Cats and dogs are carnivorous creatures. They obtain their proteins mostly from poultry and cattle meat. Meat jerkies are nutritional treats that they enjoy.
Some mass-produced jerky treats for pets are of low quality, and your four-legged companions tend to dislike them. Some of those treats also have unpleasant textures and are so chewy it hurts the chompers of your furry friend.
The expensive ones taste good but are heavy on your wallet. The most important point is, you don’t know all the ingredients used in their production. You also have no idea whether they are properly packed under hygienic conditions.
Homemade jerky treats are ideal as they are palatable, natural, organic, and made with love. This article will discuss the different ways to make meat jerkies easily.
Get Everything You Need
You can buy yummy treats from high-end beef jerky brands, or you can make them yourself at the comfort of your home. When making homemade jerkies, you have the upper hand in knowing and deciding what ingredients go into the treats. You can decide the type of protein to use.
Turkey and chicken are generally popular options as they have an abundance of essential amino acids. Since you have full control, you can decide the quality of the meat to use.
You need three core items:
Choose Your Meat
It is best to avoid fatty meat like pork and lamb when making these dehydrated snacks. The high fats in these proteins do not dry out properly. They are very likely to become rancid and can spoil the munchies faster.
Moreover, red meats from pork and wild boars might contain the deadly SHV 1 virus, which causes Aujezsky’s disease, this virus is also known as pseudorabies. These ailments occur in cats. The virus gets killed at high temperatures
However, the temperatures used in dehydrating meats are not high enough to destroy the viruses. So while cooking these dried protein snacks, it is best to use other meats, especially for cats.
Just to be on the safe side, avoid pork and any meat from the pig origin. Opt for lean meats that have low-fat content and take less time to cook. The ideal meat for jerkies would be turkey or chicken breasts.
Which Appliance is Better?
The time required to fully dehydrate the proteins is similar in both electric ovens and food dehydrators. Choose the one you can afford and are comfortable with. If you already have an oven, you don’t need to purchase the other device.
The disadvantage of electric ovens is that they consume a large amount of power. This leads to a hike in your utility bill if you make these meaty treats regularly. On the other hand, food dehydrators use less electricity and do not hurt your budget significantly.
Step by Step Meat Jerky Recipe
The methods used to create these delectable dehydrated treats are quite simple. However, the process requires the use of sharp objects and hot appliances. Hence, you should use caution when making these munchies.
Step 1: Slice the Meat
First, you need to rinse the meat under running water. Then dry it with a clean cloth or paper towel. Make sure you have a sharp knife to make the process easier.
To make it easier, pop the meat into the freezer before cutting it. You should refrigerate the protein for about 30 minutes. Slice your meat at 1-2 cm width.
Make sure you cut them across the grain. Keep in mind that the thinner the slices are, the less time it will take to dry. Do not forget to trim out any fats.
Step 2: Dehydrate the Meat
If you are using a food dehydrator, place the meat strips in such a way that they do not touch each other. Switch the food dehydrator on. Flip the meat over once in a while and let them dehydrate uniformly.
Keep in mind that it takes four to five hours to dry the meat completely in the food dehydrator.
If you are using an electric oven, place the slices on its wire rack. Make sure that the slices are arranged apart from each other and do not touch. To dry all the meat strips together, you can also skewer them.
You can use long bamboo sticks in place of the usual skewer. The bamboo alternatives are affordable and accessible. Puncture the skewer into the meat and ensure that each slice is not in contact with the other. Then place the sticks on the wire rack of the oven
Set the oven’s temperature to 60 °C and switch on. Ensure that the settings are in convection. Flip the strips over at intervals and let them dry evenly. Electric ovens also take four to five hours to dehydrate the protein completely.
Step 3: Storing the Treats
After being completely dehydrated, allow the dehydrated treats to cool down. When the jerkyhas cooled down, store them in airtight containers like mason jars.
Airtight lessens the contamination risks of the microbes and also extends the shelf life of these meaty snacks. Meat jerkies can last for several weeks when stored in sealed containers.
Final Thoughts
Jerky treats are fun snacks you can give to your beloved felines and canines. They are great supplements to a natural diet. These munchies can also be enjoyed by pets who have allergies. They are ideal snacks for most carnivorous pets.
If the jerky strips are too large, you can cut them or rip them into smaller pieces. If they are too chewy or hard, moisten them by adding a little water.
Homemade jerkies are better than store-bought ones for numerous reasons. The best advantage is that you have full control over the choice of protein and its quality.