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How to Dehydrate Meat

by: Susan Gast / Author, Blogger at Beesville Books, Bored Boomers, and a Food Dehydrating Fanatic!

Here's how to dehydrate meat safely! Dehydrating meat in a dehydrator is a great option - if you are looking for a way to preserve meat without going the canning or freezing route.

Learn about dehydrating different meats by clicking on the images below...

Click an IMAGE Below for FULL Info. on that Specific Meat and/or Fish

Click any of the images above to visit the meat page of your choice!

How to Dehydrate Meat (Leftovers)!

I discuss how to dehydrate leftover meat safely, step-by-step - along with tips on how to store your dried meat and use it in recipes. Let's get started!

We've also got an easy Beef Jerky recipe a little further down the page.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Four Types of Meat Preservation Methods

Meats are preserved using these popular methods:

1. Dehydrating
2. Smoking
3. Freeze-drying
4. Cured with salt

Shelf life is important, right? But we're all about the 'easy' here as in 'easy'-food-dehydrating!

For example, when preparing chicken for the family dinner, put an extra breast in the cooking pot and save it to dehydrate later on!

Dehydrators do a fine job of drying meats for backpacking.

Let's get busy learning how to dehydrate meat NOW before inflation gets any worse—and meat prices escalate (even more than they already have).

When Dehydrating Meat: Use Pre-Cooked Meats!

Fastest and Easiest Way to Dehydrate Meat: Use Pre-Cooked SLICED Meats!
Meat that is already cooked and pre-sliced makes this task easy—we have the perfect way of dehydrating meat safely!

Dehydrating meat is simply a process of removing the water content from it. Dehydration concentrates the flavor of the meat and allows you to store it for a longer period of time.

Snacking and Backpacking - Beef Makes a Beef Jerky Treat!
Looking to make beef jerky? Yes! (Please scroll farther down the page). If you make pouches of beef jerky, you'll have backpacking snacks ready to go! It's easy to vacuum seal dried meats by using a food vacuum sealer.

Check out these two recipe links when you're ready to make lots of great stews and soups using your dehydrated meat!

A Note About Rehydrating Meat
If you overly dehydrate meat, you may experience a more chewy texture than you'd like... but it's better than not having any meat available at all unless you are a vegetarian, of course!

Experiment with longer rehydrating times for less chewy meat and use flavored stocks to enhance the flavor.

What are the Best Meats to Dry in a Dehydrator?

Fattier meats dehydrate better than leaner meats. This is because the fat keeps the meat moist during the dehydration process. Some of the best meats to dehydrate include:

• Beef
• Chicken
• Turkey
• Salmon
• Venison

NOTE: There has been a health-scare recently (late December of 2023) regarding a disease in Venison. Please heed any warnings prior to cooking and eating venison!

When learning how to dehydrate meat properly, it is important to slice the meat thinly. This helps the meat dry evenly and prevents it from drying out too quickly. It is also important to marinate the meat before dehydrating it when making jerky. Marinating adds flavor and helps keep the meat moist - no surprise there.

There are a number of ways to perfect dried meat. The most popular method is to use a dehydrator, but you can also dry meat in the oven or even in the sun.

Whichever method you choose, be sure to follow the instructions carefully to ensure that the meat is properly dehydrated. Yes, I know the sun cannot provide directions on dehydration... ;-)

Properly dehydrated meat can be stored for several months. Be sure to store it in an airtight container in a cool, dark place. Read how to store beef (and other foods) here.

Stocking-Up on Flavor!

Beef Jerky Recipe - Dehydrator Method

How to Make Beef Jerky in an
Electric Dehydrator:

Jerky Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef (sirloin, flank, or London broil)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)

Jerky Instructions:

1. Trim the beef of any fat and slice it into thin strips, about 1/4 inch thick. If you are using flank or London broil, you may want to cut the beef against the grain.
2. In a large resealable bag, combine the beef with the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
3. Marinate the beef in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Set your electric dehydrator to 165°F and dry the beef strips for 6-8 hours.
5. Remove from the electric dehydrator and let cool.
6. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
7. Enjoy!

Every time, #7 is a MUST.

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

Don't forget, your food dehydrator manual will highly likely feature their own tasty jerky recipe! Check out these Nesco and Excalibur Food Dehydrators here. Dehydrate food properly. Use the correct-size oxygen absorbers inside vacuum sealer pouches to keep bacteria at bay!

Beef Jerky Recipe - Regular Oven Method

How to Make Beef Jerky in a
Regular Oven:

Jerky Ingredients:

• 1 pound beef (sirloin, flank, or London broil)
• 2 tablespoons soy sauce
• 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper
• 1/4 teaspoon cayenne pepper (optional)
• 1/4 cup brown sugar (optional)

Jerky Instructions:

1. Trim the beef of any fat and slice it into thin strips, about 1/4-inch thick. If you are using flank or London broil, you may want to cut the meat against the grain.
2. In a large resealable bag, combine the meat with the soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and cayenne pepper (if using).
3. Marinate the meat in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours, or overnight.
4. Preheat your oven to 200°F.
5. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and place a wire rack on top.
6. Place the beef on the wire rack, making sure they are not touching each other.
7. Bake in the oven for 4-6 hours, or until the beef is dry and slightly chewy.
8. Remove from the oven and let cool.
9. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 2 weeks.
10. Enjoy!

Use our Fahrenheit to Celsius converter here on our site!

#10 is a MUST.

Check out this guide to the eight best cuts of beef, brought to you by The Best Stop.

Don't Forget the Protein of Eggs!

As you know, eggs are nature's "perfect food," and are a superb source of protein. Check out how to safely dehydrate eggs right here!

Try Our Beef Stew!

Treat yourself to our Beef Stew recipe...

Thanks for taking the time to read how to dehydrate meat safely.

As you may have noticed(!), I prefer to use cooked meats.

Please feel free to make jerky using the recipe I provided, and/or follow the beef jerky recipe that's highly likely included in your dehydrator's owner manual.

Don't forget to get your free "Six Simple Steps" eBook where I share how to dehydrate food safely!