Silverside is a good cut of meat to use for beef jerky as it is lean with little fat which means it is less likely to spoil. It is also a cheaper cut of meat which is beneficial as the meat will lose a good amount of its weight once dried. Some like to slice the beef with the grain rather than against it to help it stay in one piece; however, slicing against the grain gives a more tender result. If you don’t have access to an expensive dehydrator don’t worry – it’s easy enough to make the jerky in your oven at home as long as it is able to go to temperatures as low as 70°C.
How to make beef jerky
Ingredients
- 1kg beef silverside
- 1 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp onion powder
- 100ml of Worcestershire sauce
- 3 tbsp of salt
- 1 tbsp of black pepper
1
Place the beef in the freezer for an hour to make it easier to slice
2
Slice against the grain of the beef to a thickness of about 0.5cm
3
Place the marinade ingredients into a small saucepan and bring to the boil
4
Leave to cool before pouring over the beef then leave to marinate in the fridge overnight
5
The next day, preheat the oven to 70°C
6
Place the strips of beef onto a wire rack over a baking tray
7
Transfer the tray into the oven and keep the door slightly ajar with the help of a wooden spoon
8
Cook for around 3 hours until dried out
9
Remove from the oven and leave to air dry for up to 24 hours
Variations
The ingredients used to marinate the beef can be varied in a number of ways. For a Mexican flavoured jerky, add lime and jalapenos. For a an Asian twist use lemongrass, ginger and fish sauce in the marinade or for a smoky taste try marinating the beef in barbecue sauce or adding a touch of liquid smoke.
