food dehydrator

[Ninjak]

Hello guys i am going to smoke a small have today first time :)..
anyway i want to make some jerky this weekend so do i realy need a food dehydrator
how can i make jerky without ? i like the jerky soft, also i need to get some idea on some flavors store bought or hand made if anybody wants to give it up or point me to where to buy it ready to go '


Thanks al

[KyNola]

Ninjak,
A dehydrator is not required but in my opinion it sure makes jerky life easier.  Poke aorund in this section of the forum as there are several postings that will tell you how to make jerky using only the Bradley and there also several recipes for jerky as well.

KyNola

[Ninjak]

ok so if i like the jerky soft after a few hours of smoking and cooking is the meat done so i can eat it ?


AL

[FLBentRider]

As long as it doesn't still look like raw meat I would eat it.

If you do keep it soft I would refrigerate it, it won't keep too long (unrefrigerated) if there is too much moisture in the meat.

[Ninjak]

ok now it makes since why you dry the meat out
Al

[willy56]

I have yet to use the Bradley to make jerky but have had luck in a very low temp oven on the racks.
If you have a convection oven available, some of the better ones will have a dehydrater setting that drops the temp and lets the fan run.
Stick a wooden spoon handle in the door to prop it open a tad so the moist air has an escape route.

And yes, dry it out or it will spoil.