food dehydrator

madworm

Senior member
May 31, 2005
271
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anyone ever used one of these? whats a good cheap one to buy? i just wanna make beef jerky...
what other uses does it have?
 

bonkers325

Lifer
Mar 9, 2000
13,076
1
0
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!
 

madworm

Senior member
May 31, 2005
271
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its for a gift...since my buddy always mentions about it...and i just want free beef jerky...
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
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Originally posted by: bonkers325
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!

how does the meat not go bad before it dries out???
 

Kaervak

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
8,460
2
81
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: bonkers325
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!

how does the meat not go bad before it dries out???

The stuff you use to make the jerky raises the saltiness/acidity of the meat so that nothing living can survive in it.
 

Tommunist

Golden Member
Dec 1, 2004
1,544
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Originally posted by: Kaervak
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: bonkers325
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!

how does the meat not go bad before it dries out???

The stuff you use to make the jerky raises the saltiness/acidity of the meat so that nothing living can survive in it.

i wasn't aware of this (having never made jerky). on a related note - are the air filters mainly to keep particles off the meat or to reduce the smell or both?
 

Kaervak

Diamond Member
Jul 18, 2001
8,460
2
81
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: Kaervak
Originally posted by: Tommunist
Originally posted by: bonkers325
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!

how does the meat not go bad before it dries out???

The stuff you use to make the jerky raises the saltiness/acidity of the meat so that nothing living can survive in it.

i wasn't aware of this (having never made jerky). on a related note - are the air filters mainly to keep particles off the meat or to reduce the smell or both?

They're used to help dry the meat. If you use an actual dehydrator, you'll end up cooking it long before you dry it. My grandfather used to do a similar method with window screens instead of air filters.
 

elektrolokomotive

Golden Member
Jan 14, 2004
1,637
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Originally posted by: bonkers325
get air filters the size of a box fan, sandwich the meat in between them and then attach them to the fan via rubber band or tape, then run the fan for 24 hrs flipping the filters every 12 hours. after 24 hours u have dried goods. all this from Good Eats!

Alton Brown is my personal hero.
 

Rudee

Lifer
Apr 23, 2000
11,218
2
76
I've tried homemade beef jerkey and I prefer store bought. It's kind of gross IMHO.
 

tami

Lifer
Nov 14, 2004
11,588
3
81
does it ever bother you when someone fills out the topic and the topic summary identically?
 

Patt

Diamond Member
Jan 30, 2000
5,288
2
81
Mine is a Gardenmaster, brand is Bosch I think? I'm not too sure on that. It makes absolutely brilliant beef jerky when I use my own recipes.

<slobber>beef jerky</slobber> ;)