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    Home » Recipes » Dehydrator Recipes

    How To Make Teriyaki Beef Jerky In A Dehydrator

    Published: Sep 5, 2022 · Modified: Oct 22, 2024 by Amanda Mason · 40 Comments

    Yield 8 people
    Cook 6 hours hours
    Prep 12 hours hours
    Jump to Recipe
    Beef Jerky in a jar laying on a table on a red napkin.
    8 pieces of teriyaki beef jerky on marble counter.
    Beef strips on a dehydrator tray getting ready to be dehydrated.
    Top round slices marinated in a teriyaki sauce on food dehydrator trays.
    Dehydrated beef jerky on a white counter.
    6 slices of beef jerky in a container on counter.
    8 pieces of teriyaki beef jerky on marble counter.
    Beef Jerky in a jar laying on a table on a red napkin.

    Making beef jerky in a dehydrator is simple! Every bite is tender, full of flavor, and irresistible! The perfect high protein, low carb snack that is made in your own kitchen!

    Close up of beef jerky on a dehydrator.
    Jump to:
    • ✔️ Quick Recipe Overview
    • ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works
    • ❓ How Does A Food Dehydrator Work
    • 🥩 Best Meat For Jerky
    • 🔪 How To Slice Meat For Jerky
    • 🛒 Ingredients You'll Need
    • 📋 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions
    • 🙋 Frequently Asked Questions
    • Storage
    • 💭 Expert Tips
    • 👩‍🍳 More Beef Recipes
    • How To Make Teriyaki Beef Jerky In A Dehydrator

    ✔️ Quick Recipe Overview

    Why You Should Make Beef Jerky In A Dehydrator: Dehydrating jerky has never been so easy! Marinated in a delicious and savory teriyaki sauce, this is the most flavorful beef jerky you will make at home!

    How Long It Takes: 12-24 hours to marinate, 4-6 hours to dehydrate

    Equipment You'll Need: food dehydrator, sharp knife, cutting board, mixing bowl, plastic bag


    If I would have know that making beef jerky in a dehydrator was this easy, I would have bought a food dehydrator a long time ago! Dehydrated meat is not only simple to make, but it's way healthier (no additives or preservatives) and less expensive than buying it at the store. While it can be made in a smoker or in the oven, using a dehydrator for jerky makes the process so much easier because of the temperature control.

    Flavorful and tender, this is a great grab-and-go snack that is full of protein. With both sweet and savory flavors, it's a family favorite recipe that everyone will enjoy. Just like my post on how to dehydrate blueberries and dehydrate strawberries, this post will guide in helping you learn which cuts of meat are best for drying, how to properly slice beef, and how to marinate it for best tasting results.

    Beef Jerky in a jar laying on a table on a red napkin.

    ℹ️ Why This Recipe Works


    1. There's hardly any effort to making this dehydrated jerky recipe. And it tastes so much better than the store bought version.

    2. It's a great low-carb snack that is a good source of protein, low in fat, and will keep you full!

    3. Storing jerky meat is convenient and easy. You can store it in an airtight container, a jar, or a brown paper bag.


    ❓ How Does A Food Dehydrator Work

    Dehydrating food is the process of removing moisture from food. A food dehydrator uses a heat element and air vents to allow air circulation. The dehydrator heating element, fans, and vents work together to remove moisture. The heating element warms the food causing its moisture to be released. Fans then blows the warm, moist air out of the appliance via the air vents. This process continues for hours until the food is dried to a lower water content.

    I use this Cosori Dehydrator because it’s easy to use and clean. Not only is it great for making beef jerky, but it's great for making other dried foods such as dried apples, dehydrated peaches, dried strawberries, and even fruit leather!

    Cosori Food Dehydrator on counter.

    🥩 Best Meat For Jerky

    The best cuts of meat for dehydrating jerky are eye of round roast, top and bottom round roast, flank steak, sirloin tip steak, and London broil. I've had best results using top round steak. Top round comes from the back of the cow, is lean, and extremely tender. There's a small amount of marbling which helps contribute to the flavor and tenderness when making beef jerky.

    Eye of round is another great option and comes from the rear leg of the cow. It's lean, but more tough. It's one of the most popular cuts for making beef jerky in the dehydrator, but the taste and tenderness of top round yields better results. Sirloin tip and flank steak are also good options. While both cuts have good marbling and are lean and tender, they do tend to be more expensive than round roast and eye of round.

    🔪 How To Slice Meat For Jerky

    The easiest and best way to slice beef when making jerky is to ask your butcher to do it for you! Regardless if the meat was purchased at a grocery store, butcher shop, or wholesale market like Costco and Sam's Club, the butcher or meat department will typically cut the beef for no additional charge. Tell them you are making beef jerky and they will slice it accordingly.

