How to Make a Gluten Free Beef Jerky?

What is a gluten free beef jerky? Is this jerky a plausible recipe? Well, you have to read on to know the answer. Let’s get started!

​Nobody can just throw off the idea of making a gluten free delicacy. If you are a person that suffers from gluten intolerance, then it is pretty important that you avoid food that contains this particular protein.

​Of course, treats like beef jerky is rich in protein. But do not confuse that the protein that it contains is gluten. Technically speaking, beef and other types of meat are naturally free from this component. This is the biggest reason why many dieticians recommend jerkies for those who want to have a gluten-free diet.

​Therefore, you can already assume that beef jerky, of any kind, is a gluten-free food. For people who are suffering from gluten-related illnesses such as Celiac disease and Irritable Bowel Syndrome, this a good news already. After all, it is not easy to resist the tempting taste of jerkies.

​In this article, I will teach you how to make a simple beef jerky recipe. Specifically, I will show you an extra-healthy way of making it. In this way, you can guarantee that you can have a sumptuous and nutritious treat at the same time!

​How to Make a Gluten Free Beef Jerky

​Fortunately, making a beef jerky is not difficult. Even those who are not constantly dwelling on the kitchen can create this particular meat delicacy. As long as you have the right tools and ingredients, you can easily make this food!

​Ingredients

​Ingredients

• Top Round Beef (1 pound; sliced)
• Brown sugar (1/2 tablespoon)
• Salt (2 1/2 teaspoon)
• freshly cracked pepper (1/2 teaspoon)
• Garlic (1 teaspoon; granulated or powder)
• Onion (1/2 teaspoon; granulated or powder
• Pepper flakes to taste
• Water (5 tablespoon)

​Instructions:

​Preparing the Meat

​I specifically choose the top round cut of beef because it is naturally lean. Therefore, slicing and cutting it is not that difficult. As long as you got a sharp knife and dexterous hands, you can slice the meat into strips easily.

​Alternatively, you can use a meat grinder to grind the meat and use a jerky gun to convert the latter into strips. This method is particularly useful especially for those people who have arthritis or weak hands. Either way, both of these methods would work.

​Choosing the Meat

​Of course, the first qualification in choosing meat is its freshness. I don’t recommend on using raw meat that has suspicious appearance and smell because they are might nearing their expiration date.

​You have to remember that you are not going to cook the meat when making a jerky. Instead, you are dehydrating it. Therefore, if you a pick a bad meat, you are opening yourself to foodborne illnesses.

​Since we are talking about the healthy route here, my meat choice is quite different from the usual. This time, I purchased beef that came from cows that had been grass fed and raised organically. It is an extra precaution that assures the quality of the meat. You should do the same, too!

​Creating the Marinade

​Making the marinade is quite easy. Just mix all the ingredients in a large bowl and mix them thoroughly. After that, you can already add the meat strips to the bowl and make sure that you coat them properly. You want to make sure that the flavor will seep through the flesh of the meat.

​Refrigeration

​Once you are already satisfied, cover the bowl with a plastic sheet and place it in your refrigerator. I recommend that you should let it stay there for 6 to 12 hours. The longer the marination, the tastier the meat strips become.

​Drying the Meat

​After such given period, take out the meat strips from the bowl and place them on a baking rack. Arrange them properly (the meat should not touch or overlap each other) and place them back in the refrigerator for drying.

It should take around 25 to 30 minutes I do not suggest that your air dry the meat, especially in open spaces. It allows the meat to be susceptible from accumulating bacteria and other organisms.

​Dehydrating the Meat

​After you have dried the meat, put it in a preheated oven at a temperature of around 175 degrees Fahrenheit to 180 degrees Fahrenheit.

This is the ideal heat range to dehydrate the meat without frying it. Alternatively, you could also use your gas smokers or food dehydrators in this process. It is just your preference. Just set the device to the temperature that I indicated.

​With this heat, the dehydration process should be already completed after four to six hours. Don’t forget that you flip the meat in the middle of the drying so that you can get an even result.

​How to Know if the Jerky is Done

​You can know that your meat is already a jerky if it doesn’t have any reddish coloration anymore.

Moreover, if you can bend it without breaking, then you have achieved the ideal texture that a jerky should have. Once all these physical traits manifest on the meat strips, remove them already in your heating device and let them cool for awhile.

​After that, your gluten-free beef jerky is ready for consumption.

​Storing the Jerky

​If you are not planning to eat the jerky in a single go, you should store it in an airtight container, such as a Zip-lock bag.

This would allow you to preserve the quality of the jerky for around a month or two. Make sure that you put the jerky in your refrigerator. If you put it in your freezer, the jerky could last for three to four months.

​Naturally, jerkies have a long lifespan. This is due to the nature of how they are prepared. Since they had been dehydrated, the liquid that houses spoilage-causing organisms has been expelled.

​Conclusion

​Overall, the process of making a gluten free beef jerky is not that complicated. The only thing that you have to be wary here is the time that it requires to complete this recipe. Other than that, everything else is doable. You just have to be patient so that you can get a healthy treat for you and your family. Enjoy cooking!