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SMOKEHOUSE JERKY
Meat:
venison
top round steak
turkey breast
Brine:
kiln dried medium salt
molasses (Brer Rabbit light or Grandma's)
black and/or red pepper
The Meat: Generally, the lean scraps from most venison (elk, deer, caribou,
antelope and moose) work very good. Bear is greasy (sorry Bear), as is pork.
Buffalo is similar to beef and makes good jerky. The best cut of beef that
will yield the most usable lean meat is the top round. If you like turkey,
use large bone in breasts and remove the bone. I haven't done reptiles, but
what the hey, if that's your bag give it a shot. The meat should be
reasonably aged, at least kept cool for a week or so after it's dressed out
and skinned. It is important to trim as much fat off as possible, even if
you have to cut it out or scrape it off. The fat will not take salt very
well when the meat brines, it will become rancid and grow mold quickly. Cut
the meat with the grain, into strips as big around as your thumb (3/4−1"
square) and as long as possible.
The Brine: This is a self brining method and works in two stages,
dehydration and rehydration. The ingredients needed are: A kiln dried medium
salt. Most feed stores have 50# bags for about $3.00 which will make about
eight thousand pounds of jerky. Medium salt is about the size of salt that
comes on a pretzel. Molasses. I use Brer Rabbit light or Grandma's. Brer
Rabbit comes in pint bottles and have a small top that you can pour a nice
'string' from. Grandma's comes in a large mouth bottle and it's best if you
transfer it to some sort of a squeeze top ketchup or pancake syrup bottle (1
pint = about 20# of meat). Black Pepper, medium grind or coarse − your
choice. If you like it hot, use red pepper flakes instead, if you don't like
pepper leave it out. This brine process goes easier and more quickly if you
have a few extra happy hands joining in − the kids, the wife and myself
usually make it a project and when it's done everyone gets to pat each other
on the back. Since we're all together and helping each other, some
interesting conversations usually surface. Anyway, you will need a flat
bottom non−corrosive container and lid, a Tupperware storage bin, a plastic
bus tray or a stainless steam table pan will work well. The size depends on
SMOKEHOUSE JERKY
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