One of the most important decisions when making beef jerky is the cut of meat you are going to use. The right cut of meat makes all the difference when making great tasting beef jerky, and here I’ll show you which ones are the best!
You can’t start making jerky until you know what cut of beef you are going to use to make your jerky. The simple answer is, a cut that has the least amount of fat as possible. Fat will spoil and ruin jerky, avoid at all costs!
Don’t worry, I won’t leave you with such a vague answer though. Let’s narrow down your choices to some inexpensive and great cuts of meat for jerky.
There are several types of cuts you can try during your search for your favorite one. The list below refers to beef; when making wild game jerky, such as deer, you will find that the meat is VERY lean and great for jerky!
Before we get into specific cuts of beef, there are some ground rules that will apply across the board. When shopping for your choice of meat, make sure to follow these tips:
- Never purchase old or expired meats
- Purchase the correct amount of meat. After drying, jerky will lose about 2/3 of its weight. If you buy 3lbs, you will end up with a little over 1lb of dried jerky
- Inspect each specific cut to find the one with the less fat
- Ask the butcher to slice the meat for you – Many butchers will slice the meat to your specified thickness at no cost. This saves a lot of time!
Below is a list of cuts of meat that work very well for beef jerky. You can also make beef jerky out of lean ground meat. Try several different cuts and decide for yourself which one is your favorite! Once you do, check out my Beef Jerky Recipes Page to find your favorite flavor of jerky!!!
Eye of Round – Going to be the most popular cut for making jerky. The most tender of the Rounds. This is a single oval muscle in the rear leg. This is my go to cut of meat when making beef jerky.
- Lean
- Little interior fat
- Need to trim the fat cap
- Grain runs the length of the cut for easy slicing with or against the grain
- Economical (relatively inexpensive)
Bottom Round – Another great choice for making jerky. It is the outer muscle of the upper rear leg. This is the least tender of the rounds. Even though it is the least tender, it makes great jerky!
- Lean
- Possible interior marbling
- Flavorful
- Economical (relatively inexpensive)
Top Round – Very similar to bottom round. The top round is cut from the inside leg muscle, opposite of the bottom round. This cut is more tender than the bottom round and less tender than the eye of round.
- Lean
- Flavorful
- Economical (relatively inexpensive)
Sirloin Tip – Second Most tender of the rounds. Not as popular, but still a very good piece of meat for making jerky.
- Very Lean
- Most tender
- A little more expensive
Flank Steak – More expensive than the rest but still a great meat for jerky. If sliced with the grain, your jerky will be extremely tough. Better to slice against the grain when using this piece of meat when making beef jerky.
- Lean (need to trim some fat)
- More interior marbling
- Flavorful
- Can be a tougher jerky
Ground Meat – If making jerky with ground meat, make sure to choose a lean package. Many people like ground meat jerky because it is easier to chew and less harsh on your teeth. The texture is VERY different from whole meat jerky though, so keep that in mind.
- Makes easier to chew jerky
- Choose the leanest ground meat available (at least 90% lean)
- Requires a jerky gun or flattened and cut into strips
- Visit my page on How to Make Ground Beef Jerky for more information
Deer Meat – Deer meat is GREAT for making jerky! Venison jerky is some of my favorite. It tends to be very lean meat and very tender. If you harvest your venison yourself during hunting season, it is also about as organic as you can get!
- Very Lean
- Very little interior marbling
- Organic
- Great Game Flavor
- Tender
Elk Meat – Just like Venison, Elk Roasts are very lean cuts of meat that are great for making jerky. Elk has a mild game flavor making it a fantastic option for even the pickiest of eaters in your family.
- Very Lean
- Very little interior marbling
- Organic
- No game flavor
- Tender
Pork Tenderloin – A little fattier of a cut, but my favorite when using pork. Great for making jerky. Goes really well with sweet recipes, but also turns out great with spicier recipes.
- Flavorful
- Tender Jerky
- Economical (relatively inexpensive)
- Great with sweet recipes
If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask your local butcher. I am sure they will be more than helpful in getting you what you need.
Check Out Our Reviews on the Best Dehydrators for Making Beef Jerky
Don’t forget to visit our fantastic Beef Jerky Recipes Page!
liked your post on cuts for jerky. I would like to knoe can you grind sirloin tip roast,and use it in a jerky gun. thanks ron
Thanks for stopping by Ron. To answer your question; ground sirloin in a jerky gun would make a great jerky! Make sure that when you make ground jerky, use a recipe that has little or no liquid ingredients. A jerky gun is the easiest way in my opinion to make ground jerky, I love my jerky gun. Let me know how it turns out!
Hi Will,
Thank you for your valuable information and comments which are all very educative. Will can I ask you something? I am considering buying a
Cabelas Dehydrator 160 liter with a cover.
What do you think of it? Once I buy whatever dehydrator I would like to seriously make some jerky for the family and friends. I will greatly appreciate your help.
I want to make a one inch wide, 5mm thick and say six inches long strips and then dehydrate them.
Will appreciate on some ideas on what tastes good in terms of recipes.
Never done this before so worried if the whole thing will work at all? Hahahaha…
I am also like you a little water and some fruits and some snacks with me I am just an outdoor man photographing birds and animals and doing fishing. Hunting is also I love but have not so far done in US.
Hey Sye! I have never used the Cabelas dehydrator, but have heard great things about it from several people on the site. As long as you browse the site and follow some of the recipes, your jerky should turn out great! If you go to my Recipe Page, I have my wife and I’s favorite recipes on the top. Getting outdoors is great, and the hunting here in the states is awesome! You have to get down here sometime!
I’m sorry but I am going to disagree here. Grinding up any meat and squeezing it out of a jerky “gun” like toothpaste is not jerking meat. That is just my opinion but there it is. That’s like calling a mass market “hamburger” a great porterhouse steak. Paste does not make great jerky and I’ve been making jerky for over 35 years now. One of the defining features of great jerky, besides great flavor, is it’s texture. Depending on the type of animal of course. You can jerk a turkey but it’s not real chewy. It IS tasty. Paste has no texture. There are literally hundreds and hundreds of recipes for jerky. (Or no recipe at all, just dry strips of meat over a wood frame in the sun the way our ancestors did it.) That’s why I stopped in here, to read all the recipes and gather ideas.
