Result of the Dehydration Process
Raw beef is composed of nearly 75% water, the majority of which evaporates during the cooking process. The process of removing moisture is the critical factor in transforming raw meat into a shelf-stable, ready-to-eat jerky snack. Hence, the name dried meat.
Is beef jerky made out of beef?
Today jerky is produced from thin strips of meat (beef, pork, lamb, venison, poultry) or ground and formed meat.
Why do they call it beef jerky?
Jerky is lean trimmed meat that has been cut into strips and dried (dehydrated) to prevent spoilage. ... The word "jerky" derives from the Quechua word ch'arki which means "dried, salted meat". All that is needed to produce basic "jerky" is a low-temperature drying method, and salt to inhibit bacterial growth.
