How to Make Jerky - Step-by-Step Instructions

Before the invention of refrigeration and preservatives, the only way to withhold meat for long periods of time was to dry it into jerky. Drying meat into jerky is maybe the oldest way of preserving meat and jerky dates back to the earliest civilizations.

Traditionally, jerky was made from long, thin strips of meat that was salted and dried in the sun or over a small smokey fire. Although jerky can still be made in this way, techniques have become more sophisticated in our day. Jerky is still an extremely beloved food and millions of population still enjoy jerky as a delicious, convenient, and healthy source of protein. Jerky is perfect for hikers, campers, or just an easy, non-messy snack.

French Door Refrigerators

Today, jerky is most generally made from beef, but jerky can also be made from poultry, fish, and wild game such as deer (venison), elk, buffalo, bison, moose, caribou, antelope, and other game. Many varieties of seasonings can be used to make separate flavors of jerky. Salt is traditionally used as the main preservative for jerky, but acids such as vinegar and citrus juice in marinades can also help to kill bacteria. Jerky can be made without salt, but its shelf life will be drastically reduced.

Store-bought jerky comes in many flavors with any estimate of chemicals, additives, and preservatives and can be surprisingly expensive. However, you can make your own jerky at home very easily. Most population are surprised at just how easy it is to make tasty jerky that is much cheaper and healthier than mass-produced jerky ready in stores. So by development your own jerky, you not only control the ingredients, you also save money.

Jerky Making: Step-by-Step Instructions
Select a cut of meat. Selecting a lean cut will save time later. For beef jerky, cuts like like sirloin, top round, eye of round, etc. Are good choices. You can also use venison or virtually any other type of meat to make jerky. Trim all of the noticeable fat from your cut of meat because any fat will cause the jerky to spoil much faster. Slice your meat into very thin strips from 1/8" to 1/4" thick. Cutting the meat into thin slices dramatically shortens drying time. You can cut jerky with just a knife and cutting board, but there are some convenient tools you can use for slicing meat, such as a Jerky Slicing Tray, a Hand-Crank manual Jerky Slicer, or an galvanic meat slicer. Tip: Slicing meat is easier if you ice the meat for about 30 to 60 minutes before slicing. You can cut with or against the grain, but some find that strips cut against the grain are easier to chew. Marinate the meat in a marinade or explication of your choice. You can follow a formula to make your own marinade or buy any estimate of ready-made marinades. Marinating is optional because the added moisture can make dehydration take longer, and the resulting jerky might be stickier. Soaking in soy sauce or teriyaki sauce is a favorite. Place in the refrigerator for 4 - 24 hours to allow the meat digest the flavor. Season the meat with the dry seasonings of your choice. You can follow a jerky formula or choose from a wide range of ready dry jerky seasoning mixes. A composition of salt, pepper, oregano, marjoram, basil and thyme is tasty. You will find that many seasonings work well and it is a personal preference. I personally enjoy jerky with a lot of pepper. You will need to experiment to find your favorites. Just sprinkle and rub the dry seasonings onto both sides of the sliced meat. Dehydrate the meat. Meat is dehydrated by applying heat and continuous air flow. The control of both the climatic characteristic and the airflow is very important. If the humidity is too high and the climatic characteristic is too low, the jerky will dry too slowly and it could spoil. If the climatic characteristic is too high, the jerky will cook too fast, harden on the face but still be too moist on the inside, and once again, it could spoil. There are two base methods for drying jerky; in a conventional oven or in a food dehydrator. Whichever formula you use, be sure to leave adequate room between pieces to allow air to flow around the meat. Avoid letting the meat touch if possible. Making Jerky in a conventional Oven Preheat your oven to 140 degrees. Remember you are not cooking the meat; you are simply removing the moisture. Spray all the racks you will use with a non stick cooking spray. Without this non-stick spray, you will be left with jerky that cannot be removed from the racks and that will essentially be inedible. Spread the meat evenly on wire racks in the oven. You can also use metal racks other than the oven racks with a drip pan underneath to make cleanup much faster. Leave the oven door open slightly to permit moisture to escape. Since temperatures, humidity levels, and slice thickness will vary, there can be no set time for the process to complete. Ordinarily jerky takes from 6 to 12 hours. Check the consistency of the jerky Ordinarily after 6 hours until it meets your satisfaction. You might have to cut into the jerky to ensure that it is not raw inside. You want the jerky to be a deep brown or burgundy color and still be flexible. As jerky cools, it will get more stiff and brittle so you don't want to over dry. Making Jerky in a Food Dehydrator Food Dehydrators are perfect for development jerky. Dehydrators are uncostly to buy and are safer and cheaper to use than the kitchen oven. Additionally dehydrators make less of a mess and are easier to clean up. Spray the dehydrator trays with a non-stick cooking spray before placing on the strips of meat. This keeps the meat from sticking and helps in the clean up of the trays. Season the jerky strips just as above and drain them well before placing them on the dehydrator trays. A full dehydrator can Ordinarily process a large batch of jerky in 6 to 12 hours. Just like with drying in a conventional oven, temperatures, humidity levels, and slice thickness will vary, so the drying time will vary. You will want to check the jerky Ordinarily after 6 hours to see if its done. You want the jerky to be a deep brown or burgundy color and still be flexible. As jerky cools, it will get more stiff and brittle so you don't want to over dry. The thicker cuts will take more time, so as the thin pieces are done, just take off them. Tip: A rule of thumb is that 4 pounds of raw meat makes about one pound of jerky. Store the complete jerky in plastic bags and store in the refrigerator or freezer until ready to eat. To be safe, it's best to enjoy the fresh homemade jerky within one week of its preparation. If you make it right, it's delicious!Tip: If you wish to store your jerky for longer, use a vacuum sealer to store the jerky in vacuum bags. Other storehouse methods allow exposure to oxygen and moisture, which encourages the increase of bacteria. In vacuum sealed bags, jerky can be kept for months. Vacuum sealed jerky stored in a freezer can last even longer.
Alternative: Jerky Snack Strips & Sticks
Instead of development jerky from sliced meat, a beloved form of jerky is the jerky snack stick or snack strip, which is made from seasoned ground meat formed into strips or round sticks. To make this jerky snack, you first need to buy extra lean ground meat or grind lean cuts of meat with a meat grinder. The next step is to mix the seasonings into the ground meat by hand or with a meat mixer. The seasoned ground meat can then be extruded into the snack sticks or strips using a Jerky Gun or Jerky Cannon. Finally, these jerky snacks are dehydrated on trays in a conventional oven or food dehydrator as described above.