But I do have a very strong negative reactions to “paste jerky”. Again, just my opinion.
The ground meat jerky (and gun) was the mass market’s method of cheaply turning nameless waste cuts of scrap beef into profit; grind it, extrude it into identical strips, spray flavoring onto it at the last moment as it goes into a commercial conveyor dryer, package the little identical clone strips of cardboard at the other end of the dryer, and sell it as “jerky” to people who don’t know the difference. For A LOT OF CASH. That’s the stuff you see individually wrapped in the big plastic tubs at the big box outlets that shall go unnamed. But it isn’t jerky. It just isn’t.
I suppose it’s safer to extrude paste than to slice meat with a flawlessly and painfully sharp knife and then marinade it but I find the slicing and marinating and drying to be a very satisfying process. Then I get to eat it!
I would also note that in my opinion jerky should be at least a little tough, otherwise it isn’t worth chewing.
I’m on my 4th dehydrator I think, I’ve lost count, if you treat them properly they will last for years, but I see my current dryer is one you suggest on the site. I’ve gotten many people into jerky making.
My suggested lean beef cut for a medium chew would be an eye round. Lean with miminal marbling and just one flap of fat to trim away from one side before slicing into jerky cuts. Not expensive. I usually buy in a 10 lb batch, and go back for the 2nd and 3rd as I’m making the different jerkys. I double vacuum pack for storage in different weights. I will cut with the grain for a chewier jerky as is my preference, or across the grain for less chewy.
I do not chemically cure meat. I have learned that drying loses up to 80% of weight. Jerky should be flexible but not brittle when bent. I tend to dry a bit more for long term storage in vacuum packs.
I prefer simpler jerky recipes using onion powder black and red peppers, garlic powders, low salt soy, teriyaki, and Worcestershire sauce, brown sugar only occasionally as well as hickory smoke.
I agree 100% with what is said in this comment. Grinding the meat is an option, but will never be as good as a carefully sliced piece of good meat! I use the Round Sirloin Tip, you get 5 different muscles that offer different meat consistencies and it is essentially free of fat, although you need to remove a decent amount of connective tissue
You’re obviously confusing grinding with crushing and smashing. Crushing and smashing turns something into a paste, not grinding. Jerky made with grinded meat definitely has texture. Unfortunately for your opinion… no matter how it is sliced, chopped, diced, minced, grinded, or smashed, jerky is simply dried meat. End of story.
Thanks for stopping by Chris and sharing your opinion with us. Greatly appreciated…
Thanks for stopping by Ray. I am also a MUCH bigger fan of whole meat beef jerky, but there are people out there that like the ground jerky better. Some people just can’t eat chewy whole meat jerky because of their teeth, and ground jerky gives them something they can eat. When commercially selling jerky, in order to call it only “beef jerky” it has to be produced from a single piece of beef. Otherwise, you have to put “ground & formed” on the label. Lately there have been a lot of small producers putting out some great jerky (not Jack Link’s, etc…). Support small shops, I buy jerky every chance I can get when I’m at farmers markets, fairs, rodeos, small towns… Keep making that jerky man!
Has anyone tried a brand called Mingua, from KY? I have not had it yet but i have heard good things about it.
Also, I have an electric smoker so i can do small bactches laid out across the grids for the smoke flavoring and then I move it to my dehydrator to finish the process. Only problem i have had is getting it too dry and brittle
I have not tried it, but will keep my eyes open for the brand. Make sure you are not over drying your jerky. This will result in it being brittle. Make sure to take it out of the dehydrator and let it rest for 5 minutes for it to reach room temperature before bending it to check if it’s done.
Good god! Always one of you.
I will say, I am a fan of both sliced meat jerky and jerky made from grinding meats like turkey or chicken. For anyone living a Paleo life, it’s a great option to make jerky and take it on the road with you when working or traveling. Plus, eating just beef jerky can get old. I make a Buffalo Jerky- using freshly ground turkey or chicken, Frank’s Buffalo sauce, garlic and onion powder, salt and pepper, and sometimes a little vinegar to help bind it. Then I use my LEM Jerky Cannon and make a flat strip. A healthy alternative to Buffalo Wings.
In the end, chefs don’t squabble over variations of preparing foods, a forum like this one for making Jerky should be no different. Toe-may-toe, Toe-ma-toe.
It is important to look at the history of ‘jerking’ Ray.
Etymology
The term jerk is said to come from the word charqui, a Spanish term of Quechua origin for jerked or dried meat, which eventually became the word jerky in English. (no mention it had to be cut into strips or ground and formed)
Jerk is also derived from the action of jerking, which referred to poking meat with holes so that flavor could more easily be absorbed. (certainly ground meat accepts seasonings well as there is so much surface area.)
The term jerk spice (also commonly known as Jamaican jerk spice) refers to a spice rub. The word jerk refers to the spice rub, wet marinade, and to the particular cooking technique. Jerk cooking has developed a following in United States, Canadian and Western European cosmopolitan urban centers with Caribbean/West Indian communities. (again, no mention of ‘strips’ you covet so much.)
Having said that, we must remember it is a process, not a specific type or cut of meat. The Caribbean countries use whole chickens, are they wrong? JUST MY OPINION…
It seems that going through 4 dehydrators might indicate a need for a good one, one of those that ‘should’ last for years.
Maybe a bit less time categorizing a fine snack based on the ‘cut of meat’, or the fact it is cut at all, and more time on the ingredients used to make it taste good would be in order. Again, JUST my opinion…
Hey Lucky thanks for the History lesson and the snappy comments. I think I read Ray’s been making jerky for over 35 years going through 4 dehydrators in 35 years seems pretty good to me. The dehydrators he used in my opinion must have been pretty good considering they lasted an average of 9 years per dehydrator. Also have you ever tasted his jerky? How would you know he needs more time studying ingredients to make his jerky taste better.
