Can jerky be re-dehydrated within 24-hour of removing from dehydrator?
I am making jerky for my son's wedding (175 people), and I want it to be perfect. I've made it many times without issues. However, a batch I made late last night was removed from our dehydrating oven by my husband after I went to bed. This morning, it looks to me as if it could have stayed an hour longer. Can I put it back in the oven for a bit without problems? I've eaten a couple of pieces and it tastes ok, but much of it is gleaming with fat that I believe would disappear with a bit more heat. Hoping for some great responses QUICK!
Best Answer
The main concern is that bacteria can start to grow in moist meat. If you first heated the meat up to 160-165F then started drying it, then you're probably in a better situation, but if you didn't pre-heat it, then the question is, does it just have fat on the surface or does it still have water inside it?
Interrupting the drying process for several hours puts the meat in the "danger zone" temperature range longer. If it is thinly sliced and the dehydrator isn't overloaded and it's been in the dehydrator over 10 hours at around 140-145F then according to the USDA recommendations it should be safe. If it was interrupted before that, or if it is thick pieces, or if the temperature is significantly lower, it may not be safe.
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Can I put jerky back in dehydrator?
If it is thinly sliced and the dehydrator isn't overloaded and it's been in the dehydrator over 10 hours at around 140-145F then according to the USDA recommendations it should be safe. If it was interrupted before that, or if it is thick pieces, or if the temperature is significantly lower, it may not be safe.Can you rehydrate over dried jerky?
Maybe you accidentally over-dried your homemade jerky, or forgot to seal that bag of your favorite store-bought jerky. Left with jerky that's tough, stale, and crumbly, you might be wondering, can you rehydrate jerky, and the answer is yes.Can you dehydrate meat a second time?
You can definitely dehydrate jerky twice. This may be against food guidelines but I did it many times. In fact, some people dehydrate jerky more than twice and they found no issues. The only obvious effect of dehydrating jerky many times is that it becomes harder and harder over time.How long should jerky sit after dehydrating?
While jerky will typically take many hours to dry fully, begin checking it after about 3 hours to avoid over-drying. To test for doneness, remove a piece of jerky from the tray and allow it to cool to room temperature. Once cooled, the jerky should crack slightly but not break completely when bent.How to Make Beef Jerky with a DEHYDRATOR
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