Forvols
Well-Known Member
WHOLE MUSCLE JERKY:
You need good lean meat for Jerky making eye of round is probably the best cut for it. Trimming/slicing is easy. High lean to fat ratio, good yield (it was actually the cheapest per lb vs bottom/top round or sirloin).
Here is a breakdown on the overall cost and final yield of my jerky making I bought the meat at SAMS:
(numbers rounded off)
Beef eye of round: 20.7lb x $5.98 = $124
Beef weight after trimming 17lbs (fat, silver skin and such trimmed off)
Seasoning $15.00 - Lems backwoods (estimated cost - had it on hand)
Beef sliced to slightly less than 1/4in thick -- whole muscle jerky meat. Marinated for 30hrs
Excalibur 9tray dehydrator -- 2 batches run 7.5hrs each at 155*(for dehydration I shoot for a 45-55% reduction in weight)
COST prior to dehydration ---- $139.00
Finished jerky yield ---- 8.6lbs cost per pound --- $16.16 per lb of actual jerky
Looking online amazon, Sams, Walmart etc think a good price for jerky is about 22-24bucks a pound. Jerky stores and such are more).
GROUND MEAT JERKY (cost estimate)
I like both and did ground meat jerky for years: Ground beef bonus you don't have any weight lost due to trimming fat/silver skin. You will still need to get the lowest fat ground meat say 93/7. I have used the 90/10 ground beef still a good result. Just using Sams as a cost point 93/7 is $6.17 per lb. 90/10 is $5.22 per lb. I don't think I have used 85/15 before but I wouldn't go any higher in fat ratio than that.
Ground meat jerky is more time consuming in making the jerky and dehydration times vary but not much. Don't forget the bonus of no weight loss for trimming.
So, for 20.7lbs of 93/7 ground beef= $128.00(Sams price)
Seasoning same cost estimate = $15.00
Estimated yield at 50% weight reduction after dehydration = 10.4lbs ground jerky
Cost per lb of ground jerky = $12.31 per lb
Cost per lb is hard to compare for ground meat jerky. So, using Sams cost for Jack Links beef steaks (which I think is just ground meat jerky)= $16.00lb
If you can catch some of the cuts of meat on sale at the local grocery store you can reduce overall cost. Seasoning wise I think its a trade off buying your own seasoning or using a good commercial premix. I made 3 flavors this time: CAJUN, CRACKED BLACK PEPPER, SWEET and HOT TERIYAKI -- each one I added other seasonings to enhance the flavors I like.
You need good lean meat for Jerky making eye of round is probably the best cut for it. Trimming/slicing is easy. High lean to fat ratio, good yield (it was actually the cheapest per lb vs bottom/top round or sirloin).
Here is a breakdown on the overall cost and final yield of my jerky making I bought the meat at SAMS:
(numbers rounded off)
Beef eye of round: 20.7lb x $5.98 = $124
Beef weight after trimming 17lbs (fat, silver skin and such trimmed off)
Seasoning $15.00 - Lems backwoods (estimated cost - had it on hand)
Beef sliced to slightly less than 1/4in thick -- whole muscle jerky meat. Marinated for 30hrs
Excalibur 9tray dehydrator -- 2 batches run 7.5hrs each at 155*(for dehydration I shoot for a 45-55% reduction in weight)
COST prior to dehydration ---- $139.00
Finished jerky yield ---- 8.6lbs cost per pound --- $16.16 per lb of actual jerky
Looking online amazon, Sams, Walmart etc think a good price for jerky is about 22-24bucks a pound. Jerky stores and such are more).
GROUND MEAT JERKY (cost estimate)
I like both and did ground meat jerky for years: Ground beef bonus you don't have any weight lost due to trimming fat/silver skin. You will still need to get the lowest fat ground meat say 93/7. I have used the 90/10 ground beef still a good result. Just using Sams as a cost point 93/7 is $6.17 per lb. 90/10 is $5.22 per lb. I don't think I have used 85/15 before but I wouldn't go any higher in fat ratio than that.
Ground meat jerky is more time consuming in making the jerky and dehydration times vary but not much. Don't forget the bonus of no weight loss for trimming.
So, for 20.7lbs of 93/7 ground beef= $128.00(Sams price)
Seasoning same cost estimate = $15.00
Estimated yield at 50% weight reduction after dehydration = 10.4lbs ground jerky
Cost per lb of ground jerky = $12.31 per lb
Cost per lb is hard to compare for ground meat jerky. So, using Sams cost for Jack Links beef steaks (which I think is just ground meat jerky)= $16.00lb
If you can catch some of the cuts of meat on sale at the local grocery store you can reduce overall cost. Seasoning wise I think its a trade off buying your own seasoning or using a good commercial premix. I made 3 flavors this time: CAJUN, CRACKED BLACK PEPPER, SWEET and HOT TERIYAKI -- each one I added other seasonings to enhance the flavors I like.