    If slicing your own beef at home, ensure it's no more than ¼ to ⅛-inch thick. To make slicing even easier, place the steak in the freezer for 1-2 hours. When the meat is extremely cold, it's a lot easier to cut.

    Depending on how you like jerky will determine how it should be cut. For a more tender beef jerky, slice against the grain. For a chewy texture, slice the beef with the grain. While slicing against the grain is most common, some people enjoy more of a chewy jerky. There is no right or wrong way to slice it. It all come down to preference.

    picture of person slicing against the grain and with the grain.

    🛒 Ingredients You'll Need

    This beef jerky marinade is full of flavor made with simple ingredients you can get at any local grocery store. For this recipe, start with marinating the meat. This beef jerky marinade will cover 2 pounds of meat. Soy sauce is the base ingredient and the sodium helps cut down on some of the sweet from the light brown sugar. Dark brown sugar tends to provide too much sweetness, so use light brown sugar instead.

    Pineapple juice is another ingredient used in the marinade. It contains an enzyme that helps to naturally tenderize the meat. And, it provides an amazing sweet flavor that balances the saltiness in the soy sauce. Using fresh ginger provides a bold flavor while the garlic adds a "wow" factor. A very small amount of sesame oil is used to help bring forth a rich, nutty, and toasty taste. Sesame seeds are optional, but they looks amazing on the beef jerky!

    Top round, brown sugar, soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger, garlic, and pineapple juice on a counter.

    📋 Step-by-Step Recipe Instructions

    Start by combining all the marinade ingredients in a bowl. Stir well with a small whisk.

    Glass jar containing a teriyaki marinade topped with sesame seeds.

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    Place the sliced beef in a gallon-size plastic bag and slowly pour in the marinade. Seal the bag and shake well until all the meat is covered. Place the bag filled with meat in the refrigerator and let it marinate overnight.


    Expert Tip! Using a large plastic bag for the marinating process allows you the ability to massage the liquid into the meat. Use your hands on the outside of the bag and move the liquid around, pressing it into the meat lightly. This process helps the marinade penetrate the meat, which helps enhance the flavors!


    Gallon ziplock baggie containing a teriyaki beef top round.

    After 12-24 hours, discard the marinade and place the marinated beef evenly on the dehydrator food trays.


    Expert Tip: You don't want to dry the marinade off the meat, but you can lightly pat any dripping liquid from the beef jerky if they are dripping too much.


    Top round slices marinated in a teriyaki sauce on food dehydrator trays.

    Set the food dehydrator to 165°F and dehydrate the meat for 4-6 hours. When done, remove each piece from the trays and allow to cool for 5 minutes before enjoying.


    Important Note: The total dehydrating time will depend on many factors, including how thick the beef is sliced, the actual food dehydrator, and how full you fill the trays. It usually takes between 4-6 hours to dehydrate.


    Dehydrated beef jerky on a white counter.

    This is the best dry beef jerky and it's so easy to make it in a dehydrator! Irresistibly delicious, this snack can be enjoyed anytime; at home, on the road, and it's perfect for those busy days when you're in a hurry and need to grab a quick snack!

    6 slices of beef jerky in a container on counter.

    🙋 Frequently Asked Questions

    How long does beef jerky take to dehydrate?

    4-6 hours in a food dehydrator.

    What temperature do you make beef jerky in a dehydrator?

    165°F.

    How do you know when beef jerky is done dehydrating?

    Homemade beef jerky should be pliable and gummy. It should not be crumbly or overly hard. To test for doneness, remove a piece of jerky from the food dehydrator and allow it to cool for at least 5 minutes. When bent, it should slightly crack, but not break.

    Can I make beef jerky in the oven?

    Yes. Preheat the oven to 170°F. Line large cookie sheets with parchment paper. Put the sliced beef evenly onto the cookie sheets. Bake for 3-4 hours until done.
    IMPORTANT NOTE: Even when the oven is set to the lowest temperature, it still gets hotter than a food dehydrator. This will dry out the beef faster.

    Storage

    For best results, store the dehydrated meat in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 2 weeks. It also stores well in a glass jar with a lid or in a plastic bag. Before storing, make sure the beef jerky has completely cooled. The less air exposed, the longer it will last. Storing it in a brown paper bag will also help pull out any extra moisture. Vacuum sealing beef jerky also expands the shelf life.

