Jerkies are older than refrigerators; people used to consume jerky long before they knew what a fridge is. It is actually the oldest way of preserving meat, vegetable, and fruits dating back to ancient times that take advantage of sun drying. However, the sun-dry method is no longer suggested, and it should be avoided to prevent any contamination. You no longer have to depend on the sun and excessive salt for dehydrating meat. Besides, there is no reason to spend too much time with this process, as we have tremendous pieces of equipment available to us today for making meat jerky the most convenient way.
If you are making jerky the traditional way without a jerky gun, then you must get the best jerky hangers to prepare savory strips. There are some important factors that you should be aware of when making this delicious treat directly by cutting the meat into thin slices. Obviously, you need to select the right part of the meat, obtain a jerky slicer, and spice up the strips with appetizing seasoning. These are equally important, and must be performed with care. However, there is one more step that is vital for the jerky preparation process, and that involves the dehydration. After all, the way you dry the meat without them touching each other has a big impact on the final taste, longevity, and the structure (chewiness) of the meat jerky.
I want to share with you the most productive and efficient jerky hangers that I have been using for a while and my experiences with them.
LEM Products 735 Jerky Hanger
LEM is a distinctive kitchen appliances producer when it comes to making jerky from sliced meat strips. They manufacture some of the best food dehydrators, racks, meat guns, and other jerky accessories, including their popular Jerky Hanger.
Actually, it is a simple idea, the jerky hanger resembles one of those stainless-steel skewer sets, and work as one. The main difference comes from the fact that it is made solely for this purpose. It includes a dripping pan underneath to collect the fat from the meat strips during the drying process. I have to admit that this helps a lot when it comes to cleaning the smoker or the bottom of the oven. Plus, the Jerky Hanger itself is dishwasher safe, you can clean it without a hassle.
Another benefit besides the dripping pan is the rack that keeps the skewers hanging in the air. All the jerkies are flowing in the air thanks to the stainless-steel racks. This allows to dry the jerky strips evenly. I use this on my smoker and the smoke gets around every piece equally. In the end, the jerkies turn out extra savory and chewy.
Alternatively, you might want to choose regular skewer sets to make jerky, for which I added some options below. However, the Jerky Hanger from LEM is completely foldable once you are done drying up the meat strips. This feature also makes storing the Jerky Hanger set super easy.
The manufacturer mentions that you can hang around a hundred jerkies on these special made skewers. Well, that is a lot of jerkies to enjoy. I personally hang around 60-70 pieces each time. I think 100 pieces would squeeze them a bit. I suggest you to give as much as space as you can between the jerkies; you get perfect results this way!
Overall, it is a solid product that is definitely designed for heavy duty use. The set also includes complimentary Backwoods original jerky seasoning. You can have traditional tasting meat strips at home if you give it a try. Keep in mind that this skewer set is also great for making delicious kabobs.
You can use this jerky hanger in your oven or smoker. All you need is to place the rack in the dripping pan and then start drying in your smoker or oven. Includes One-Year-Warranty.
Pros:
- Compact and portable for easy storage
- No interaction between the meat strips
- Improves the evenly heating
- Dishwasher safe
- Includes drip tray
Cons:
- No noticeable drawbacks
CMYK 13¨ Stainless Steel Skewers with Slider
If you like unique products, then you are going to love what CMYK skewers offering. Whether you are making jerky or shish kabobs on the skewers, it is always a hassle to take out the meat once you are done with cooking. CMYK came up with a great idea to include easy-slide handles at the end of the skewers. All you need to do is to use these integrated sliders; meat comes right off smoothly.
High quality 430 stainless steel material is used for these heavy-duty, reusable skewers. Another unique feature is that these items do not have any sharp edges, unlike the competition. They will never stab your hand. Plus, the jerkies will never slip off or spin due to the double prong design and the flat shape.
Simply pierce the meat strips with these skewers, and then hang them inside your oven or place them on the smoker. It is best if you also use a dripping tray and place the skewers on top of it. This will help you to keep the cooking environment all clean. Please note that these are 100% dishwasher safe, so cleaning them is convenient and easy.
Package contains 6 skewers that are 13 inches long, and the handle is only 2 inches long. They will not rust, but make sure you always dry them well before you put them away.
Pros:
- Sturdy, stainless steel material
- Dishwasher safe
- Include easy-slide handles to remove meat
Cons:
- Drip tray is not included
- Rack that holds the skewers is not included
HONSHEN 8 Inch Stainless Steel Skewers
These are 8-inch stainless steel skewers that you can use for hanging the meat strips to make jerky at home. The package includes 21 skewers with ring-tip handles for easy grip and control. I like their sturdy nature; you cannot bend them easily. They can hold a good amount of meat and are fully reusable.
