Last updated on December 8th, 2024
Our article will provide you reviews of the Top 10 Best Machines To Make Beef Jerky so that you can make a well-informed purchase decision. But first, the basics –
So, What Is Beef Jerky?
Contents
Basically, jerky is trimmed, lean meat that is cut into strips and dried. The word “jerky” originated from the Quechua word ch’arki, which means “dried, salted meat”. It is common to add salt to the meat before the dehydrating process to prevent bacteria growth.
Making beef jerky can be a difficult task to do if you don’t have the right machines. For this reason, you should know what type of machine will work best for you when making homemade beef jerky recipes. Buying a good food dehydrator for beef jerky also reduces the time and money associated with your jerky-making process as these dehydrators are less expensive and more energy-efficient.
So, are you interested in finding the best meat dehydrator? In that case, we recommend you go through our list of the Top 10 best machines to make beef jerky. Now let’s take a quick look at these best-rated products.
Quick Comparison – 5 Best Selling Machines To Make Beef Jerky this year
Check out our article –
How To Dehydrate Jerky – Step By Step Guide
Below Is Our In-Depth Best Machines To Make Beef Jerky Review – Top 10
#10 Magic Mill’s Food Dehydrator Machine For Jerky, Meat, Beef, Fruits
With 11 trays, this Magic Mill Dehydrator offers ample space for drying while maintaining a slim, modern appearance. There’s no better way to dry meat, jerky, fruit, and even dog treats than using the Magic Mill Dehydrator. Moreover, this dehydrator also has a drying fan on the rear to promote an even heat distribution, thereby promoting even dehydration and drying.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 24 x 22 x 19 inches
- Weight: 13 Pounds
- Wattage: 1000 watts
- Material: Stainless steel & Plastic
- Number of Trays: 11 (Adjustable)
- Stainless Steel Trays: Yes
- Built-in Timer: 24 hours
- Temperature Range: 95-167 Degree Fahrenheit
Pros:
- Ensures even heating
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
- Quiet
- Durable
- Plenty of space for drying
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Rear-mounted drying fan
- Perfect for making beef jerky
- Simple touch control LED Display
Cons:
- Bulky
#9 Food Dehydrator Machine By Colzer With 8 Stainless Steel Trays
This Colzer Food Dehydrator machine features a glass front door for easy monitoring of drying progress and is made from 100% BPA-free stainless steel. Heat is evenly distributed throughout all trays thanks to forced hot-air convection generated by the integrated air-circulating fan. Moreover, this unit is equipped with an automatic shutdown and overheat protection system.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 10.63 x 15.16 x 12.8 inches
- Weight: 15.2 Pounds
- Wattage: 500 watts
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Number of Trays: 8
- Stainless Steel Trays: Yes
- Built-in Timer: 30 min – 24 hours
- Temperature Range: 68 – 194 Degree Fahrenheit
Pros:
- Evenly distributes heat
- Durable
- Ample drying space
- Dishwasher safe
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Automatic shutdown feature
- Overheat protection feature
- Ideal for making beef jerky
Cons:
- Loud
- Misleading manual instructions
#8 Cuisinart’s DHR-20P1 Food Dehydrator Machine
Whether you’re making fruit roll-ups, veggie chips, or meat jerky, a Cuisinart Food Dehydrator lets you make nutritious, delicious snacks. Foods are preserved naturally without adding preservatives or additives. Different types of food can be dried at different temperatures using an adjustable thermostat. Additionally, the dehydrator comes with five interlocking trays that can be stacked on top of one another.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 13.38 x 15.63 x 12 inches
- Weight: 7.8 Pounds
- Wattage: 620 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 5
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Adjustable thermostat: Fan Only (Low, Medium, High)
Pros:
- Ensures even heating
- Easy to use & wash
- Affordable
- Durable
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Suitable for beef jerky, dried fruits, and herbs
Cons:
- Noisy
- Trays are stacked closely together, only short items will fit.
