Somewhere along the line, consumers decided it was acceptable for manufacturers of cheap, processed meat products to employ the term “jerky” when selling their dried-out goods. But real jerky isn’t available next to the gas station cash registers; real jerky – popular in the New World since the height of the Incan Empire – is a gourmet treat. Fortunately, the hand-made stuff is getting easier to find as serious chefs create unique products from high-end ingredients (and sometimes soda).
Here are some of the best jerky recipes for cooks looking to get in on the action. Click this link to get a PDF document of many recipes for beef Jerky.