You trolls crack me up you scan these websites looking to attack people and belittle them. You say everyone has their opinion, but then you belittle someone and attack them when their opinion differs from yours. You should go troll another website! JUST MY OPINION……… YOU TOOL!!!!
I don’t even use a dehydrator. I use a smoker to be even more authentic and have a more preserved jerky.
I know I’m a little behind on commenting on this article but I just happened upon it and I gotta say AMEN, Brother! You are so right about the ground up goop squeezed out a tube and called jerky!! Isn’t this why we started making jerky at home again? So we could get a decent, quality product that was identifiable? I’m from Texas, we know meat, my children cut their teeth on rib bones.
Jerky was created by our ancestors as a way to preserve meat
Could’ve done without that diatribe. Some of my older customers LIKE ground jerky and need it due to dentures.
Hopefully if you ever need dentures you’ll come to me to be fitted and restored. Then I’ll explain the reason for ground jerky.
Just because we have dentures doesn’t mean we cant chew jerkey. I’ve been chewing jerky for over 60 years with and and without teeth (both kinds). Just have to find the jerkey you like and then find a recipe for it.
Jerkey is great especial when on cattle drives, photo shoots or just being outside. Easy to carry.
I like this post and your bio, and the site name! Beef jerky is the best! Thank you good sir 🙂
WOW !!! I love your website. I’m making jerky for the first time this weekend. I will use what i learned here. Thanks Will.
No problem Marc, my pleasure. Thanks for stopping by. Let me know how the jerky turns out!
Love the website. I’ve been doing research all day as I plan to make my own jerky for the first time this week! Yes I’m an addict. I can’t wait! Mexican Heat looks intense but good!
Thanks Seth. Glad the website is helping you get ready for jerky making. You WILL be addicted! Ha. Let me know how your batch turns out.
Okay so I made 2 batches. A “hot” using Frank’s, a sriracha season and diced habenaro peppers. Thought would be too hot but came out perfect!!!! Other batch was just WAY too salty and, I love salt. I think I went too heavy on garlic salt. Was going for “Garlic, Salt and Pepper”. I also used diced garlic in the marinade. I have some questions about the “chew” of it. It was a little tough for my liking. I used eye of round but I think it’s my cut technique and/or dry time. Round two is happening now!!
Franks, sriracha, & habanero peppers?! That sounds deadly! Ha. To make it less tough there are a couple things you can do. I would cut the meat against the grain. Eye of round is my favorite cut to use for beef jerky. The grain normally runs from end to end lengthwise. So cutting against the grain will give you short roundish pieces of jerky. If you want to cut with the grain (long pieces of jerky) but want less chew; use a meat tenderizer mallet. After you cut your strips, beat them with a meat mallet (use the tenderizing end, NOT the flat end of the mallet) Also, to make sure not to over dry your jerky; take a piece out of the dehydrator or oven and let it cool before testing if it is done. After it has cooled check to see if it is done by bending it. It should bend and crack, but not break in half. Sounds like you are off to a good start!
Wow awesome and helpful comment. I’m off to find some eye of round or top round to make jerky today. I’ll start with a quick smoke over a bit of applewood, then into a marinade and onto the dehydrator later today.
Being new to making jerky, I use flank steak and if you want a premade dry marinade, I highly recommend the one I have bought at Academy Sports. It is “cracked pepper & garlic”. I highly dislike a sweet tasting jerky and this one is a peppery taste, I do add a little kosher salt to the mixture as I also like a little salty taste. I then put in my smoker at 200-deg with mesquite chips for about 2-1/2 hours. Guaranteed to cure all colds, moles, sore holes and guaranteed to make child birth an instant pleasure.
I believe the quote for Ms. Pinkum’s Pink Pills for Pale People is that “they’re guaranteed to cure colds, moles, itchy holes, farts, fits and fevers”. My son just gave me a dryer for my 60th Bday a week ago and I’m on my second batch of jerkey! Looking fwd to more recipes and tips.
I’m so excited!!! Thanks for all the great info! I’m making jerky for the 1st time this week. I’ve dried fruit in my dehydrator but haven’t made jerky. It’s funny b/c I bought the dehydrator mostly to make jerky! lol
Thanks so much! 🙂
What is your favorite cut for jerky? I’m wanting to make it as tender & easy to eat as possible w/ using ground beef.
My favorite cut would be the Beef Eye of Round Roast. Slice the meat against the grain for an easy chew. Make sure not to over dry the jerky and you should be good to go!
Hey will just recently picked up a dehydrator and jerky kit with gun. I was wondering why none of the recipes for jerky with sliced meat have no chemical cure? Is this only used when using ground meat? As you can tell I am as green as it gets with the jerky game but looking forward to getting started. Thank you for your time and words of jerky wisdom. KURT DOTY
Thanks for stopping by and congrats on the new kit Kurt! I would say about half of my whole meat jerky (sliced meat) recipes have cure in them. If the ingredients include “Prague Powder #1”, that is the cure I use. Maybe I need to list it as a cure in the ingredients… Thanks for the idea! Cure can be added to ANY of these recipes; sliced meat or ground meat. Some people do not like using cure when making jerky and that is why I do about half with cure and the other without. You can read some more about Jerky Safety & Cure Here.
Great tips for making jerky. I’m heading to the grocery store now to pick up some beef.
Thanks.
P.S. Shouldn’t your shirt say Jerky instead of Hurley? ;D
Have you ever used plate, chuck or brisket for jerky?
I assume rib is too fatty.
I have not used any of those to make jerky. I use as lean as I can get, which the Beef Rounds are great for. If you do use any of the cuts you mentioned, let me know how they turn out!
Flat portion of a brisket make great jerky. The meat is not marbled, very lean once fat cap is trimmed.Slice diagonal, rather than across the grain. Tri-tip also makes excellent jerky. It is more marbled, but for me, fat is flavor. It doesn’t sit around long enough to go bad.