#7 Commercial Chef’s Food Dehydrator Machine For Beef Jerky
You can dehydrate your favorite snacks and keep them moist and delicious with this COMMERCIAL CHEF food dehydrator. The dehydrator comes with 5 layers of trays for uniform drying and maximum efficiency. In addition to being dishwasher safe, the 280W jerky dehydrator is compact enough for safe storage in your kitchen.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 9.92 x 9.43 x 7.01 inches
- Weight: 3.3 Pounds
- Wattage: 280 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 5
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Temperature Range: 104 – 158 Degree Fahrenheit
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Durable
- Compact
- Lightweight
- Dishwasher safe
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Suitable for fruits & beef jerky
Cons:
- Smaller than normal dehydrators
#6 Nesco’s FD-28JX Food dehydrator | Suitable For Jerky Snacks
A Nesco food dehydrator produces superior results when it comes to drying foods. Temperature is automatically set with a simple flip of the switch. This machine comes with four trays and expands to seven trays (sold separately), allowing you to dry large quantities at once without rotating the trays.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 13.5 x 13.5 x 9.5 inches
- Weight: 5.5 Pounds
- Wattage: 350 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 4 (Expands up to 7 trays – sold separately)
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Temperature Control (Fixed): 160 Degree Fahrenheit
- Package Includes: Jerky Seasoning & Cure samples, Jerky Gun, a recipe book & an instruction book
Pros:
- Perfectly even heat distribution
- Easy to use & wash
- Affordable
- Durable
- Lightweight
- Suitable for fruits & beef jerky
Cons:
- The jerky gun does not function well
- Temperature cannot be adjusted
Check out our article –
How To Dehydrate Jerky – Step By Step Guide
#5 Food Dehydrator Machine By Elite Gourmet | Suitable For Beef Jerky
Powered by 350 Watts of drying power, the Elite Gourmet 5-Tier Food Dehydrator allows food to dry faster and more efficiently. Its adjustable temperature control allows you to dry a variety of foods at different temperatures based on your preference. Furthermore, a fan mounted at the base of the unit and heating element promotes even drying and circulation of air during the drying process.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 12.25 x 11.75 x 9 inches
- Weight: 5.3 Pounds
- Wattage: 350 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 5
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Temperature Range: 95 – 158 Degree Fahrenheit
Pros:
- Easy to use
- Inexpensive
- Lightweight
- Dishwasher safe
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Works great for beef jerky, fruits & vegetables
Cons:
- No Programmable Timer
- Dehydrates slowly
#4 Food Dehydrator Machine By Elechomes With 6-Tray Dryer for Beef Jerky
A food dehydrator from Elechomes is ideal for backpackers who like to prepare dry food for hiking trips, such as beef jerky, fruits, and vegetables. A total of 6 stackable BPA-FREE trays are included, each with 2 adjustable heights for making different types of dried food. In addition, you can adjust the temperature and timer to ensure your delicious, dehydrated food is cooked perfectly.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 11 x 11 x 11 inches
- Weight: 5 Pounds
- Wattage: 400 watts
- Material: Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene
- Number of Trays: 6 (Adjustable)
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Built-in Timer: 30 min – 72 Hours
- Temperature Range: 95 – 158 Degree Fahrenheit
- Package Includes: Mesh Screen, Fruit Roll Sheet & User Manual
Pros:
- 360-degree rapid heating
- Well priced
- Easy to use
- Dishwasher safe
- Ideal for beef jerky
- Adjustable temperature
- Auto shut-off feature
Cons:
- Limited capacity due to small trays
#3 Hamilton Beach’s Digital Food Dehydrator Machine For Fruit and Jerky
With five stackable trays and 500 watts of power, the Hamilton Beach Food Dehydrator can dry vegetables, fruits, and even beef jerky. Due to its constant airflow feature, trays do not need to be rotated to ensure even drying. Moreover, it includes an automatic shut-off timer and an adjustable thermometer for enhanced functionality.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 10.5 x 13 x 11 inches
- Weight: 8 Pounds
