Deer Jerky - How to make venison jerky
One of the first recipes many new hunters make has to be jerky. Deer jerky is easy, delicious and a perfect on-the-go snack. Learn how to make venison jerky with the easy step by step recipe.
Servings 20 servings
Calories 66kcal
Cost $3
Ingredients
- 1.5 pounds venison roast
- ½ cup soy sauce
- ½ cup brown sugar
- ½ Tablespoons grated fresh ginger
- ½ Tablespoons garlic, minced see notes section
- ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
Instructions
- Trim the roast. Room any sinew or silverskin.1.5 pounds venison roast
- Slice venison roast very thin. ⅛ to ¼" thick.
- Add grated ginger to other ingredients in a plastic or glass bowl with a lid.½ cup soy sauce, ½ cup brown sugar, ½ Tablespoons grated fresh ginger, ½ Tablespoons garlic, minced, ¼ teaspoon cracked black pepper
- Mix well.
- Add sliced meat to marinade. Refrigerate 1-2 days shaking the contents of the bowl a few times daily.
- Foil a rimmed baking sheet. Place cooling rack over the baking sheet. Lay meat slices on rack. Do not let the slices touch each other.
- Place in oven at the lowest setting for 4-6 hours, depending on the heat of the oven and your dryness preference. Leave oven door cracked. If you like jerky a bit chewy, don't dry all the way. If you like it very crispy. Dry thoroughly.
- Store in refrigerator for up to 2 weeks. For longer storage freeze.
Notes
The best cuts of the deer are the larger muscles from the rear leg and hind quarter. Top round roasts, bottom round roasts, butts, and eye-of-round all make great jerky and are the easiest to cut.
- To make this recipe gluten-free, substitute tamari for the traditional soy sauce.
- Don’t skip the marinade time. It will give the jerky move flavor.
- Use garlic powder instead of fresh garlic if you'd like.
- You can literally use this same recipe with a commercial dehydrator. Depending on the heat and quality of your dehydrator, it should be between 4 and 8 hours.
- Make sure you cut pieces thin. If you have a meat slicer, that is a great tool to use to get uniform pieces.
- You can also ask your local butcher to slice the meat for you.
- Cook the jerky to your liking. Some people like jerky that is chewy and not as dried. Others prefer their jerky to be fully dried out.
Nutrition
Calories: 66kcal | Carbohydrates: 6g | Protein: 8g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 29mg | Sodium: 344mg | Potassium: 128mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 5g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 7mg | Iron: 1mg