Question? Just got my nesco pro dehydrator. How long should I dry an eye of round, for my jerky.
Thanks in advance
Congrats on getting a dehydrator! I love my Nesco. Check out my page How to Make Beef Jerky with a Dehydrator. It has some great info on making jerky and how long to dry jerky.
Really good information here. I normally use eye of round as well, turns out great! For anyone out there looking for a super easy Teriyaki beef jerky, just marinade in 1 part Kikoman Teriyaki / 3 parts water. I also add a few ounces of soy sauce to balance the flavor. Let marinade sit 4 hours – 24 hours depending on how strong you want the flavor. I’ve had success with this many times and everyone loves the jerky! Have fun!
Thanks for stopping by Jeff. Appreciate the recipe, I will have to try that one soon!
My wife bought a chuck roast by accident. Most of the fat can be cut away. I will let you know how it goes. I don’t use any cure, but do store it in the freezer. The beef should be as fresh as possible.
Any tips for making jerky in an oven for a first timer.
Check out my page on Making Beef Jerky in an Oven.
great info! We usually have the butcher slice the top round. but they sometimes get too thick or thin — any recommendation on what to tell them for the slicer setting?
I would just let them know what size you want. I like to keep my jerky between 1/8″ to 1/4″ in thickness.
Will,
Made your Bourbon Jerky…OMG! I also did some Turkey Teriyaki/Pineapple jerky with white breast meat turkey slice 1/4 “. It came out great. I used my Cajun Injector Electric Smoker with apple wood chips. I will be doing my second batch tomorrow. Doing Bourbon and a batch of Teriyaki Beef this go around. Also bottling my hard Apple Cider for Thanksgiving tomorrow! Thanks for the great tips!
Helen
Well thanks for stopping by and trying some recipes; I am glad you liked them! Homemade Apple Cider… Sounds fantastic! Happy Thanksgiving!!!
A bit of an old hand at making beef jerky . My favorite is ” Hot teriyaki ” . ( raves from co-workers ) . Flank steak, partialy frozen and cut at about a 45 degree angle to give the slices some width .Dust with ” simply Asia ” dry rub , or dry ingredient spices such as ginger, garlic ,onion , etc. … chill for 2 hrs . In a rectangular pyrex dish layer strips evenly while pouring ” Mr. Yoshida’s ” brand teriyaki marinade until slightly covered . Sprinkle with dried red pepper evenly .Let marinate 8-12 hrs. Drain and arrange on dehydrator racks . @ 145 degrees for 12 hrs . Enjoy !
Jerky lovers & experts…..
I am new to making Jerky, and my 1st time was a hit. Would like to share so to invite the experts to chime in and offer areas of improvement and to take to the next level…..
I Used Venison backstrap. Sliced to desired length and about 1/4″ thick. Marinated overnight in:
Soy Sauce
Jerky seasonings
Barbecue sauce
Hot pepper flakes
Chopped Garlic
Teriyaki Sauce
Salt & Pepper
I placed on an oven mesh grate and placed in my Traeger smoker. Let it go at about 150 degrees (smoke setting). for about 6 hours (believe I should have let it go a bit longer).
Any helpful tips or recommendations are encouraged to make even better for the next batch.
Thank you.
Ive used some cuts I dont see mentioned- Brisket and tri-tip. The flat portion of a trimmed brisket makes a great beefy flavorful jerky. There is a lot of lean meat under that fat cap. Tri-tip comes out with similar texture to brisket, but it does have interior marbling. A select grade, usually leaner still has some interior fat that lends to more beef flavor in my opinion. I refrigerate it and it keeps well. Delicious! Thanks for the recipes.
I too am a first timer here and still green with the process. I’ve bought several cuts of beef during my 4 attempts..all cross cuts..bottom, top and eye of round, flank, top sirloin, t-bone, beef tenderloin, and pork tenderloin, ground and used a gun. Gun texture too undefined, bottom, top and flank to tough. Eye of round-maybe-if I went thicker? I think the t-bone got lost in the sirloin. Both tenderloins are tender but dang…there has to be a better way to better choice to get a texture that you can pick at it all day and not have sore jaws at night.
If you are after tender, what’s the best answer with cross sliced beef? And to make it even more complicated, I also want it thicker than the 1/4″ cuts that I have done thus far.
I have marinated with different Nesco seasoning and now have my own Prague powder to start making my own. Does the cure cause it to be more tough?
Thanks in advance for your input
Hey Bill, thanks for stopping by. Sounds like you have really been testing everything out, that’s great! My favorite cut is the Eye of Round, but all the jerky I make is a little tough. If you eat enough, your jaw will hurt at night. Slicing against the grain of the meat really helps make the jerky softer, but it still can be kind of tough. I have not found that the cure makes the jerky tough, I feel like it actually makes it a little softer. You can try to slice it a little thicker, the meat might be a little more tender inside, just make sure to heat the jerky to 160F all the way through.
Thanks Will!
I just finished mixing up my first batch of homemade marinated and cut some eye of round to a thicker 3/8″ (along with a lb of cubed steak just for the fun of it)
I was hoping to tap into this wealth of knowledge to make sure I’m not doing something out of bounds.
My marinade includes among other things, soy, olive oil, wine vinegar, Worcestershire, brown sugar and spice, but no cure ….yet.
I plan to let the 5 lbs of meat sit in the sauce for 24 hours as a “tenderizer” then remove the liquid, reserving 2 cups so I can then add 1 tsp of Prague #1 and return it to the beef for 48 hours.
Then into the dehydrator, but this time set the temp to 130 for about 2 hours, then increase to 160 for 2 hours, then back to 130 until done. (I’m guessing 7 to 10 hours total) My amateur thought is the longer times may result in a somewhat more tender jerky. Is this a total waste of time or unsafe process?
Thanks guys
I gotta say… this batch is fantastic. It’s not something you would eat in bulk,more like a dessert after feasting all day on the heard
If fat is so bad for jerky, what about bacon jerky? You know there’s fat in that. Doesn’t the fat go rancid and bad like in beef jerky?
