been a lurker here, and just had to add my recipie for jerky to the pot, if you will...
I use stew beef, and that seems to make some pretty decent jerky nuggets. (I know, that sounds wrong, but they are tasty)
I use a simple top down dehydrator with a fan, and that makes the stuff in a couple of hours, versus a standard convection type dehydrator, and the cost was about $45ish at walmart.
First I use a local brand meat marinade from ShoreLunch Brands called Whisky Au Jus.... it is delicious on its own for steak hamburgers, or whatever.
then I add a bit of chopped green onions(with one bulb diced finely, and the rest is about a half dozen or so stalks)
some diced roasted garlic (about a tablespoons worth)
and a bit of mesquite, and hickory liquid smoke.
Let the stew meat marinate for a couple of hours, and then spread the chunks on the trays (putting on a couple pieces of onion on the meat to add flavor as it dries)
put the top on the dehydrator, and a few hours later....viola...really fantastic beef jerky.
I challenge anyone to tell me that that recipie doesn't taste good
