First jerky and a broken jerky dryer

[DivotMaker]

Lots of varied opinions on jerky, just like everything else we smoke, Arnie!  If you like the results you're getting, keep it up!  I agree with the guys that don't like "cooked" jerky.  What that means is getting the smoker temp 160+.  You will cook the meat, not dry it.  If you taste both, side-by-side, you'd see what I mean.  Big difference.

I know all about your aversion to curing salt, and still think you are being overly-cautious about it.  If used properly, it is NOT dangerous.  Not using it, in certain things (like jerky) is MORE dangerous than over-using curing salt!  I've still yet to find a bag of Instacure #1 that has the word "toxic" on the label, so I don't know where you got your first bag.  It's a valuable tool, if you learn how to use it properly.

 

[Pork Belly]

Here is the link for the entire blog post http://ruhlman.com/2011/05/the-no-nitrites-added-hoax/
The main point is listed below:
A study in the Journal of Food Protection put it this way: “Since 93% of ingested nitrite comes from normal metabolic sources, if nitrite caused cancers or was a reproductive toxicant, it would imply that humans have a major design flaw.”
Rather than being scared of it you (all of us) need to be knowledgeable. Before I ever used nitrite salts I read credible information many times over. Then and now when I use it it is carefully measured. Because I understand it I know that food I produce is safer. I also know that you consume more nitrite in a huge spinach salad than in my bacon or jerky.

 

[Barrel99]

This is the link that ordered the original Prague powder that had the notice. Thanks Brian for the articles.

http://www.amazon.com/Hoosier-Hill-Farm-Prague-Powder/dp/B008NH7AUA/ref=sr_1_6?ie=UTF8&qid=1415935048&sr=8-6&keywords=prague+salt

When I get the dryer I will try it and see the difference. Remember the only reason I cooked it this way was because the dryer was broken. For now I have a bunch of tasty jerky.

 

[Barrel99]

Interesting day. We had family and friends over today. After dinner, I asked if anyone likes jerky and some said yes. So I pulled out the jerky I made which was in the frig and let them try. In no time at all it was gone...I was amazed...they loved it. It just shows even if it's not perfect, it's still better in the SI.

 

[DivotMaker]

It just shows even if it's not perfect, it's still better in the SI.

Indeed it is, my friend, indeed it is! 8)