BEEF JERKY
Air fryer beef jerky is a fantastic way to create delicious and nutritious beef jerky in the comfort of your own home, without needing a dehydrator. The recipe is straightforward, as you can also make this jerky recipe in a regular oven or an air fryer with minimal prep time, but it does require some planning as the sliced beef should be marinated overnight (or at least for a few hours) to develop its flavor.
Ingredients
A lean cut of meat such as:
- top round steak,
- flank steak,
- rump roast
- bison
- venison
For the marinade
- 1 tablespoon ground pepper
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 teaspoon onion powder
- 1/2 teaspoon smoked paprika
- (optional) 1 teaspoon honey or xylitol
To ensure your jerky stays fresh and tasty, it’s crucial to select a lean cut of meat. Even dried fat can become rancid over time, so refrigeration is recommended to prevent spoilage. The top round steak, flank steak, and rump roast are ideal choices for making jerky, and bison or venison can also be used. If you’re not confident in your ability to slice the meat thinly and evenly, ask your butcher to do it for you.
The thickness of the strips will affect the texture of the jerky, with thicker strips providing more bite and chew, while thinner strips offer a more tender jerky. A thickness of no less than 1/8″ and no more than 1/4″ is suggested. To make cutting the beef into thin strips easier, you can place it in the freezer for about 30 minutes before slicing it if you are doing it yourself.
Whether to cut against or with the grain is a personal preference. Cutting against the grain provides strips that are easy to rip apart, while cutting with the grain offers longer, chewier jerky. The key to making perfect air fryer beef jerky is marinating the beef for 18-24 hours to achieve a delicious flavor.
Directions
- Trim excess fat from the beef to help with the drying process.
- Slice the beef thinly, no thicker than 1/4 inch. You can cut it into strips or squares if desired.
- Mix the marinade ingredients in a bowl and add the beef strips, ensuring that they are separated and covered by the marinade.
- Marinate the beef for at least 3 hours or overnight in the refrigerator.
- Drain the beef strips and pat them dry.
- Place the beef strips in the air fryer basket, making sure they are not overlapping.
- Air fry the beef jerky at 210°F (100°C) for around 2-3 hours, cooking it low and slow so that the moisture in the beef can evaporate.
- Check the jerky after two hours, and continue cooking in 15-minute intervals until it is done (reaching 160°F/71°C). Monitor the cooking time as it can vary depending on factors such as the thickness of the beef and the efficiency of the air fryer/oven.
- Once the jerky is ready, allow it to cool and store it in an airtight container. Enjoy your delicious and nutritious homemade beef jerky!