I would think so! I have never made bacon jerky, but would assume it would not have a long shelf life.
Hey Will –
Thanks so much for for the immensely helpful tutorials and recipes!
I was curious if you ever bought round when on sale, sliced it up, vacuum sealed it, and froze it for future recipes. Fairly good sale ($2.99/lb) on large slabs of bottom round going on now where I am and I’m tempted to buy several. Thanks!
No problem, glad you are enjoying the site! I have not sliced it up and froze it; but I have bought rounds, vacuum sealed, and then defrosted later to make jerky. I also freeze my venison in 2-3lb roasts, then defrost and slice. It works great! $2.99/lb is hard to beat, would be a great idea to stock up!
Just chopped up 50 lbs of bottom round and vacuum sealed and froze about 30 – the refrigerated part will be used over the next couple of days. Discovered another place has Sirloin Tip for $2.89/lb for the next week, so my freezer may get even more full if I don’t eat all my chili lime!
Haha. I love it. That is an unreal price on sirloin tip. Can’t pass that up…
I discovered… purely by accident. That if you slice and marinate your meat and have to leave unexpectedly. You may have to put it in the freezer for a few days… weeks, months.. After it’s frozen the time really doesn’t matter.
when you take it out to defrost, let it get to room temperature. VERY IMPORTANT, GET TO ROOM TEMPERATURE in the package that you froze it in with the marinade.
Then… proceed with your process, OMG!!! the flavors are amazing!
I think it has more to do with the way the meat expands during the thaw process than anything, but I have started to do this on purpose an have had amazing results with all my recipes. I am from New Mexico, so a lot of my recipes include some sort of chile or south western flavor.
Would be fun to get together some time Will!
Interesting! Thanks for the tip, I’m going to have to try that soon. I haven’t spent too much time in New Mexico, need to make it that way and check it out!
A great piece of meat to make jerky with is rabbit flanks. These are the two side pieces that come from the belly when you butcher a rabbit. They are about the size of a hand, and are thin enough to not need any further slicing. They are about as lean as you can get. If you know someone who raises and butchers rabbits see if you can get about a dozen or so flanks to try out.
Hello Will
just wanted to say thanks for all the great information. Close to my house there’s a shop they sell deer and wild boar meat , just wondering if you have ever used wild boar ? Or maybe a little bit to fatty ? I have not yet made jerky I just ordered my curing salt and I am trying to gather all the information I can to make the best jerky possible. Love your page
Thanks for stopping by and I am glad you are enjoying the site. I have not made boar jerky before. People make pork jerky, so it is definitely possible as long as you pick a lean cut. Let me know how your jerky turns out when you make your first batch!
Love this site. For the most part because of the helpful replies. I bought 40 pounds of eye of round and made jerky for Christmas. I used Hi Mountain Jerky Cure Hickory Flavor. Good thing it’s what I wanted because it’s the only flavor Dicks carries without MSG. Used a meat slicer and everyone loved it. My son was in the Marines and now teaches shooting on the side. So I did it again but this time I used London broil and the butcher sliced it. So much nicer! Thanks to whoever suggested that. It was 2.99 lb so I bought another 40. They liked the London broil better. Made Mr. Yoshidas which was tough. Didn’t like it. Made one I got from Pinterest called Whiskey Pete. My husband said I never need to use any other recipe. But I like my hickory so made that too. Vacuumed sealed so son could take to range. That was March 1. and it’s gone. Now I’m on the prowl for sales. My first batches ever were venison and elk. Hubbys boss and brother just got home from Texas with six. Hoping to be the recipient of some. It’s the best of all!! Thanks to all for the positive helpful posts. Read them all. Kathi, Durham,CA
Thanks for coming by and checking out the site. I am glad that all the comments and info helped you out. I wanted to ask what make and model of meat slicer you used? I normally make small batches and slice by hand, but want to check out some meat slicers for larger batches. Thanks in advance!
Hi Will. I came across your site and I enjoy it a lot. I too live in Austin and starting to make jerky myself. I am curious where you are getting your meat from here in Austin. I’m in South Austin (Oak Hill) but don’t mind driving anywhere. I would like to find a place to get Eye of Round cuts. The local HEB’s don’t seem to carry it near me and the 2 meat markets I’ve been to felt really shady. Like old meats and strange staff haha! Just curious where you are getting the cuts from in Austin. Thanks.
Hey Max! I just moved to Colorado, but lived Northwest Austin, over by 2222 & 620. I got all my eye of round from HEB. I never had a problem finding it at my local HEB, maybe you should ask the guys behind the counter about it. Now that I live in Colorado though, I AM having a problem finding eye of round. My local King Soopers grocery stores do not carry eye of round, only bottom round. I am going to check local butchers tomorrow….
I was just reading your Steak Jerky recipe and wanted to tell you I have done the same thing, I was cutting a try-tip roast in to steaks and had the thought to use some for Jerky (Yes it is way too fatty for real Jerky It came out great and the extra flavor from the fat was nice too. I did not make much and ate it with in two days and kept it in the fridge. I am thinking it would be good for a foot ball party where it would be gone with in minutes.
Now for my question I do not see you ever mention London Broil for jerky. I totally acknowledge it is not the best for Jerky but it is way cheaper where I live, can find it for $2.99 on sale) and I have made some descent Jerky out of it. What is your take on this, slicing it is a but trickier. Typical Eye of Round (prefer it above all other cuts of meat) is $5.99 a pound and sometimes on sale here for 4.99, once in a blue moon I will find it for $3.50 a pound.
If it’s going to be eaten quickly, a fattier piece of meat will work just fine! London Broil is another name for Top Round, so I do use it every once in a while I just don’t refer to it as London Broil. Top round isn’t my favorite roast to make jerky out of, but if it’s inexpensive enough it will definitely do the trick!
Hey Will
Just came across your site while trying to figure out how to start making jerky for the first time.
