Although it's known globally as a snack food, jerky has been eaten for centuries. Traditionally, meat was dried to preserve it from spoiling or being eaten by wild animals.
Dried meat can be stored for weeks without refrigeration, making it an ideal way to keep food safe in the days before refrigeration was routine. Today, homemade jerky has become popular as a quick and easy source of protein with a delicious flavor profile.
However, there are several steps involved in preparing jerky at home. These include: cutting the meat into thin strips, marinating it overnight, and dehydrating it at low temperatures over several hours (or even days). It’s not necessarily demanding work, but it can be time-consuming if you're doing this by hand with a knife and cutting board.
A jerky slicer is a specialized piece of equipment designed specifically for cutting meat into thin strips. Since the meat is sliced so thinly, it’s much easier to dry at lower temperatures since there’s less surface area for moisture to evaporate from. Additionally, this process helps keep bacteria from growing on your jerky as it dries out.
A Demonstration of the Weston Jerky Slicer
A jerky slicer can be used to cut a variety of meats, including beef, chicken, turkey, pork, and more! The process is much faster than doing it by hand, and it’s also easier on your hands (no more sore fingers). Jerky slicers come in a variety of styles and price ranges.
The most basic models are essentially just a long, flat surface with a cutting mechanism that moves back and forth across it. More advanced models have multiple cutting surfaces and adjustable features for creating different widths of meat strips.
The best jerky slicer will have a few features that make it easy to use and allow you to make your jerky quickly. Here are some things to look for when buying a jerky slicer:
A good jerky slicer should allow you to adjust the width and thickness of your slices to customize them according to the type of meat used.
A high-quality stainless steel blade stays sharp and is easy to clean. Blades should be able to cut through tough meat like beef jerky with ease. It should also be easy to change out when necessary for cleaning or replacement.
Jerky slicers, made with sturdy materials and designed to withstand heavy use, stand up well over time. The best meat slicer should be sturdy and durable enough that it won’t break down after a few uses.
Safety features such as a safety guard around the blade and an on/off switch help prevent injury while using an electric machine.
The best meat slicer will also have a suction cup base or include a c-clamp to keep it securely in place while you're using it. This will help prevent accidents from your hand slipping off of the handle or falling onto the countertop.
Most people prefer not to spend hours scrubbing their meat slicer down after each use, so look for one that is dishwasher safe or easy to clean by hand.
If you plan on making jerkies regularly, consider buying an electric model powered by an outlet. These machines are easier to use and better at slicing than your average manual jerky slicer.
If you plan on making jerky occasionally, a manual unit may be sufficient for your needs. Manual jerky slicers are less expensive. They are also easier to store, as they generally take up less space than an electric model. Manual models do not require any power source or batteries, which makes them ideal for camping trips and other situations where electricity isn’t available.
If you’re looking for the best electric jerky slicer, the Weston Products Jerky Slicer is one of the most popular models. This manual model offers three different cutting surfaces that can be used to cut jerky slices of various widths and thicknesses. It also comes with a built-in meat tenderizer so that you don’t have to buy an extra piece of equipment just for this purpose.
If you already have a meat processing meat grinder or related products such as the LEM Products Big Bite Stainless Steel Grinder, then buying a jerky slicer and tenderizer attachment for your existing product is more economical than purchasing an entirely new appliance.
Owners of KitchenAid stand mixers can purchase a durable powder painted aluminum meat slicer and tenderizer attachment for their appliance. The attachment includes 32 stainless steel blades, including a slicing blade and a tenderizer blade. It also comes with two plates used to cut meat into strips or chunks.
A meat tenderizer is an appliance that uses small metal spikes to break down the connective tissue in beef so that it becomes more palatable when cooked.
A sharp knife will work, but a jerky slicer is the easiest way to make your own jerky at home. It’s not that hard to cut meat into slices with a knife, but it can be a lot of repetitive work. Slice up pounds of meat in no time using a jerky slicer. You don’t need to be an expert chef or cook to use one either.
The best part about making it at home is that is fully customizable to your tastes. You have complete control over the size and thickness of your jerky. And you can flavor and season the meat in any way that appeals to you before dehydrating it. Plus, there’s no limit on which meats can be used.
If you eat jerky regularly, over time, making your own jerky at home will cost less than buying it from the store.
