🥇10 Best Dehydrators For Deer Jerky in 2023 【Top Jerky Maker】

How to Choose the Best Dehydrator For Deer Jerky

There are a lot of different types of meat dehydrators on the market and it can be a daunting task knowing which one is right for you. That's why we have created this guide - to help you find the best one that meets your needs.

Identify The Type Of Dehydrator That Will Be Best For Your Situation

Dehydrators are available in two separate types - electric dehydrators and solar dehydrators. While each one has it's benefits (and disadvantages), for the purpose of making deer jerky, we'll be focusing on electric meat dehydrators. We will touch on solar meat dehydrators a little later.

An electric dehydrator is specifically designed use an external power source to operate, whereas a solar dehydrator will use natural sunlight as its main energy source. As you can imagine, this makes a big difference when making deer jerky, especially if you're going to be drying the meat outside.

Identify The Amount Of Space You Have For Your Dehydrator

Once you have identified what type of dehydrator you would like to purchase, the next step is to determine how much space it will fit in your area. Most meat dehydrators are a similar size and can be placed on a kitchen counter top or table for easy access.

Determine The Features That Are Most Important To You

There are a lot of different features available on today's meat dehydrators, but there are a few that you should pay close attention to when selecting the best one for you.

What Is a Dehydrator and What Are the Benefits of Owning One for Deer Jerky Making

Have you ever wanted to make your own deer jerky but didn't know how or were nervous about ruining expensive meat? If you like the taste of fresh deer jerky, I've got good news for you. It's easy and affordable to make your own at home!

Today, I'm going to share with you how dehydrating foods can be done at home and what dehydrator to buy. I'll also share with you a quick and easy deer jerky recipe using ground venison!

What Is Dehydrating?

Dehydrating, also known as drying food, is the process of removing moisture from your product. This is done by exposing your products to air that has been passed over a heating element. The water vapor that evaporates out of your products allows you to store them for longer periods of time without worrying about spoilage.

Dehydrating your products can also give them a new texture and flavor depending on if you use low, moderate, or higher heat when removing the water. For example, when making jerky with ground venison, you will want to dehydrate it for 5-7 hours at 165 degrees Fahrenheit in order to get it fully dried out.

Benefits of Owning a Dehydrator for Deer Jerky Making

Owning a dehydrator has many benefits, especially if you love making your own food. This includes being able to have healthy options available when you are in a rush. Dehydrated food is also great for hikers, campers, and people who need long shelf life foods that require little storage space.

Dehydrators are affordable and easy to use, perfect for the first time deer jerky maker! There's no canning equipment to buy, no special knowledge required. If you own a kitchen oven, then you can own and use a dehydrator.

The Different Types of Dehydrators For Deer Jerky

When it comes to making deer jerky, one of the most popular tools is a dehydrator. There are several types on the market today and some are better suited for making deer jerky than others. The trick is knowing which type will meet your needs best. This article takes a brief look at these different kinds of appliances with an eye on their suitability for making deer jerky.

Common Dehydrator to Plug Into Your Electrical Outlet

The most common type of dehydrator is one that you plug into your electrical outlet and use with an internal fan or blower to pull air through the unit. This is the simplest design and this is why it's priced low enough for anyone to afford, but these really aren't suitable for making deer jerky. The reason is that these units don't have any way of controlling the temperature and this can lead to ruined batches of jerky if you're not vigilant in watching your meat as it dries.

If you just want to experiment with making deer jerky, then using a simple home oven can work, but these do have their own problems. Some ovens have very uneven heating that results in overheated spots and under-heated areas, which will produce jerky that has poor flavor and texture. If you use one of these appliances, then it's vital to rotate the trays every few hours so the meat dries more evenly.

It's also important to cover your trays with a layer of cheesecloth or nylon mesh screen so the meat doesn't spend too much time in contact with metal. Metal will cause the jerky drippings to burn and this flavor often transfers to the beef.

A Commercial Dehydrator

The best choice for making deer jerky is a commercial dehydrator that's been specifically designed for the task. These appliances have the advantage of precise temperature controls and fans to circulate the hot air evenly around the trays. They also feature mesh sheets that keep metal from coming into direct contact with your venison, ensuring better flavor and texture.

These units are mounted on workbenches or shelving for portability and ease in setting up in a garage or shop. They range in capacity from approximately five pounds up to 25 pounds, which is enough for making a lot of jerky at a time. A midrange model with a 15-pound capacity would be suitable for most people who want to make deer jerky as a hobby without the need for commercial quantities.

If you've ever considered drying your own venison to have on hand for emergencies or outdoor adventures, then you need a quality dehydrator. Many people swear by the excellent results they get when they use these appliances to make beef jerky at home. With this equipment, you can control all aspects of the process including meat selection, spices used in the marinade, drying temperature and time.

How to Make Deer Jerky in a Dehydrator

Dehydrating meat is a great way to preserve the taste and nutrients of your prey. To create an easy, yet flavorful deer jerky in a dehydrator, you will need:

• A nice buck with some venison on him! (or doe)
• A large freezer for storage
• An additional freezer for storing meat while it is drying
• A food dehydrator (I chose to use an Excalibur 3926TB)
• If you chose to, a gun and know how to use it!