    💭 Expert Tips

    • Too much fat makes homemade jerky spoil faster. If there is a layer of fat on the outside of the meat, cut it off before slicing the beef. There is no need to remove any intramuscular fat running through the meat unless it's in excess.
    • While the marinade does a great job at tenderizing the beef, using a meat mallet can also help with ensuring the meat is extra tender. Using a mallet helps break down the muscle fibers, which results in more of a tender texture. Pound to an even thickness ensuring you don't overpound the meat.
    • When placing the raw beef slices in the dehydrator, ensure the edges are not touching or overlapping. This will ensure that an even and balanced dehydration process occurs.
    • This teriyaki beef jerky makes a wonderful gift during the holiday season! Take some to work and share it with your co-workers. It also makes a great teacher gift!
    • If you have a juicer, you can take a pineapple and produce fresh pineapple juice. Fresh pineapple juice in this recipe is phenomenal!
    • Looking for more school lunch ideas? This beef jerky is great addition!
    8 pieces of teriyaki beef jerky on marble counter.

    👩‍🍳 More Beef Recipes

    For more delicious beef recipes, try making this smoked tri tip! Full of flavor and incredibly tender, this is a fan favorite everyone will enjoy! And this beef stir fry with vegetables is another beef recipe that is perfect for dinner and can be made in less than 30-minutes. Braised beef with gravy is another great choice that is savory and is considered the ultimate comfort food!


    Looking for more dehydrator recipes? Make sure to check out my full collection of dehydrator recipes! You'll love the convenience of using a food dehydrator!


    Dehydrated beef jerky on a white counter.

    How To Make Teriyaki Beef Jerky In A Dehydrator

    Making beef jerky in a dehydrator is simple! Every bite is tender, full of flavor, and irresistible! The perfect high protein, low carb snack that is made in your own kitchen!
    5 from 19 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Snack
    Cuisine: American
    Prep Time: 12 hours hours
    Cook Time: 6 hours hours
    Total Time: 18 hours hours
    Servings: 8 people
    Calories: 207kcal
    Author: Amanda Mason

    Equipment

    • Food Dehydrator

    Ingredients

    • 2 lbs top round, sliced ¼ or ⅛-inch thick slices
    • 1 Tablespoon sesame oil
    • ½ cup soy sauce
    • ¼ cup light brown sugar
    • ¼ teaspoon ginger, finely chopped
    • 1 garlic clove, minced
    • ¼ cup pineapple juice
    • 1 Tablespoon sesame seeds, optional

    Instructions

    • Cut the beef across the grain into ¼ to ⅛-inch thick slices. Or, have the butcher slice the meat.
    • Mix the sesame oil, soy sauce, light brown sugar, fresh garlic, pineapple juice, ginger, and sesame seeds in a bowl.
    • Place the beef and marinade in a gallon size plastic bag and move the content around until the meat is covered.
    • Marinate in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours.
    • Drain and discard the marinade.
    • Place the marinated beef on the wire trays in the dehydrator. Expert Tip: You don't want to dry the marinade off the meat but you can lightly pat any dripping liquid from the beef jerky sticks if they are dripping too much.
    • Close the door and dehydrate at 165°F for 4-6 hours.
    • To test for doneness, remove a piece of jerky from the food dehydrator and allow it to cool for at least 5 minutes. When bent, it should slightly crack, but not break.
    • When done, serve and enjoy. Store leftovers in an airtight container.

    Notes

    • Too much fat makes homemade jerky spoil faster. If there is a layer of fat on the outside of the meat, cut it off before slicing the beef. There is no need to remove any intramuscular fat running through the meat unless it's large.
    • While the marinade does a great job at tenderize the beef, using a meat mallet can also help with ensuring the meat is extra tender. Using a mallet helps break down the muscle fibers which helps result in more of a tender texture. Pound to an even thickness ensuring you don't overpound the meat.
    • When placing the raw beef slices in the dehydrator, ensure the edges are not touching or overlapping. This will ensure that an even and balanced dehydration process occurs.
    • This teriyaki beef jerky makes a wonderful gift during the holiday season! Take some to work and share it with your co-workers. It also makes a great teacher gift!
    • If you have a juicer, you can take a pineapple and produce fresh pineapple juice. Fresh pineapple juice in this recipe is phenomenal!

    WANT TO SAVE THIS RECIPE?

    Enter your email to receive this recipe, along with weekly food inspiration!

    Nutrition

    Calories: 207kcal | Carbohydrates: 9g | Protein: 28g | Fat: 6g | Saturated Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 69mg | Sodium: 885mg | Potassium: 477mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 8g | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 43mg | Iron: 3mg
    Tried this Recipe? Pin it for Later!Mention @RecipesWorthRep or tag #RecipesWorthRepeating!

    This post was originally published in November 2019, but was republished with new photos, step-by-step recipe instructions and tips in September 2022.

