{"id":332,"date":"2022-10-13T10:18:43","date_gmt":"2022-10-13T10:18:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/kitchendodo.com\/?p=332"},"modified":"2022-10-23T15:32:48","modified_gmt":"2022-10-23T15:32:48","slug":"smoker-vs-dehydrator-whats-better-for-jerky","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/kitchendodo.com\/smoker-vs-dehydrator-whats-better-for-jerky\/","title":{"rendered":"Smoker vs. Dehydrator: What\u2019s Better For Jerky?"},"content":{"rendered":"

Jerkiholics<\/span><\/i> and meat lovers often confuse which appliance is better for jerky \u2013 A smoker or a food dehydrator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

To mention briefly, if you want to add a depth of taste and flavor to your jerky, then a <\/span>smoker<\/b> will be the best option. Smokers can give you juicy and tender jerky.<\/span><\/p>\n

However, if you want to store jerky for a long time, you must go for a food <\/span>dehydrator<\/b> since it dries out the water from the meat and prevents it from spoiling. This increases the life of the jerky.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay tuned to know how both dehydrators and smokers work and their pros and cons so that you can make a smart decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

How Does A Smoker Work While Cooking Jerky?\"JERKY\"<\/b><\/h2>\n

Food smokers use both heat and smoke for cooking meat. Because the meat is cooked by smoke instead of fire, it can take more time to tenderize.<\/span><\/p>\n

A smoker has a separate chamber for keeping fuel and meat. This enables smoke to enter the area surrounding the meat and emit through the pipe fitted at the top, giving a smoky flavor to your meat.<\/span><\/p>\n

While making jerky on a smoker, you begin with low heat and slowly increase it until the meat is dried. The jerky cooked in a smoker is tender enough for chewing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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\u00a0<\/span>How Long Should I Smoke My Jerky?\"time\"<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The thickness of the meat affects the time needed for smoking it. For instance, meat cut into very thin strips gets cooked for<\/span> 5-6 <\/b>hours. However, fattier cuts of meat can take between<\/span> 8-10 <\/b>hours to cook.<\/span><\/p>\n

Also, remember that you need to keep the temperature low (around <\/span>150-155\u00b0 F<\/b>) while smoking jerky.<\/span><\/p>\n

To check if your jerky is ready, look at the sides of the meat. They must look dry with a little moisture in the middle.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, you can also lightly bend the jerky to see if it’s done. Remember that a perfectly cooked jerky doesn’t break in half on bending.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pros & Cons Of Making Jerky In A Smoker\"smoker\"<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that you know how a smoker works, let us also have a look at the pros and cons of making jerky in a smoker:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pros<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some of the pros of using smokers to make jerky are:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Easy to Operate<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Smokers are quite simple to operate. All you need to do is put the meat strips in your smoker’s tray and set the temperature. You don’t have to rotate the trays for cooking jerky from all sides, as the appliance will do the job for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Temperature Control\"temperature\"<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

In a smoker, you have control over the cooking temperature. While making jerky, you can easily set the temperature by opening \/closing the lid or campers.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Enhanced Flavor & Taste<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Smokers help preserve the flavor of your jerky. Jerky made in a smoker turns out tender and juicy and, thus, tastes better than jerky made in a dehydrator.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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Consume Less Electricity\u00a0<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Smokers use very less electricity and power for making jerky. Moreover, they also have a low installation cost.<\/span><\/p>\n

This means that smokers will be a better option for you if you have a small budget than a food dehydrator.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cons<\/b><\/h3>\n

Now that you know the pros of smokers, let us also have a look at their cons:<\/span><\/p>\n

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Small Shelf Life of Jerky<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Jerky made in a smoker will not last for a long time since it will still have some moisture in it. Consequently, bacteria will grow inside the jerky and make it inedible.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Takes More Time For Cooking<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Since smokers use heat and smoke for cooking jerky and not heat, they take more time to cook. This cooking time also increases with the thickness of the meat.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Additional Costs\"Cost\"<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

While smokers cost less than dehydrators, they can have relatively more additional costs. If you have a tight budget, they will not be feasible for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Should Be Placed Outdoors<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Smokers need an open atmosphere to function. This means that you would have to comprise the comfort of your kitchen and place it outside for making jerky.<\/span><\/p>\n

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How Does a Dehydrator Work For Cooking Jerky?<\/b><\/h2>\n

When it comes to functioning, dehydrators are different from smokers. They completely reduce the moisture and help increase its shelf life.<\/span><\/p>\n

Dehydrators are equipped with a direct source of heating, small fans, and multiple trays. These fans help to evenly circulate the warm air and remove moisture from the meat, turning it dry and crunchy.<\/span><\/p>\n

Moreover, multiple trays in a dehydrator help in evenly spreading the meat strips and reduce their cooking time.<\/span><\/p>\n

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What Temperature Do You Dehydrate Jerky At?<\/b><\/h2>\n

\u00a0<\/span>Unlike other foods, meat requires a high temperature for cooking. This temperature is necessary for killing the bacteria present inside it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Place strips on your dehydrator drying racks and leave some for easy airflow.<\/span><\/p>\n

You must begin by setting the temperature of your dehydrator at around <\/span>160\u00b0 F<\/b> and dehydrating your jerky for around<\/span> 2-3<\/b> hours. At this temperature, the bacteria are killed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Then, decrease the temperature to <\/span>145\u00b0 F<\/b> to prevent your meat from getting overdry. Once your jerky gets brown and crunchy but doesn’t break down, it is ready!<\/span><\/p>\n

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Dehydrator Pros and Cons\"dehydrator\"<\/b><\/h2>\n

Every appliance has its pros and cons. Now that you know how a food dehydrator works, let us also have a look at the pros and cons of using it to make jerky:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Pros<\/b><\/h3>\n

Some of the pros of making jerky in a dehydrator are:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Increases Life of Jerky<\/b><\/h4>\n

Food dehydrators work by totally reducing the water from the meat. This helps to increase its lifespan since bacteria grow in a moist environment, and once the meat is completely dried, it doesn’t go bad for a long time.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Simple to Handle\"simple\"<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Food dehydrators are smaller in size and lightweight. Therefore, you can easily place your dehydrator on your kitchen cabinet or on any firm, even surface to make jerky.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Reduces Cooking Time<\/b><\/h4>\n

A food dehydrator reduces the cooking time of jerky as compared to a smoker.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Therefore, you don\u2019t have to worry about cooking large amounts of jerky snacks.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Affordable\"Affordable\"<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Dehydrators tend to have lower maintenance costs than smokers. So if you have a small budget, then a dehydrator will be the best option for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

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Cons<\/b><\/h3>\n

The drawbacks of cooking jerky in a dehydrator are:<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Hampers the Taste of Jerky<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Jerky cooked in a dehydrator is not as tasty as jerky cooked in a food smoker. Since dehydrators draw out the moisture completely from the meat, it becomes leathery.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Consumes More Power<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

Dehydrators consume more energy to function and can slightly increase your electricity bill. However, the amount of power consumed by food dehydrators varies according to their capacity and features.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Prepares Small Batches of Jerky\"Jerky\"<\/i><\/b><\/h4>\n

If you need to make large amounts of jerky, then a food dehydrator will not suit your requirement. This is because most dehydrators have a compact size, and thus, you will have to prepare jerky in many batches.<\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

So Which One Is Better For Me \u2013 Smoke Or Dehydrator?<\/b><\/h2>\n

Now that you know how food smokers and dehydrators function, let us also help you decide which one is best for you.<\/span><\/p>\n

You should opt for a food smoker if:<\/b><\/p>\n