Alton Brown Beef Jerky Recipes

BEEF JERKY

Steps:

• Trim the flank steak of any excess fat, place in a zip-top bag, and place it in the freezer for 1 to 2 hours in order to firm up.
• Remove the steak from the freezer and thinly slice the meat with the grain, into long strips.
• Place the strips of meat along with all of the remaining ingredients into a large, 1-gallon plastic zip-top bag and move around to evenly distribute all of the ingredients. Place the bag into the refrigerator for 3 to 6 hours.
• Remove the meat from the brine and pat dry. Evenly distribute the strips of meat onto 3 of the air filters, laying them in the grooves and then stacking the filters on top of one another. Top these with 1 empty filter. Next, lay the box fan on its side and lay the filters on top of it. Strap the filters to the fan with 2 bungee cords. Stand the fan upright, plug in and set to medium. Allow the meat dry for 8 to 12 hours. If using a commercial dehydrator, follow the manufacturer's directions.
• Once dry, store in a cool dry place, in an airtight container for 2 to 3 months.

JERKY

Steps:

• Place the meat in the freezer for 1 hour, so that it will be easier to cut.
• Slice the meat with the grain as thin as humanly possible.
• Mix brine ingredients right in a resealable plastic bag (placing the bag inside a large plastic container will make this easier.)
• Place meat strips in brine. Move the meat around so the marinade is evenly distributed around it. Seal bag, working out as much air as humanly possible.
• Lay bag flat in the plastic container and refrigerate for 3 to 6 hours.
• Remove meat from the brine and drain on cooling racks. Discard the brine.
• When the meat is dry place it inside Blo-hard 3000 and set fan to medium. Leave overnight or for at least 12 hours.
• If you don't find yourself in possession of a Blo-hard 3000, place strips directly on oven racks.
• Heat oven to lowest setting and use a blob of foil as a wedge to hold door ajar.
• Oven-dry overnight or until meat reaches a consistency of your liking.
• Store in zip-top bag or jar in a cool dark place for 30 or 40 years or until fuzzy stuff starts to grow on it.

COURTESY OF ALTON BROWN BEEF JERKY

Steps:

• 1 teaspoon liquid smoke.
• 1 tablespoon honey.