    « Crock Pot Garlic Potatoes
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    8.1K shares

    About Amanda Mason

    Hi! I'm Amanda, the founder and creator behind Recipes Worth Repeating! Simply put, I focus on creating delicious recipes for everyone. I offer variety. I offer convenience. I offer yumminess! And that's why people keep coming back. The recipes I create are absolutely worth repeating.

    Founded in 2012, Recipes Worth Repeating grew from people routinely asking me to email them the recipe for my latest dish. Recipe development comes naturally to me and I find cooking relaxing. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, I developed a passion for cooking at an early age and I love to showcase a variety of recipes on my blog.Creating delicious new recipes, still photography, and video for Recipes Worth Repeating is the driving force behind what engages my readers to keep coming back for more recipes they will love.

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

      5 from 19 votes (3 ratings without comment)

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      Recipe Rating




       

    1. Mitchell Pierce

      December 08, 2024 at 10:43 pm

      5 stars
      I really liked this recipe.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        December 09, 2024 at 11:10 pm

        SO glad you loved it! Thanks for reaching out and letting me know how it turned out!

        Reply
    2. Amy

      October 01, 2024 at 9:32 am

      Can I freeze the beef in marinade? If so should I thaw and marinate for 12 hrs still? I work a lot so timing is difficult.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        October 01, 2024 at 8:02 pm

        Yes, you can freeze the raw beef in the marinade. Freezing the beef in the marinade can help enhance the flavor because it allows the meat to absorb the marinade more thoroughly over time. When you're ready to make the jerky, thaw the beef in the refrigerator, then dehydrate according to the recipe. Make sure the meat is fully thawed before dehydration for even drying.

        Reply
    3. Susie Ambrosini

      March 29, 2023 at 4:26 pm

      5 stars
      Can you use coconut aminos instead of soy sauce?

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        March 29, 2023 at 5:50 pm

        I've never tried it with coconut aminos but I'm thinking it should work just fine! Give it a try and let me know how it turns out for you!

        Reply
    4. DrT

      December 09, 2022 at 11:32 am

      5 stars
      This jerky recipe is EXCELLENT! At your recommendation, we ordered a Cosori dehydrator from Amazon and are ultra impressed. It's inexpensive, super high quality, easy to use, easy to clean, and even looks great on the counter. The nicest dehydrator we've ever seen. In the past we've tried making jerky in the oven and it never turned out right (too stiff, too salty). But using the Cosori is foolproof. ...and the jerky? WOW! better than any from the store; better than any we've purchased at outdoor shows. The flavor is awesome without being too salty. A similar recipe is in the Cosori manual without the sesame oil; but the sesame oil is a very nice addition, providing a delicious oriental taste, and keeping the jerky from being too stiff. This is really good jerky. Again, thanks Amanda; your recipes are always great!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        December 09, 2022 at 3:06 pm

        Yeah!! I'm so glad to hear this Dr. T! It's a big favorite here in our house too!! Love my dehydrator!!!

        Reply
    5. Sherri

      November 12, 2022 at 12:24 am

      5 stars
      Made it last evening. PERFECT! I did not have pineapple juice though. Will make sure I try it on a future batch.
      Sherri

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        November 14, 2022 at 8:45 am

        Oh I am so glad you loved it!! It's one of our favorites for sure!!

        Reply
    6. Tammy

      September 11, 2022 at 10:42 am

      5 stars
      Ahh I don't have a dehydrator but it's good to know that I can bake it low in the oven instead. I've never made my own jerky but it's such a great snack for extra protein.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        September 12, 2022 at 9:11 am

        Yes, the oven will work! Let me know how it turns out for you!

        Reply
    7. Helene

      September 11, 2022 at 1:28 am

      5 stars
      It's very easy to make. The marinate is perfectly seasoned. A great recipe for using my dehydrator. Thank you for sharing.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        September 12, 2022 at 9:12 am

        Glad it turned out so well for you and that you liked it so much!!

        Reply
    8. Cathleen

      September 10, 2022 at 3:33 pm

      5 stars
      Why have I never thought of making this myself at home?? Thank you so much for the recipe! Pinned to make tomorrow!

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        September 12, 2022 at 9:12 am

        Great! Let me know how it turns out for you!!

        Reply
    9. veenaazmanov

      September 09, 2022 at 11:57 am

      5 stars
      Would love to enjoy this delicious super flavorful Terriyaki Beef Jerky with my favorite drink during the weekend. Sounds like a delicious snack too.

      Reply
      • Amanda Mason

        September 12, 2022 at 9:13 am

        Enjoy!

        Reply
    « Older Comments

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