My question is I have a piece of scotch fillet (that’s what the cut is called in Australia anyway) in my freezer I was thinking of using to start with. Obviously this is fatty cut of meat with the most marbling.
If I’m just trying flavours and techniques with small amounts will this still be alright if consumed within a couple of days? How long do you think it would be safe to live this in the fridge?
I thought that as long as its eaten before the original used by date It should be fine. Would the drying process add some days to that do you think?
Thanks
Joel
Thanks for coming by Joel. I’m glad you have found the site to be helpful! Always try to dry your jerky by the expiration date. The expiration date is more of a ‘dry by date’ instead of an ‘eat by date’. If the cut you have is a little bit fatty, it is still okay to use. I would keep it in the fridge after drying and for only about 3 or 4 days. Just keep an eye out for mold. You will also have to pat dry your strips while they are dehydrating to absorb some of that fat. Let me know how your jerky turns out!
I can’t believe I lived this long without tasting beef jerky. My contractor gave me some and I am totally hooked. Now I want to make it. I read your Best Cuts Of Beef for Jerky, but I don’t see London Broil listed. Maybe that’s mot the right name for this cut of beef. Do you know what cut of beef a London Broil is, and if it would make good jerky? Thanks
Hey Teresa. London broil isn’t really a cut of meat, but sometimes you see it listed as such in the super market. London broil is sometimes used to describe a top round steak. Top round is great for making beef jerky.
Hello Will,
I made some Habanero Tabasco Jerky using your recipe with eye of round meat. My husband and I both agreed that it is the BEST jerky we have ever had, bought or made before. This recipe is a winner! Thank you for sharing.
I do have a question, however. Can I use the same recipe using deer steak meat? And should I soak the meat in salt water prior to marinating? Looking forward, to your reply.
Glad you found a winner! This is one of my favorite recipes as well and it should taste great with venison too! I don’t soak my deer meat and it is always to warm in South Texas to hang it. I do go on hunting trips for days and a deer might sit on ice for a couple days quartered, so this might help get out some blood and gamey flavor. If you want, you can soak it but I don’t think it is necessary.
Thanks Will for all your information. It was helpful. I have a recipe that my family loves thought I’d share it. It’s for 4 lbs. of beef. 1) 12 oz. of Soy sauce 2) 3/4 cup of liquid smoke 3) 1 bottle of Kraft brown sugar BBQ sauce 4) 2 tablespoons of Lee and Perins Worcestershire sauce 5) 2 cups of brown sugar. Let meat marinade for at least 24 hours. “Just my opinion” but although flank is a little pricey I think it has the best flavor profile for jerky. I am going to try the other cuts of beef you recommended. Thanks again for all your info.
Thanks for the recipe Tom. I will have to give it a try!
So I just received my dehydrator yesterday, would have been sooner but Irma delayed UPS. I have always loved Jerky, but finally decided to make it myself. I really enjoy intense spicy jerky and I have some hot sauce that would blow your mind the level of heat it produces. I have been reading about which types of meat to get so i will buy some this evening and prepare the marinade and let it sit overnight until tomorrow when I actually go through the process. My question is how long do you actually leave the meat in the dehydrator and at what temp setting? As far as marinades go, is it just as simple as whatever types of wet and dry spices in a bag with the meat overnight? Is liquid smoke a necessity?
So I have a couple of pages on this site you would like and get some good information from. The short answer for a dehydrator is; start checking it at 3.5hrs and dry at 160F. But for more in depth information on drying jerky check out my making jerky page. For more information on recipes, check out my recipe page. But you are 100% right, a marinade is just whatever wet and dry spices you want in a bag over night. Liquid smoke is NOT necessary.
Have made the Pepper-Garlic and Tennessee jerkeys. I over dried the Pepper-Grrlic si ut was a bit dry. But I sliced the bottom round across the grain and it was great with the beer I was drinking. The Tennessee was PERFECT!! I shared it with friends at deer csmp and it was a hit!! Now making another batch of each and will agsin use my Masterbuilt electric smoker. I also have a gas MB smoker but it is too hot. Great recipes. Have to try the boyrbon one.
Glad to hear your success with the jerky Bob! Now you just need to harvest a deer to make some venison jerky!
I’ve recently started eating a small amount of jerky most days for a snack. Since I don’t want to buy a dehydrator, and I really don’t want to keep buying it from the grocery store, I am VERY excited that I found your website!! What I’ve read so far is very helpful. I can’t wait to try my first batch – just have to go through your recipes and choose one! Thanks, Will.
No problem Cindy. Have fun making some jerky!
Bought an Excalibur 9 tray dehydrator and love making my own jerky. The best part is YOU control what goes In it. Love your site and keep up with good work.
Thanks Tim!
Jerky is so expensive when buying at the store!….like $12 for 8 ounces…
Do you sell your jerky?
You are totally right Larry, Jerky is very expensive! That’s why I put this site up!! This way people can make their own jerky and save some $. I do not sell any jerky, there are plenty of people selling it already… I’ll leave that to them for now.
Going to try making jerky for the 1st time and found lots of useful info here. Got a Masterbuilt propane smoker for Christmas and can’t wait to fire it up. Picked up some eye of round. Found the Cuts of Beef section very helpful. May do some venison too but want to see how the beef turns out 1st. Temperature will be -22C or -8F up here in Canada the day I am smoking! Kudos on the website!
That’s cold Jimmy, you’re a bigger man than me to brave that…
If it was that cold where you are you would be trying it too. No way am I waiting until spring. I hope I can keep the smoker at the proper temps in this weather. Going to put in in a semi protected area with the temp gauge on the smoker facing the window (5 feet from house). I am looking into getting a wireless thermometer in the future to monitor the smokers temp so I don’t have to go outside too much. I’ll let you know how it turns out.
Yep, a wireless thermometer sounds like a REALLY good idea! Ha.
Jimmymann, I also have a MB propane smoker but about the lowest temp MB says it will go is 225f. Your jerky may dry rather quickly so watch it. You can slow that a bit by cutting it a bit thicker. It will still make tasty jerky.
