Thread: Sausage and Smoke Cooking

That is some awesome-looking jerky, Roy-I used to make my own for fishing/camping trips with my buddies, but haven't done it in awhile. As good as homemade is, it actually comes out cheaper just to buy it from the store (blasphemy, I know).

Originally Posted by ScoutHikerDad

That is some awesome-looking jerky, Roy-I used to make my own for fishing/camping trips with my buddies, but haven't done it in awhile. As good as homemade is, it actually comes out cheaper just to buy it from the store (blasphemy, I know).

Store Bought!?!?!?!?!? PM me your home address and I'll send you a chunk of homemade lye soap that my granny made to wash your mouth out with!

I was at the store today and the cheapest that they had was a 2.85 OUNCE package for $3.99

The one thing that the store bought doesn't have and never will have is the love that was mixed in. Kind of like Dolly's song about her coat of many colors.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zLsAf6SCwY

That comes out to $22.40 a pound for the jerky.

I suppose you could make that argument about many things.

One time along with some friends we rented a ice shack to go fishing for the weekend. We caught only 1 fish. An rough estimate put the price of that fish to over $600.00 a pound! And that was back when a dollar bought much more than today!

I am going to be cutting down an apple tree this fall.

Some free wood if anyone wants to come pick it up.

First and Foremost; I stand corrected on the weight of the original bottom round roasts. My son tells me that both were just over 4.5Lbs but due to trimming of fat we lost a bit of that initial weight. While I didn't think to weigh what the meat weighed after trimming we didn't lose very much. The next time we make jerky I'll be sure to take some accurate weights and also try to figure how much the seasonings cost so I can get a more accurate idea of what the end product cost.

My son told me that the roasts cost him right at $15 each.

I just weighed the second batch of jerky now that it's all nice and dry. We ended up with 1 Lb 14 ounces.

I had promisded that the next time I made jerky I'd pay more attention to weights. So here's the latest batch.

My 10 year old grandson got a nice 4 point mule deer this season (out West we count only one side so there were 4 points on each side) and his dad gave me one rear honch to make jerky out of. Once I had it broken down and trimmed up and sliced I had 7LBS 10oz. I mixed the meat into my seasoning sauce and allowed it to marinate for about 24 hours turning and mixing every few hours for even distribution of the sauce and cure).



I then drained the excess marinade for about an hour. After draining I placed the pieces on the screens (the screens measure 17"X25" and I used 3 screens with a few on a 4th screen).



I placed the screens on the hanger in the smoker and turned it on with the vent open for 2 hours then started the smoke. I smoked for about 4 hours with the vent closed then after the last (3rd) pan of damp hickory/alder chips I opened the top vent and let it continue to dry at about 100-110 degs.

I removed the thinner pieces when they had dried enough and finally had it all dried and ready to go. (I finished drying at room temp inside).

I was left with 3 Lbs 1 oz. Might have been a couple more ounces but I was nibbling



Here's the finished product;



Now to get it packaged and delivered to my grandson before I start nibbling again.

Thanks for looking and reading.