How to Make Beef Sticks

Before buying beef sticks, consider making your own snack sticks in the oven. Beef sticks are a popular snack that has been around for nearly as long as beef jerky. Native Americans dried various game meats in the sun for 3 to 4 days. The beef stick recipe has survived several generations, and it is possible for anyone to make their own. The amount of spices you can use to make beef sticks allow for a wide variety of flavors.

Things You'll Need

• 10 lbs. lean ground beef
• 2 tsp. curing salt
• 4 tbsp. salt
• 3 tsp. white pepper
• 3 tsp. nutmeg
• 3 tsp. celery seed
• 3 tsp. garlic granules
• 1 tbsp. cayenne pepper
• ½ cup flavor binder 86
• 1 cup cold water
• 1 strand 22 to 26 mm collagen casings
• Aluminum foil
• Digital thermometer

Instructions

1. Combine the ingredients into a mixing bowl, except the collagen casings. Knead the ingredients until they are well blended.

2. Add the beef mixture into the collagen casings. Use the end of a teaspoon to help you pack the meat into the casing. Completely stuff the casings full with the meat.

3. Place the filled collagen casings in the refrigerator for 12 hours. Preheat the oven to 170 degrees Fahrenheit.

4. Line the bottom of the oven with aluminum foil. This will catch the grease that will fall from the beef sticks.

5. Stick a digital thermometer into one of the beef sticks. The beef sticks need to reach an internal temperature of 150 degrees Fahrenheit.

6. Leave the oven door cracked. After the beef sticks cook for one hour, close the oven door. Remove the beef sticks once they reach the desired internal temperature.

7. Allow the beef sticks to cool at room temperature. Once they cool off, you can safely consume the beef sticks.

8. Freeze any leftover beef snack sticks until needed.

Tips & Warnings

• You can purchases collagen casings online, or ask your local butcher to find a specialty store in your area that sells the casings.

• Use ground turkey or chicken instead of beef.

• Experiment with the seasonings used in the beef sticks. Fry a small amount of the beef in a skillet until it reaches a safe temperature. Add any additional seasonings to the mixture until it reaches your desired taste.

• Consider smoking the beef sticks instead of making them in your oven.

• Wash your hands before and after handling raw beef.

References

• Joe's Place: Homemade Beef Sticks Using Morton's Tender Quick and Liquid Smoke
• One Stop Jerky Shop: Beef/Snack Stick Recipe: Make Sausage at Home