Anybody make their own jerky?

[jeringate]

Too lazy to go buy a smoker, I just make mine in the oven, lowest setting for 3-4 hours or until its dried, and I marinate the meat for 2 days before it goes in the oven then a little bit of a dry rub right when I put it in so it has lots of flavor when its done.

But I totally agree with everyone else, a smoker is the best way to go instead of a dehydrator

 

[Bpower]

I've been making jerky for a few years now.

I do mine in a dehydrator I bought from London Drugs. With 7 trays I can do 5 lbs of ground meat jerky formed into strips with a jerky gun. If I do sliced whole meat I break out a second dehydrator and do about 5 lbs split between the two but sliced really thin. I slice it with a meat slicer, use the Mountain House mix and let it sit in the fridge to marinate at least over night. The really thin cuts dry pretty quick and are much nicer to chew than a big hunk of thick stuff. I keep an eye on the trays when it's drying since the strips aren't all completely uniform in thickness. I pull out the finished pieces as they are ready.

I know one of the inventors of Bradley Smokers (Robin Bradley). He told me a tip to do jerky in a Bradley. Rig up a computer cooling fan on top of the top vent to help draw out the moist air.

 

[Unleashed]

I have a Nesco American Harvest too. I got it from Home Hardware, they also sell the spice packets and the gun. I tend to do little strips of meat, though I am considering getting a gun as the cutting gets really tedious.

I'd love a smoker, but a little out of budget right now. Liquid smoke works, but is not quite the same.