Homemade Beef Jerky – Spicy Dried Beef

Preparation and Marinating

• 1
  Wash the beef, pat it dry, then place it in the freezer for about 2-3 hours. This helps to cut much thinner slices.
• 2
  Meanwhile, prepare the marinade. Crush the garlic, then mix it with soy sauce and Worcestershire sauce. Add coarsely ground pepper, chili flakes, and other favorite spices to taste.
• 3
  Slice the semi-frozen meat as thinly as possible. Dip each slice thoroughly in the marinade, then place them in an airtight container. It's important that the marinade covers all the meat. Let it marinate in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, but it's best to let it rest overnight.

Drying

• 1
  The meat can be dried in a dehydrator or an oven. If using an oven, set it to 75°C. Place the meat slices on the oven rack so they don't overlap (they can touch). For a spicier taste, you can sprinkle a little more pepper or chili on them at this point.
• 2
  First, dry at 75°C for 30-40 minutes. This higher temperature helps to kill any potential bacteria. Then, reduce the temperature to 55°C and dry for approximately another 8 hours. During drying, swap the positions of the trays at least twice. The meat is done when it is slightly translucent and breaks when bent.