well. Add the meat strips and stir them from time to time, especially during the first few hours of curing. Refrigerate for 2-3 days stirring occasionally.
Drying and Smoking the Jerky
- Place the strips on smoker racks, or lay the strips in wire-mesh smoking baskets. (Wire-mesh baskets are preferable; hanging the strips will allow more of the product to be processed, but the use of baskets makes processing easier and faster.) A thermometer is not required for beef, pork, or any other kind of meat, if the suggested high temperatures and long processing times are followed. You may use a common smoker with a heat source inside. To facilitate drying, the smoker chimney damper should be fully open.
- Dry at 140°F (60°C) with no smoke, until the surface is dry. This will require at least one hour. If the strips are on wire mesh, turn them over after 30 to 45 minutes to prevent sticking.
- Raise temperature to 160°F (71°C), and smoke for 2 or 3 hours with Hickory Bisquettes.
- Raise temperature to 175°F (80°C) and continue to dry with no smoke, until done. This final drying and cooking step will require about three hours. When the jerky is done, it will be about half the thickness of the raw jerky, and it will appear to have lost about 50% of its weight. The jerky will not snap when bent, but a few of the muscle fibers will fray. If the jerky is dried until it snaps when bent, the jerky will have a longer shelf life, but it will not be as tasty.
- Let the jerky cool to room temperature, and either freeze or refrigerate it.
Note: If the salt taste is too mild, the next time you make this product, add about 1 teaspoon of salt to the ingredients list. If the salt taste is too strong, reduce the amount of Bradley Cure by about 1 teaspoon.