You will notice that these skewers are very sharp. You can pierce through the meat easily, but I advise you to be careful with your fingers. In addition, removing the jerkies once they are well-dried is pretty effortless too. Usually, skewers are longer than 8 inches; ranging 9 to 12 inches.
However, this size is perfect for drying jerky, and if you want to make kabobs with them, then they are just great for individual servings.
Keep in mind that it is so easy to clean up your smoker or oven when you use drip tray liners, or disposable foil oven liners. These are made of heat proof aluminum, so you can use them without any issues. You basically lay these on top of your drip tray. It collects all the fat and sauces during the dehydration or cooking process.
This package includes 10 foil oven liners. The exact measurements are 18.5 x 15.5 inches. You can use each liner or foil tray about 2-3 times or until they are fully discolored and warped. Keep the bottom of your ovens or smokers spotless.
Pros:
- Sturdy, stainless steel material
- Dishwasher safe
- Ring-tip handle
Cons:
- Drip tray is not included
- Rack that holds the skewers is not included
BigOtters – 100 PCS
Stainless Steel Needle Sticks
If you are making jerky quite a lot, then you might consider this large set of 100 needle sticks. They look very much like regular bamboo sticks, but they are completely made from durable stainless-steel. I use them for preparing many different kinds of food whether it is jerky or corn on the comb. I have an admiration for versatile kitchen gadgets, and these are certainly one of them. You can use them pretty much for anything from jerkies to kabobs and more.
Cleaning is easy since they are dishwasher safe. However, it is a good idea to disinfect them with hot water before using. Make no mistake, they look thin, but will never slip off from your hand thanks to the smart non-slip design with comfortable grip. Their length is 13.4 inches, and the diameter is pretty thin at 2mm. Feel free to use them in your oven or smoker. It comes with metal case to provide easy storing.
Pros:
- Food grade stainless steel material
- Includes metal case for storing
Cons:
- Drip tray is not included
Dehydrator with a Hanging Rack – Magic Mill
How about a dehydrator that comes with a jerky hanger? This is definitely an all-in-one product that you can use for all your dehydrating needs from jerkies to dried fruits and vegetables. It is a quality food dehydrator where you don’t have to rotate the trays. The drying fan is mounted at the back of the equipment. What you get is an evenly distributed warm air to enable perfect dehydration.
You can select any temperature ranging from 95°F to 165°F that basically covers all the required rates for drying meat, fruits, and vegetables. Plus, it comes with a timer that you can adjust in 30 minutes increments. It automatically shuts off when the timer reaches to zero.
Racks are dishwasher safe for your convenience. You can clean them easily. It comes with 10 drying trays, plus 1 hanging rack, 2 non-stick trays, 1 fine mesh sheet, and 2 silicone gloves for easy handling. Please note that all of these are also BPA free. You can use one of the non-stick trays as the drip tray when making jerky with the hanger. Make sure to oil the skewers or racks so that the meat does not get stuck.
Additional features include the keep-warm mode, digital controls, fast and raw modes. It comes with one-year warranty, and the wattage is 600 watts.
Pros:
- Includes jerky hanger
- All racks are dishwasher safe
- It comes with a recipe book
Cons:
- No noticeable drawbacks
Can You Over Marinate Jerky?
In general, too much of anything is bad, but we can certainly be more flexible when it comes to marinating the meat jerky. If you use fresh ingredients and well-dried spices, then there is absolutely no reason why you cannot exaggerate your sauces and the time for the whole process. However, the best marination occurs within the 6-12 hours period. If you want to prepare some savory jerky, then you should stay in this range. I highly recommend keeping the strips in the refrigerator around 12 hours for any kind of jerky regardless of the meat type. Feel free to extend the time for regular steaks since they are usually much thicker than the 1/4-inch sliced meat strips. Please note that marinating under 6 hours basically has no effects. Do not expect the meat to absorb any flavors in a short passage like 3-4 hours.
Why Is Beef Jerky So Expensive?
It is a good idea to prepare your jerky at home since it can get a bit pricey if you want to consume this treatment regularly. The reason for the high price tag is due to the high level of water in the meat, particularly in beef. Since about 60% of beef meat is water, we lose a lot of it while we are trying to make jerky by drying. In order to have 1 pound of beef jerky, you would need 2.5 pounds of beef.
In Conclusion
If you want to make the best jerky, then you would need to do so by slicing the meat rather than using ground meat. This method requires the best hangers to dry the meat strips properly. Whether you use your oven, smoker, or food dehydrator, you can prepare and enjoy delicious meat jerky in the convenience of your home just about from any meat source as long as it is lean. Fat meat is simply not a suitable ingredient for this type of food. LEM makes the best jerky hanger that is available in the market today. It is easy to clean and super portable since you can fold it and keep in the cabinet just like a regular tray. No other brand comes close to the features it offers.