I have read many articles concerning which way to cut your choice of meat, with the grain or against the grain. Do or can you cut it diagonally against the grain. We need a section dedicated for this. A video would help too. I have been cutting Eye of Round against the grain and seems OK after it dehydrated. I am thinking about cutting up a Beef Brisket….that will be interesting. Help…..
You can cut the meat in any direction you want. With the grain makes it the most chewy, against makes it more tender, and diagonal would be in between. If you are going to use a big piece of brisket, I would cut it into smaller chunks and then slice it from there. Make sure to take off all the fat cap as brisket normally has a decent amount of fat.
Hey,
thanks for your post on cuts – i got my first batch on in the dehyrator! (i’m celiac, and I can’t buy most commercial stuff as it has soy sauce in the seasoning – poison due to the wheat content – so I’m going to figure this out and make my own!)
Sorry if you have answered this question before but i want to do pork jerky using seasoning i use for competitive BBQ. I plan on just using a pork tenderloin. Are there any safety or other issues with this i need to be aware of or can i just dehydrate it the same as i do with my beef jerky? Should i use curing sald like i do for beef?
Hey Dennis, just make it the same way you do beef jerky. If you heat it to 160F you don’t have to use curing salt, but cure definitely makes jerky last longer and helps kill any potential bacteria. If you already use it on your beef jerky, I would use it on your pork jerky as well.
By saying he will use the same seasoning he uses for BBQ,sounds like he will sprinkle rub on the strips of pork. No marinade? There are So Many recipes for beef jerky out there and it all pertains to what you personally like. I would say marinades for PORK may be slightly different…..Just pick something you would like. If you use RUB, let us know what you used. $.02
This is a great website, definitely needs its own forum IMHO.
Keep up the great work!
I need to look into that Dean. Thanks for the tip!
Yes indeed it is. all thanks to Will
Clarification request: You listed both eye of round and sirloin tip as the most tender. Which is actually the most tender? I made jerky once, with flank steak, and I liked it, but would prefer to try a more tender cut of meat. Our local market has the top round on sale, but I’m going to pass it up, since I will want either eye of round or the sirloin tip, depending on your answer. Yes, I trust you that much!
Thanks for pointing that out Deb! The eye of round is more tender and is my favorite cut of meat to use when making jerky. Go with the eye of round!
Hey Will…………Krave and some other brands of beef jerky have a very soft and tender type of beef jerky… How do they get that tenderness?
I have been trying to figure that out for years Larry. If you figure it out, let me know! Ha.
Hey guys I recently made some jerky for the first time. I used top sirloin only because it was on sale for 2.77 lb. I made 3 batches of 2 lbs each. Since it was my first time I a gave most of it away to friends and family. I went shooting with some friends and took some. Everyone told me it was the best jerky they have ever tried. I used my pellet smoker by camp chef. Just got my jerky racks delivered yesterday. Now I have to find some meat on sale. Smoked the meat for about 2:30 / 3 hrs on low smoke setting. Teriyaki chipotle flavor.
I just made my first 5lb batch of jerky with my new Cabela dehydrator. Butcher told me the most common cut of beef is church roast. Needed a bit of trimming around edges however results were excellent. Used cables brand mix. I’m hooked. Family loves it. Gonna try some recipes from your site soon.
Awesome! Chuck roasts are normally pretty fatty. I would try an eye of round or top round next time. Welcome to the world of beef jerky!
I’ve never heard of a “church roast” and when I tried looking it up, all I could find were recipes for pot roast for taking to church, LOL. Those recipes used a variety of cuts. Can you please ask your butcher if there’s another name for it? I’m still waiting to get eye of round on sale, myself, to try. Thank you!
He meant chuck roast, not church roast. I did the same thing, looked it up because I had never heard of it! Ha.
Oh, I see…missed your comment! Thanks 🙂
Deb
Is it possible to use beef tenderloin for jerky? A friend went out to a store and purchased 8lbs of tenderloin for me to make jerky for us both. The loin is packed in a plastic bag so I hate to cut it open if it is not suitable due to a high marbled fat content. There is a significant amount of fat on the outside of the loin but not sure if that is a sign of excessive marbling on the interior of the loin.
Some tenderloin is not fatty at all inside, so I’m not sure if the tenderloin you have will be fatty or not. You can make jerky out of it though. If it does have a good amount of marbling, just keep the jerky in the fridge and eat it within a week. Normally jerky is made out of less expensive cuts, but tenderloin should taste great!
Hi – I’ve seen online that people have made venison jerky using cubed venison. Have you any experience with this? I usually use my cubed for making venison parmesan or chicken fried steak but would like to try jerky with the cubed meat if it is worth my time. If yes, any helpful hints would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you.
I have not made any jerky out of cubed meat. I have bought some at different jerky spots while travelling. It seems like it is just a very thick piece of jerky. I would use curing salt to help prevent bacteria since heating a thick piece of jerky to 160F is going to be harder to do. I wish I had more experience in making chunks of jerky so I could help you out. I’m just not a big fan of them…
Will, I’m going to use the curing salt along with my secret stuff…and give it a try. I will let you know how it comes out. Nothing to lose in trying, right?
I don’t know if it was mentioned anywhere on the site…but goose breasts make excellent jerky. I used to make it all the time and I would give people samples without specifying what it was…nearly every time they thought it was deer jerky. Anytime I bag geese, they become jerky.
Wow! Never would have thought about that Brian. Thanks for the advice!
Hi Will. First time to post. Been making jerky for about 5 years. Started out using a wine barrel smoker that I made with a burner plate for my heat source. Am now using
a Bradley 6 rack electric smoker and sometimes my Green Mountain pellet grill. Have tried some dry rub recipes, but haven’t found any I like. Always go back to my red wine and soy sauce marinade. Am interested in trying some of your recipes. Do you ever use electric smokers? Keith
Wine barrel smoker?! Awesome! I do use an electric smoker every once in a while when making jerky. I love the flavor that a smoker gives the jerky and wish I could use one more often. Unfortunately I live in an apartment and was told they frown upon the use of an electric smoker on my balcony. So I only smoke jerky now when I make a trip to my folks house. (They are currently storing my smoker… along with a lot of other crap) Let me know which recipes you try and what you think about them. Thanks for commenting Keith!