- Wattage: 500 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 5
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Built-in Timer: 48 Hours
- Temperature Range: 100 – 160 Degree Fahrenheit
- Package Includes: 1 x Fine-mesh sheet and 1 x solid sheet
Pros:
- Perfectly uniform heat distribution
- Easy to use
- Auto shut-off feature
- Ideal for beef jerky
- Affordable
- Adjustable thermostat
Cons:
- Noisy
- It is not dishwasher safe
#2 COSORI’s Food Dehydrator Machine For Jerky, Fruit, Vegetables, And More
This food dehydrator from Cosori is one of the best food dehydrators for meat jerky, fruits, veggies, and more. There is a nice, modern-industrial appearance on the exterior, and the interior is relatively easy to clean. Cosori’s Premium Food Dehydrator consists of six trays and is equipped with both an automatic timer and an adjustable thermostat. Moreover, with its hot air circulation system, the machine provides a perfect fermentation environment for yogurt.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 17.8 x 13.5 x 12.2 inches
- Weight: 23.1 Pounds
- Wattage: 600 watts
- Material: Stainless Steel
- Number of Trays: 6
- Stainless Steel Trays: Yes
- Built-in Timer: 30 min – 48 Hours
- Temperature Range: 95 – 165 Degree Fahrenheit
- Package Includes: Fruit Roll Sheet, Mesh Screen, User Manual, Recipe Book, & a Quick reference guide
Pros:
- Touch-Control LED Display
- Evenly distributes heat
- Quiet
- Easy to use
- Overheat protection
- Auto shut-off feature
- Dishwasher safe trays
- Ideal for beef jerky
- Large capacity
- Adjustable temperature
Cons:
- There may be a problem with the door’s glass popping out. Applying quality glue should solve the problem.
#1 Nesco’s Pro Food Dehydrator | Suitable For Jerky Snacks
The top-rated food dehydrator from Nesco is our number one pick. It takes just hours to dry your favorite foods with NESCO’s Snackmaster Pro Food Dehydrator. Its converga-flow technology distributes air evenly across trays, so it converges in the center in order to ensure a fast, even, and nutritious drying process. Overall, this is an excellent food dehydrator that can be used for making jerky, drying fruit, vegetables, and herbs.
Specifications:
- Item Dimensions: 13.75 x 22.13 x 13.87 inches
- Weight: 7.75 Pounds
- Wattage: 600 watts
- Material: Plastic
- Number of Trays: 4 (Expandable up to 12 trays – sold separately)
- Stainless Steel Trays: No
- Temperature Range: 95 – 160 Degree Fahrenheit
- Package Includes: 2 x Clean-A-Screens, 2 x Fruit Roll Sheet, a recipe & instruction book, and a sample of Jerky Seasoning & Cure.
Pros:
- Even heat distribution
- Large capacity
- Easy to clean
- Durable
- Quiet
- Affordable
- Easy to assemble & use
- Adjustable Thermostat
- Perfect for beef jerky, fruits, veggies, and more
Cons:
- It does not have an automatic shutoff timer.
FAQs – Best Machine To Make Beef Jerky
1- For how long does beef jerky need to be dehydrated?
It takes about 4-5 hours for beef jerky to dry when dehydrated. According to USDA guidelines, you should let the jerky dehydrate at 165 degrees for about four hours until it reaches a safe internal temperature of 160 degrees.
2- What are the benefits of buying a food dehydrator for making beef jerky?
The flavor and nutrients of meat are retained when dehydrated. Using the best beef jerky machine also prevents food spoilage, so there won’t be any bacteria growing on your food. Additionally, you can season or spice food as you dry it, making healthy snacks that are easy to carry around.
3- What is the recommended thickness for cutting meat for jerky?
Generally, it is best to slice meat thinly (1/8 to 1/4 inch thick) before dehydrating it. Furthermore, to ensure the best results, the meat should be of the same thickness throughout.
Final Thoughts
The best machines to make beef jerky are the ones that exceed your expectations and help you produce a large quantity of jerky at an affordable price. All of the machines mentioned above possess features that will best serve your needs while saving you money as well. In this article, we have featured the best beef jerky machine from a variety of different brands so that we can offer you a wide range of options. However, one thing remains constant among all these brands: their quality and performance are unmatched.
We hope you have enjoyed our Top 10 Best Machines To Make Beef Jerky Reviews to help you select the right one.
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