How to Make Delicious and Nutritious Beef Jerky for Your Dog

Beef jerky is a tasty and healthy treat that many dog owners like to make for their furry friends. It’s easy to prepare at home allows you to control the ingredients and provides a long-lasting chew that promotes good dental health. In this article, I’ll explain the benefits of homemade beef jerky for dogs and provide a step-by-step guide to making it.

Why Make Homemade Beef Jerky for Dogs?

There are several advantages to making your own beef jerky rather than buying pre-packaged products:

• You control the quality of ingredients Store-bought jerky often contains preservatives, artificial flavors, and other questionable additives By making it yourself, you can choose cuts of lean beef and use all-natural seasonings.

• It’s cheaper in the long run. Although you need to buy the beef in bulk upfront, the end cost per treat is far less than packaged jerky.

• You can customize it. Cater to your dog’s tastes and nutritional needs by experimenting with different spices and ingredients.

• It provides a long-lasting chew. The dehydration process produces a tough leathery treat that takes dogs a while to chomp through which is great for their dental health.

• No chemicals or processing. Homemade jerky doesn’t undergo the high-heat extrusion or irradiation used to make commercial jerky last on shelves.

So for quality, cost-effectiveness, and health, making your own jerky is the way to go. Let’s look at how it’s done.

Ingredients for Beef Jerky

The basic ingredients for homemade beef jerky are:

• Lean beef. Flank steak, sirloin tip, or eye of round work well. Choose cuts that are 90-95% lean.

• Seasonings. Use dried herbs and spices like garlic powder, onion powder, black pepper, paprika, oregano, basil, cumin, and coriander.

• Salt or soy sauce (optional). Only use in moderation, as too much sodium is unhealthy for dogs.

That’s all you really need for simple, tasty jerky. But you can also incorporate extras like:

• Fruits and veggies. Puree or finely chop produce like apples, bananas, blueberries, carrots, and sweet potatoes to mix into the ground meat.

• Eggs or egg whites. Bind the meat mixture together.

• Oils. Brush with salmon, flaxseed, or coconut oil for added skin/coat benefits.

Equipment Needed

Dehydrating beef into jerky requires only a couple special tools:

• Meat slicer or very sharp knife. Thinly slicing the meat makes it dry out faster.

• Dehydrator. This appliance circulates air at a low temperature to remove moisture slowly. Models with adjustable temperature controls work best.

• Non-stick mesh sheets. Lay these onto dehydrator trays so the meat doesn’t stick.

• Jerky gun. Makes it easy to shape ground meat mixtures into strips.

You can also use your oven if you don’t have a dehydrator. Just keep the temperature under 200°F and prop the door open slightly.

Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfect homemade beef jerky:

1. Prepare the Meat

If using whole cuts, slice them across the grain into 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch thick strips. Cut off and discard excess fat.

For ground meat, mix together 1 lb meat with seasoning and any extras until well-combined. Chill the mixture briefly.

2. Apply Seasonings

Choose your favorite dried herbs and spices and mix together. Coat the strips or ground meat thoroughly and rub in the seasoning blend.

Let it sit at room temperature for 15-20 minutes so the flavors absorb.

3. Dehydrate the Meat

Lay the seasoned meat evenly in a single layer onto dehydrator trays lined with mesh sheets.

Set the dehydrator to 145-165°F. Dry thin strips for 4-6 hours, thicker cuts for 6-8 hours.

4. Test for Doneness

Jerky is done when pieces are dry and leathery with no moist, sticky spots. Meat should crack but not break when bent.

If needed, continue dehydrating in 1-2 hour increments, checking periodically.

5. Cool and Store Jerky

Turn off dehydrator and let jerky cool completely before removing from trays. Blot any grease off pieces with a paper towel.

Store in an airtight container at room temperature for 2-3 weeks. Keep refrigerated or frozen for longer storage.

That’s all it takes to make tasty, nutritious beef jerky that your dog will absolutely love! Experiment with flavors and ingredients to create your pup’s perfect treat.

Tips for Making Beef Jerky

Follow these extra pointers for best results:

• Use lean cuts of beef and trim off excess fat, which can go rancid.

• Cut meat across the grain for tenderness. Cut strips 1⁄8 to 1⁄4 inch thick for faster drying.

• Apply seasoning evenly and let sit briefly before dehydrating to penetrate flavor.

• Rotate trays and shift pieces occasionally for even drying.

• Make sure meat reaches an internal temperature of at least 145°F to kill bacteria.

• Check large pieces after a few hours. Bend to test for dryness.

• Let jerky cool before storing. Refrigerate or freeze for longer shelf life.

• Consider using a jerky gun for easier shaping of ground meat mixtures.

• Clean dehydrator well after use since meat residues can spoil.

With the right techniques and a good dehydrator, you can easily make appetizing homemade beef jerky that provides a nutritious, long-lasting treat for your pup. For quality ingredients, cost savings, and dental health, jerky is a smart choice!