[Chief913]

We used dehydrator for making jerky. It makes it a lot better use different spices to make whatever flavor. We usually pick it up at Agri supply, or either Academy sports or make our own homemade.

[Gizmo]

I have Excalibur dehydrators & love them they are an investment but well worth the $! Heidi from”Rain Country” did an excellent video on YT about dehydration of meat this past week it was very enlightening! Best wishes

[Daddio7]

I also have an Excalibur. It is work to make jerky but very rewarding. Freeze dried meats need to be re-hydrated and cooked.

[BLTN]

I made beef jerky in my Excalibur dehydrator for Christmas giving. Years ago I made it in one of those old circular dehydrators with the bottom motor, which required rotating trays, but did work if you kept an eye on it. After watching Heidi at Rain Country Homestead, I will be expanding my dehydrating capacity with Cosori, which costs less but seems to work as well as Excalibur. Also watch Heidi if you would like to learn how to get a result very similar to freeze-dried without having to invest in a freeze dryer. Keep in mind that freeze dryers dry things to a crisp, and you generally want jerky to be chewy, so you would most likely want to use a dehydrator in making it.

[Squeeze]

I have 2 cosori’s they work fine. I guess if you can afford a dehydrator they work fine, but the same money will buy you 25-30 cosori’s. I think for now, 2 cosoris do everything I need. One has worked for the most part nonstop for 7-8 months a year for 3 years now and no problems.

[Redcap]

I would also recommend Heidi from Rain Country. She has done this a lot in a dehydrator and over the wood stove. She’s a good source for it.

[Gizmo]

I concur! 👍🏼

[Private_Cluck]

Which you choose depends on what your objectives are. If you are looking for long term storage (up to 25 years), then the choice is obvious – freeze dried food. You would need to weigh the cost of just buying freeze dried food from a supplier versus the initial cost of the freeze dryer as they are expensive. Dehydrated food can last several years if storage properly. Dehydrators are relatively inexpensive. Beef jerky can be dried by several methods, including in a dehydrator.