James Jerky Dryer
- Thread starter Hank R
- Start date
Pork Belly
Moderator
Everything for making great jerky is in here: https://www.smokinitforums.com/index.php?topic=1831.msg10800#msg10800
NDKoze
Moderator
I pat my jerky as dry as I can with a paper towel before adding it, smoke at 145-150 for the whole time, and then do not turn the dryer on for two hours. You can if you want to use the dryer to dry the jerky for a bit without heat or smoke to get a little pellicle forming before you start with the smoking phase. Same would hold true for your salmon I would think. Although, I think your pellicle may form better by sitting in the fridge uncovered, but I am not a salmon smoking expert. I generally just let the jerky sit on my counter spread out with a fan pointing at it for an hour or two before putting it in the smoker.
You don't want the fan on during the smoking phase as all of the extra oxygen that will get pumped in will likely cause your 1.5-2.0 ounces of wood chips (chunks may have trouble smoking at these lower temps) to combust and start burning instead of smoking which is NOT what you want.
You don't want the fan on during the smoking phase as all of the extra oxygen that will get pumped in will likely cause your 1.5-2.0 ounces of wood chips (chunks may have trouble smoking at these lower temps) to combust and start burning instead of smoking which is NOT what you want.
Hank R
Member
Thanks, I have been using paper towel to dry of Jerky. Then in smoker for 3 to 4 hrs at 150. both times it has worked out good but not as dry as I would like. If I get a dryer how long would I turn it on for?
Salmon well do not know what I will do first batch was okay but not happy and now that I have 20 lbs of fresh caught, I do not want to mess it up.
Salmon well do not know what I will do first batch was okay but not happy and now that I have 20 lbs of fresh caught, I do not want to mess it up.
NDKoze
Moderator
You cannot smoke jerky without a dryer in a Smokin-It smoker successfully in my opinion as there is just too much moisture in there unless you smoke with the door open or something like that.
3-4 hours doesn't seem like near long enough based on the batches that I have done. But, I tend to do really big batches that really fill the smoker up and may take longer than normal. But, my jerky tends to take closer to 6-8 hours usually.
You leave the dryer on for the entire remaining time until the jerky is done to your liking.
3-4 hours doesn't seem like near long enough based on the batches that I have done. But, I tend to do really big batches that really fill the smoker up and may take longer than normal. But, my jerky tends to take closer to 6-8 hours usually.
You leave the dryer on for the entire remaining time until the jerky is done to your liking.
