Jerky Question

[slonezp]

Since we still don't have a food forum, I will ask here. Do I need to adjust the dehydrating time if using the oven rather than a dehydrator?

[VolFan]

If you can get the temp right, no. If you have to go warmer in the oven, it should take less time, but the texture may suffer.

[slonezp]

Dehydrator is 160* or 165* I can get the oven down to 170*. I didn't know if it makes a difference because the dehydrator has a fan.

[plumworm]

Put a toothpick in the oven door to let the moisture out. will drop the temp a few degrees too.

[VolFan]

Electric or gas? Moisture's a little more of an issue with gas. I have gas and stick a spoon in the door for drying fruit and sweet potatoes. It drops temp by about 10 degrees. I'd try that if I were you, and open a little more/less based on what the meat does. If it goes grey, open the door a little more. If it goes too slow, close it.

[slonezp]

Electric or gas? Moisture's a little more of an issue with gas. I have gas and stick a spoon in the door for drying fruit and sweet potatoes. It drops temp by about 10 degrees. I'd try that if I were you, and open a little more/less based on what the meat does. If it goes grey, open the door a little more. If it goes too slow, close it.

Gas. We just finished butchering the deer and I have (2) 1gal bags full of meat sliced for jerky. I bought some oven jerky racks from Cabelas and my buddy has the dehydrator.   

[MDBowHunter]

Put a fork or spoon in the in the oven door, so it keeps it cracked slightly and you'll be golden. This is what I do, I'd rather use my oven then a dehydrator. I like the finished product better.

[Hi Salenity]

I've never tried to keep the oven door cracked but my dad would use aluminum foil over the oven racks and put it in the oven. I didn't like it in the oven so I bought him a dehydrator and he never looked back. $.02

[slonezp]

In the fridge marinating. I'm making a hot pepper batch, black pepper batch, and a plain batch. 

[slonezp]

Thanks for the help guys. First batch turned out good. Working on batch #2

[MCS]

What? No deer scrapple.