I was a jerky making machine today.

[gsganzer]

I was going through my game freezer to gauge my stock and noticed I had 6 venison roasts. So, I thawed 4 of them and made some jerky today. It took 3-hours a batch on the pellet grill.

Afterward, I put them in portions in vacuum seal bags. One thing I learned is that "Meat!" brand vacuum bags that come in a roll are junk. I bought them at Academy Sports when they were on sale at the end of deer season. I bet I had close to a 60% failure rate of them holding a vacuum after sealing. Upon inspection, they're much thinner than the LEM pre-cut bags I typically use. Also, the roll has lots of wrinkles and is really poor quality. I rebagged all the failed bags with LEM bags and had no issues at all.

I'll be sticking with the LEM pint, quart and gallon bags for all future vacuum seal needs. The LEM bags also have a place to write with a sharpie and a notch to facilitate tearing them open.

I might try my hand at making African Biltong next time.

 

[old and tired]

I might try my hand at making African Biltong next time.

Never heard of that before... now I'm interested!

 

[gsganzer]

There's a "Bretts Biltong" store in Llano, TX, near my deer lease. I'll stop in and buy $20- $30 worth for the 4.5 hour drive home. I'll devour every last scrap during that drive. They also sell meat pies. I grab some of those from time to time, along with some Windhoek beer.

Bretts Biltong website

 

[old and tired]

Yea, I found a place that makes it in NC but can't find a store - only mail order.

Brooklyn Biltong... Biltong. Your new favorite beef jerky.

Have to check and look for it in Costco.....

 

[Suburban Plowboy]

Really cool. Homemade jerky is so much better.

Are you using oxygen-absorbing packets to protect the meat?

 

[gsganzer]

Really cool. Homemade jerky is so much better.

Are you using oxygen-absorbing packets to protect the meat?

I did not use those packets, but I might on future batches. I vacuum bagged them and then put them in our spare refrigerator. I doubt this jerky will even be around long enough to go bad. I already ate a bag this morning.

 

[gsganzer]

Yea, I found a place that makes it in NC but can't find a store - only mail order.

Brooklyn Biltong... Biltong. Your new favorite beef jerky.

Have to check and look for it in Costco.....

Brett's Biltong sells a couple of different flavors. I always buy the "Angry Biltong", it's the spiciest.

They also sell Droewors. They're like a dried honeycomb sausage. Incredibly addicting!

 

[gsganzer]

I have 2 more venison roasts thawing. I'm going to make this chipotle venison jerky recipe, this time. I bought some more LEM vac bags and also some of those oxygen absorbing packets.

Chipotle Deer Jerky

 

[domin]

African Biltong is the best ever! Cranking out jerky like that is impressive. The smell alone probably beats walking past a burger king. Homemade jerky has this deep satisfaction because it ties together patience, seasoning, and that primal joy of preserving your own food. Few store-bought snacks can compare once you’ve made your own.

 

[nickel plate]

gsganzer,
I hear you on the wrinkled bag roll problem, I used to buy the Nesco brand as I have a Nesco vac machine. No more, full of wrinkles=faulty seal and lots of waste.
If you're ever around a Target store, they carry the "FoodSaver" brand in 8" and 12" rolls. Smooth side 3mil, textured side 11.5mil, sharp objects toward the textured side. Safe for microwave, freezer, fridge, pantry and sous vide. A very slight chance for an occasional wrinkle but down near the end of the rolls. 100% better than Nesco.