The best cuts of beef for making jerky
Here are some of the best cuts of beef for making jerky
Whether you are making jerky at home or you are looking to start your own beef jerky business, it’s best knowing what cut of meat to use. No matter what cut of beef you use for beef jerky, it’s best using quality grass fed beef. Each cut of meat does make a lot of difference, and the taste would also vary. Ideally you want a cut of beef that is lean and low in fat, this tend to be the more budget muscle meat rather than fatty cuts used primarily for general eating. If you choose to use a tough budget cut, you can always use a handheld meat tenderizer in order to soften up the meat which will assist in the marination process.
There are several types of beef cuts, each with different characteristics. Before knowing the different styles of cutting the beef, there are few things that you’ll need to apply. If you are shopping for meat particularly beef, make sure that it is not expired, you have purchased the correct amount of meat that you need, and find parts of the meat that has less fat and ask the butcher to slice the meat for you.
Having the beef sliced by a butcher would save you time and effort, however if you wish to do it yourself, consider investing in a benchtop electric meat slicer. This allows you to spend more time mixing up a great beef jerky recipe to call your own. To make beef jerky at home, here are the following preferred beef cuts to use.
- Eye of round – this is one of the most popular types of beef jerky cut. The oval is mainly a single oval type of muscle that is found in the rear leg. This is the best part of making a beef jerky. This area is lean, it has little fat, there is no need to trim its fat cap, and it is economical.
- Bottom round – this is another choice for you to be able to make a jerky. This area is where the outer muscle of the upper rare leg portion. It is the least tender however it makes a good jerky. The meat is lean, flavorful and economical as well.
- The top round – this is somewhat similar to the bottom part of the round. The beef cut is on the inside of its leg muscle which is the opposite of the entire bottom round. The cut is found to be tenderer than the bottom, and it is less tender compared the eye of the round.
- Sirloin tip – this has the part wherein it is very tender. Although this part is not that popular, it is still a good piece to make a beef jerky.
- Flank steak- this is the part of the beef wherein it is expensive and still makes a good beef jerky. Keep in mind that if this is sliced with a grain, the result of the jerky would be tough. This is much better to slice it without having its grain and use the piece of meat in making a beef jerky.
- Ground meat- if you want to use ground meat in making beef jerky it is the best option to choose a leaner meat. Most people like this meat because it is chewy. You will need a beef jerky gun when using minced meat
These are the different types of beef jerky cut that can also suit your style. Having to follow any of these cuts of beef will still give you a successful jerky.