Beef jerky stands out as a convenient and easily portable way to get the protein you need, whether as a quick snack or even as a meal replacement when time is short. This carnivore diet jerky recipe offers a way to create a protein-packed snack that aligns perfectly with a carnivore lifestyle. With this recipe, you can make delicious, nutrient-rich beef jerky at home.
Why Beef Jerky is Great for a Carnivore Diet
Finding satiating and nutritious snacks is key for a carnivore diet. Beef, a cornerstone of the carnivore diet, is nature’s bounty of essential nutrients. By creating your own easy dehydrator beef jerky, you’re tapping into the incredible nutritional benefits of beef. Rich in high-quality protein, essential amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, beef offers a plethora of health benefits that support your overall well-being.
Nutritional Benefits of Beef
Beef is a natural source of essential vitamins such as B12, B6, and niacin, as well as important minerals like iron, zinc, and selenium. Even in lean cuts of meat, you’ll find a trace of beneficial fat-soluble vitamins. Opting for grass-fed beef amplifies its nutritional profile with omega-3s and conjugated linoleic acid, contributing to its superfood status. Beef is renowned for its protein content, which is crucial for muscle repair, immune function, and maintaining healthy skin and hair. Beef jerky retains the nutrients inherent in beef, providing you with vitamins, minerals, and amino acids that are essential for your body’s optimal performance.
Convenience and Portability
Jerky is a convenient and portable carnivore snack that you can easily take on hiking, camping and trips, whether in the car or on an airplane, without any concerns about odors. Jerky provides a satisfying snack experience similar to the gratification one seeks from chips or other salty treats. Less chewy than beef jerky from a roast, this ground beef jerky recipe becomes crunchy if you roll it out thinly.
Customization and Cost-Effectiveness
Crafting your own jerky not only lets you tailor the flavors to your liking and dietary needs but also comes much cheaper than store-bought varieties. Plus, you have complete control over the ingredients, ensuring your jerky remains free from any unwanted additives, stabilizers, and unpronounceable ingredients. The process of marinating and dehydrating beef creates a delightful explosion of flavors in each strip of jerky. By making your very own batch of homemade beef jerky, you will have a carnivore-friendly snack that can be savored at any time.
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Perfect for Gifting
Jerky makes for a wonderful Christmas gift. Properly made and stored, homemade beef jerky can stay fresh for months. The marinade and slow dehydration infuses an explosion of flavors into each strip of jerky.
Selecting the Right Meat
When it comes to crafting top-notch perfect beef jerky, your choice of meat matters. Opt for cuts like top round or bottom round, known for their suitability in jerky preparation. The texture of your jerky can be influenced by the type of beef you use. Opting for a tougher cut will result in chewier jerky, while a more tender beef cut will yield a softer, melt-in-the-mouth jerky.
Tips for Cutting Beef
Slicing the meat is a crucial step, and it’s essential to cut against the grain. Briefly freezing the meat to aid in cutting, a sharp knife is equally important. Aim for thinness without compromising the slice’s integrity. Beef stir fry strips, often sold in grocery stores, are beef that is already cut to the perfect size for making jerky, which makes the whole process so much easier. If you would like to cut them yourself, cuts of beef that work really well for jerky are bottom round, top round, london broil, and sirloin. Most butchers are willing to cut roasts for you into jerky-sized strips. Ask them nicely and let them know you want the strips very thin (thick slices don't work well for jerky). They typically don't charge extra for this. Having the beef pre-cut makes will make this recipe much quicker and more enjoyable!
Carnivore Diet Jerky Recipe
This sugar-free and soy-free keto carnivore easy homemade beef jerky recipe perfectly complements your low-carb and carnivore lifestyle. It is your perfect on-the-go snack that is flavorful, delicious, and nutrient-rich.
Ingredients
- Lean roast (top round or bottom round)
- Apple cider vinegar
- Fish sauce (or alternatives like coconut aminos or tamari)
- Sea salt
- Cumin
- Paprika
- Garlic powder
- Cayenne
- Stevia
Instructions
- Begin by cutting the lean roast into thin slices, aiming for pieces about 1 inch wide.
- In a mixing bowl, combine the apple cider vinegar, fish sauce (or alternatives like coconut aminos or tamari), sea salt, cumin, paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, and stevia.
- Place the sliced meat into the bowl containing the marinade. Use your hands to ensure that every piece is thoroughly coated with the rich blend of seasonings. It’s essential to mix all the ingredients thoroughly for the infusion of flavors. Pouring the marinade ingredients directly onto the meat may lead to uneven distribution and clumps of seasoning. To avoid this, blend the ingredients beforehand, ensuring they are well combined and any clumps are eliminated. If you want a slightly more tender result, you can adjust the quantity of vinegar to your preference.
- Once the marination process is complete, spread the seasoned meat evenly in the dehydrator's basket. To optimize the dehydrating process, it’s crucial to arrange the meat slices in a well-spaced manner. Ensure that there’s enough room between each piece, allowing air to circulate evenly. Avoid stacking or overlapping the slices, as this can hinder proper drying. The goal is to create a thin, evenly spread layer, facilitating thorough moisture removal.
- Set your dehydrator to a temperature of 155 degrees Fahrenheit (approximately 68 degrees Celsius). Allow the meat to dehydrate for around 16 hours.
- After 16-24 hours, your beef jerky should be thoroughly dried out, yet tender to the bite.
- Carefully remove the beef jerky from the dehydrator and place it in an airtight container.
Dehydrator Tips
You don’t need a fancy dehydrator. The process of marinating and dehydrating beef creates a delightful explosion of flavors in each strip of jerky.
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- You can also use a jerky gun to make thin even strips of jerky without having to roll it out.
- In a bowl, mix seasonings into the beef until evenly distributed, with your hands.
- Divide beef mixture into 3 or 4 sections.
- Remove plastic wrap as you flip the meat onto the dehydrator trays.
- Score into jerky-sized strips with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut the dehydrator tray, and dry on high overnight, or until thoroughly cooked.
Storage Tips
Once you’ve successfully crafted your flavorful batch of homemade beef jerky, it’s crucial to store it properly to maintain its quality and taste. Storing your jerky properly can make it easily last for up to three months, making it an ideal snack for your busy routine.
Best Practices for Storage
Make sure to squeeze out as much air as possible before sealing to prevent moisture buildup. Keep your beef jerky away from direct sunlight, heat, and humidity. Refrigeration is a smart choice if you plan to store your jerky for an extended period. Freezing is an excellent option for long-term storage. You can divide your beef jerky into portion-sized packets and place them in freezer-safe bags. It is always a good idea to label your stored beef jerky with the date it was made.
Alternatives to Soy Sauce
I don’t like soy sauce because it has a lot of wheat in it. But you can enhance the taste of your beef jerky without the use of soy sauce. There are so many delicious possibilities. Soy sauce, often containing wheat and soy, might not align with your dietary preferences. Ditching soy sauce doesn’t mean that you are going to compromise on taste. You can use exciting and soy-free alternatives that elevate your jerky-making. From the savory depth of fish sauce to the sweet undertones of coconut aminos, or the wheat-free charm of tamari, these options provide diverse flavors to cater to your unique needs.
Additional Tips
For those of you with histamine intolerance, you may want to cook your jerky for a shorter amount of time. The longer you cook it, the higher in histamine the meat will be. So make sure your beef strips are very thin so they'll dehydrate quickly! To minimize histamine build-up, store your jerky in the freezer. Frozen jerky still tastes good, I promise! Another thing to consider is getting un-aged beef. This can make a huge difference from store-bought meats that are typically aged for around 30 days.
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