Jerky is meat with all the moisture taken out. It is one of the oldest ways to preserve meat, and it can last a long time. Many of the Old West cowboys and Texas Rangers would keep jerky in their saddle bags as a means of sustenance. One of the keys to making and preserving your own jerky and freezing it is to make sure you get all the moisture out of the meat. Cooking the frozen jerky takes only seconds.
Step 1
Cut a lean type of meat into strips to make jerky. You want to use round steak or flank steak because it has less fat than other beef cuts. The less fat in your jerky means it will last longer. The fat in the beef will eventually cause it to turn rancid. The strips should be no more than 1/4 inch thick, 3/4 inch wide and about 6 to 8 inches long.
Step 2
Season your jerky with salt and black pepper. That's all you need prior to cooking. Drop your meat strips into boiling water. The meat will turn white after two minutes. Take it out of the boiling water.
Step 3
Prepare a cold marinade to season your jerky. Mix 2 tablespoons soy sauce, two drops hot pepper sauce, 1 teaspoon minced garlic, 1/4 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon of pepper. Place the mixture in a plastic bag with the meat and then massage the bag so the mixture gets coated over the meat. Place the bags in the refrigerator overnight.
Step 4
Take the package out of the refrigerator. Place the meat in a baking dish and place it in the oven at 140 degrees with the door partially open for about eight hours. This will dry out the meat. You can also use a food dehydrator or a smoker to remove the moisture.
Step 5
Take the meat out of the oven and let it come back to room temperature. Place it in freezer bags and get all the air out of the bags. Freeze it. When you want to eat the frozen jerky, place it in the microwave for 30 seconds or let it defrost at room temperature.
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