Things You'll Need
Sharp knife
Cutting board
Meat hammer
Beef jerky is a common food for hikers, campers or people trying to preserve beef over the winter months. Jerky is basically dehydrated beef strips that have been marinated prior to drying. You can make beef jerky in a food dehydrator or in your oven at home and add different flavors to the marinade for more flavor variety. Slicing your beef strips before you marinate them is not difficult.
Step 1
Place your piece of beef on the cutting board and look closely to see which way the grain of the meat runs. Position the meat so the grain vertically on the cutting board.
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Step 2
Hold the beef with one hand and use a meat hammer to gently pound it out to about ¼-inch thick, if it is thicker. A soup can also be used for the same effect.
Step 3
Position your knife on the meat and cut 1-inch strips with the grain of the meat. Going across the grain makes the meat crumble when dehydrated.
Step 4
Cut the meat in slow, even strokes and use the entire length of the knife so you don't have to push as hard.
Step 5
Cut all the way through the meat and place your strips into a marinade once they have been sliced. Any strips that seem overly long may be cut in half crosswise.
Tip
Use whatever cut of beef you enjoy most when making beef jerky.
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