I’m new to making jerky and love your site! Thank you! Our daughter is with a missions organization and goes overseas for three months at a time. Usually to remote areas. How can we safely package jerky for her trips? Any tips would be greatly appreciated!
Check out my page on Storing Beef Jerky. Vacuum sealed would be the best bet.
Hi Will, I’ve been loving your website! I am new to the jerky making scene and I am so far loving it. I am not sure if anyone wrote in about this yet, but I can definitely use some advice. I have religious restrictions on which animals/part of the animal I can eat. Specifically the cow forequarters are fine. These sections include the chuck, rib, brisket, plate and shank. The hindquarters are off limits. I have tried using top of the rib a couple of times and so far it seems good. The issue is that top of the rib is an expensive cut. I know there are others who use shoulder and I think brisket. Do you have any tips as to what forequarter cuts would be best in terms of taste (most important) and price.
Once I’m here, I’ll fill you in on what I’ve done up until now –
So far, I have been using a baking pan/rack on 175F in the oven with the door propped open a few inches for 4 hours. I’ve used different marinades that I let sit for 4 hours as well. I’ve had the butcher slice up the meat 1/4″ and I’ve done it by hand to make much thinner slices. So far, the thinner slices were much better as the thicker ones tasted like London broil due to their thickness. My goal is to have a nice tender and flavorful jerky, not chewy and tough.
I know I have a ways to go as I’ll be playing with different recipes and I’m sure I’ll get a dehydrator somewhere down the line. Any advise you may have on making improvements would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
I am not sure if you can use the Flank, but flank steak works great and isn’t too expensive. I have not made jerky with brisket but many people do. I wasn’t even aware of this type of religious restriction, thanks for teaching me something! It sounds like you are doing everything right. Just make sure to slice the meat against when trying to get a more tender bite. Also tenderize the meat before marinating with a meat mallet, this will help with a chewier bite as well.
in the picture I would guess you are at the Dillon dam. I am printing most of what you say about choice of cuts of meat. What is your opinion on freezing the meat then sawing it to get even dimension cuts or do a soft freeze of 22 to 28 degrees.
Hey Jerry! I’m guessing you are talking about the picture on the front of my site. I am actually on a boat in Hawaii, but Dillon dam would be a good guess! Going to do some sailing up there this year. I like to freeze the meat for about 2 hours to firm it up before slicing. I don’t like it totally frozen, just a soft freeze as you mentioned.
This was a good read, I’ve never made jerky, and came across your page trying to learn. I was not disappointed! Even as I read the comments… I like the way you carry yourself. Such a positive attitude! I will definitely be keeping tabs on the recipes you have here.
Thanks for the kind words Stacy! Glad you are enjoying the site.
I own an old Magic Chef Dehydrator, saw an online site for using my oven as a way of making jerky and thinking about buying a Power Air Oven Dehydrator from Nu Wave. Which of these three would be your first, second and third choices??? Tired of buying jerky @ convenience stores, and as a POS in grocery stores.
I haven’t used those dehydrators, but I do like making jerky in the oven. You can check out my page on making jerky in an oven as well.
I bought a 9-tray Excaliber dehydrator and can fit 10 pounds of London broil into it to make jerky at one time. It does a great job.
Thing with Jerky is everyone has their method……I go sharp knife with defrosted….or better yet never frozen beef!……People do not look after their knives enough…you need to be able to shave with it then it slices thin and true!
Yep. You are totally correct. If you keep your knives really sharp, there is no need to freeze.
I made jerky for the first time last month kept it in sealed glass jar and it molded in a week did I not dehydrate it long enough?
Check out my page on storing beef jerky. If you did not use any curing salt, oxygen packages in the jar, or vacuum seal the jerky, it will last about a week outside the fridge. That page will have all the info you need.
Was your marinade salty enough? Our jerky doesn’t last long enough to mold. But your culprit could be either too much moisture or not enough salt
Was wondering about using a better cut of meat to make jerky such as sirloin tip or top sirloin, what is your thought on this? I know cost sometimes is a factor but was going to try smaller batches so the cost is not that big of a deal.
They should work pretty well for jerky. Just make sure to slice off as much fat as possible. They will be more expensive, but not a big deal if you are only making small batches like you said; Go for it!
I’ve used both top and bottom sirloin and both turned out great. I personally didn’t notice a huge difference in quality using either cut of beef.
What about using beef brisket for jerky? And is there a way I can smoke it just a little before putting it in the dehydrator?
I have never used beef brisket but have heard of other using it with good results. You can totally smoke it for an hour or two to get the smoke flavor and then transfer it to a dehydrator.
Hi Will. I haven’t used brisket either but I do my jerkey in my Masterbuilt smoker. The electric one goes down to 100F or so and I use that to smoke and/or dehydrate my meat. The gas smoker only goes down to 225F. As far as brisket is concerned, it often is a pretty fatty cut and I would have concerns with that aspect. The flavor should be awesome but much of brisket’s flavor comes from the fat. If using brisket I would use the point and not the large end because it is much fatter.
Hi Christina,
Yes, Brisket makes wonderful jerky and you can season and smoke as little or as much as you like before transferring to your dehydrator!
I usually trim most of the fat off the brisket since it helps the drying process and the fat will go rancid quickly if too much is left on the meat.
Enjoy
Thanks for this site — it’s great.
WalMart had a limited choice the other day, so I tried something called tender chuck steak. Not as good as round — a bit tough, but not bad. Do you have experience with it?
Thanks.
Glad you are liking the site John! I have not used tender chuck steak. I would think that it would be more tough like you mentioned. I really like using the eye of round, it’s my all time favorite. I try to stick with that!