View Full Version : Sodium free beef jerky


doordude42
Mon, May 16th, 2005, 08:26 AM
Is there such a thing as sodium free beef jerky and if so where can I get some?

Kino
Mon, May 16th, 2005, 09:53 AM
This is the best that I was ever able to come up with on this one...

This recipe is a basic jerky you can make even if you don't own a smoker because it bakes right in your oven. This can wind up costing as much or more than store bought jerky if you purchase the meat at full price. However, you will have a natural jerky without any of the added preservatives and excessive sodium found in packaged jerky.
List of Ingredients

3 lb Lean Flank Steak*
1/2 c low sodium soy sauce
2 tbsp Worcestershire sauce
3 tbsp liquid smoke
3 tsp fresh cracked black pepper
3 tsp garlic powder
3 tsp onion powder
For Spicy Jerky: Add 4 tsp red pepper flakes to marinade
For Teriyaki Jerky: Use low sodium teriyaki marinade instead of soy, add ¼ c brown sugar or brown sugar replacement to marinade

Instructions for Preparation
Directions: Remove all fat from beef. Cut beef into 20 thin slices (1/4" thick or less) by slicing against the grain. Combine all ingredients in covered dish and marinate overnight in refrigerator. After marinating, preheat oven to 150º and place a cookie sheet lined with paper towels on the bottom rack. Insert toothpicks into the ends of the beef strips and hang them from the top grill rack. Keep the oven door cracked slightly open so water vapor can escape and slow bake for 6-7 hours.
A Note on Sodium: You can also control the sodium level by reducing the amount in the marinade. Not all of the sodium is actually absorbed so it's likely that the actual count is even lower than reflected by the nutritional stats on the right which conservatively assume a 100% absorption of the marinade.

Guide $ Tip:
Affordable Jerky: Wait to make this recipe until you find a large cut of Flank steak, London Broil, or Top Round on sale or priced at a quick "sell by today" price. These large chunks of meat would be just perfect for making into jerky. And remember, it never hurts to ask the butcher if he's about to mark down any meat.

Savyart
Mon, May 16th, 2005, 11:08 AM
:drool: Gad, I love beef jerky, but the sodium in it makes me into a whale.

I have long considered buying a dehydrator too. They're not that pricey and good for all sorts of things. My mother's came with a recipe book just for these types of things too. Just one more idea. I'm trying not to read the recipe above this post - it'll get me into trouble...

jack_deuce
Tue, May 17th, 2005, 01:49 PM
Mountain American Jerky (http://www.mountainamericajerky.com/) has less sodium than the store-bought variety, although it's far from being sodium-free. Their salmon jerky is pretty low in sodium.

Nutritional info (http://www.mountainamericajerky.com/ninfo3.shtml).