To begin, skin your deer. Cut the meat in thin strips, about an inch or two thick. Place in a freezer bag and squeeze as much air as possible from it. Place the freezer bag in the additional freezer for about two hours to get it really cold. This will make sure you don't get any freezer burn on your venison while its drying.

Take out the venison strips and place them carefully on your dehydrator trays, making sure they are not touching each other. Set up your Excalibur 3926TB according to the manual's instructions, mine had me put my temperature setting at 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Set your timer for six to twelve hours depending on how chewy or crispy you want your deer jerky to be! If you did not want "jerky" pieces of meati.e., pieces with pieces of hard mixture in it, you could place the venison strips in a bag with your favorite marinade and let soak for about four hours.

After this waiting period has passed, check on your jerky to see if it's finished. If it is, take them out and enjoy! Store the remaining jerky pieces in an airtight container in your refrigerator or freezer until you are ready to eat some more!

Note: if you marinated the deer jerky, make sure to throw out the marinade after it has been used. It cannot be reused because of cross contamination with raw meat! If you only placed salt on them there is no need to throw out the jerky.

More information about Dehydrators For Deer Jerky

Do you need a dehydrator for deer jerky?

Keeping in mind that the dehydrator is not important, but it can make your task for dehydrating easy. To make a deer jerky, you can use the dehydrator to ease the job and do it quickly as compared to the kitchen oven. Moreover, it is more delicious that way. Making deer jerky in a dehydrator will be a lot more fun and easier.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of making deer jerky in a dehydrator?

First, you need to know what a dehydrator can do. The dehydrator is the machine that dries out completely and mixed meat safe to eat by evaporating the moisture using the airflow and increased temperature of the dehydrator.

Disadvantages of dehydrator

• The counter space is required to use the dehydrator.
• Some of the dehydrators make a lot of noise; however, you will not face the same problem if you get a high and dehydrator.

What do you need to look for when you are buying a dehydrator for deer jerky?

Below are the features that every great dehydrator should have.

Airflow

Horizontal and vertical airflow is important in dehydrator version jerky. Both of the air flows have advantages. However, we would recommend you get a dehydrator with a horizontal floor because it makes it easier for you to toss the meet. You can slide it out, add more meat, or remove the meat as needed with the horizontal airflow.

Size of the dehydrator

While you are trying to dehydrate a considerable amount of meat, you need to get a good size. If you get a smaller dehydrator, it will not dehydrator a huge batch of meat and also take a lot of time. So it is best to get a larger dehydrator full stop. It may be expensive, but it is great for a longer run and to dehydrate a considerable portion of meat.

Temperature settings

The temperature settings matter the most when you are using the dehydrator. You need to make sure that the dehydrator comes with a temperature setting that lets you control the temperature properly and easily without Hustle. Moreover, the temperature spectrum should be wide enough to cook the meat properly. The detailed temperature setting is a plus point for any dehydrator.

Noise

Most of the dehydrator makes a lot of Noise. However, it is best to invest a little more in a dehydrator, which has a soundproof feature to make the dehydrator quieter. These expensive units are more comfortable, and you can use them for a longer period and like cheaper dehydrator that is loud and not comfortable at all.

Buy on Etsy, Walmart, eBay (limited quantity)

Excalibur Food Dehydrator 9-Tray Electric with Adjustable Thermostat Accurate Temperature - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Presto 06300 Dehydro Electric Food Dehydrator, Standard - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Hamilton Beach 32100A Digital Food Dehydrator, 5 Tray, Gray - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Nesco FD-75A Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator, For Snacks, Fruit, Beef Jerky, Gray - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

COSORI Premium Food Dehydrator (50 Recipes) for Jerky Meat Herbs Fruit, Dryer Machine - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Nesco Food and Jerky dehydrator, 15.25 x 10.25 x 15.63 inches, White - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Electric Food Dehydrator Machine, Professional Multi-Tier Kitchen Food Appliances, Meat - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

COSORI Food Dehydrator (50 Recipes) for Jerky, Meat, Herbs, Fruit, Dryer Machine with - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Cuisinart DHR-20 Food Dehydrator, Steel Gray, 13.38 x 15.63 x 12 inches - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Chefman 9-Tray Food Dehydrator Machine Professional Electric Multi-Tier Food Preserver, - Walmart, Etsy, Ebay

Gourmia GFD1550 Food Dehydrator - Digital Temperature Settings - Five Nesting Trays - - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Brod & Taylor SAHARA Folding Food Dehydrator, Beef Jerky, Fruit Leather, Vegetable Dryer - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Tribest SDE-S6780-B Sedona Express, Digital Food Dehydrator with Stainless Steel Trays - Walmart, Etsy, eBay

Conclusion for Dehydrator Buyers

From the above list, the best deer jerky dehydrator is Excalibur food dehydrator, which is great for professional and home use. It is high quality and comes with a warranty as well. However, you can also pick from the many other options available on the list.