Who knew it was so easy to make your own jerky? Enjoy!

How to Make Jerky - Step-by-Step Instructions

french door refrigerator black

Clean the Ice and Water Dispenser on a Refrigerator Door

The ice and water dispenser on a refrigerator door is a very nice convenience. Over time, the ice and water outlets and the reservoir will get dirty and full of germs. The water reservoir on a refrigerator should be cleaned ordinarily to keep it clean and germ free. Cleaning the ice and water outlets should also be cleaned to insure it is clean and safe to dispense form. If the water reservoir is allowed stay wet and dirty, it can look and smell terrible. A small skill is needed to clean the outlets and the reservoir. Only safe cleaners should be used to clean the ice and water dispensing parts.

Gather the significant supplies and get cleaning. White vinegar, a 1 cup measuring cup, a screwdriver, some gray tape and an old toothbrush should get the job done.

French Door Refrigerators

The very first thing to do is unplug the refrigerator and turn the water provide to the refrigerator to the off position. Unscrew the screw that is retention the copper water provide tube in place. Slide the copper tube out of position.

Holding the tube upright, pour about 3 cups of vinegar into the tube. Hold the tube over the reservoir to catch any overflow. Leave the vinegar sit for 5 minutes in the tube and the reservoir.

Using grey tape, attach the copper tube to the back of the refrigerator to keep the vinegar draining down towards into reservoir.

Empty the ice dispenser by depressing the ice dispenser lever to expel all of the ice. Let about half of the vinegar flow straight through to flush out any dirt.

Next, depress the water lever on the water dispenser. This will allow the vinegar to run straight through the water provide pipes and tubes getting a faultless cleaning. Keep the button pressed until all the vinegar has ran straight through into the reservoir. If the reservoir is small, empty it as it gets full.

Dip a toothbrush into the vinegar in the reservoir. Scrub the spouts that the ice and water flows straight through with the old toothbrush. Continue scrubbing with the toothbrush. Be sure to clean the whole ice and water dispensing center with vinegar. Pay close attentiveness to the corners of the reservoir.

Remove the reservoir tub. Rinse well in the sink with warm water. Replace.

Place the copper tubing back in its space. If the refrigerator was moved, return it to position. Turn the water provide back on. Run fresh water straight through the ice and water spouts for a few minutes to rinse all vinegar out.

Clean the Ice and Water Dispenser on a Refrigerator Door

french door refrigerator side by side

White Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen manufacture

Today the most beloved type of home revision homeowners are wanting and doing is kitchen remodeling. Kitchens are the main attraction and public town of your home for preparation meals for your house and for friends a comfortable place to socialize and gather. Kitchen fabricate and planning is most prominent step for you to accomplish the personal look, practical use and customized to meet you and your family's lifestyle and needs. One of the most beloved colors kitchen designers select is white. White kitchen cabinets can be used to make a subtle fabricate statement or portray a very dramatic distinctive look. The color white speaks for itself and depending on the style of kitchen cabinetry and door style you can create a look that fits your personality. White kitchen cabinets are used for many distinct decor such as contemporary, traditional, country, French country, English, shaker and many more. There are also many choices of material used for kitchen cabinets like; plastic laminate, white painted wood, high gloss lacquer, vinyl foil, white stain and white washed desist - all having their our fabricate statement. Each of these styles has a distinctive look and can reflect your own personality.

White kitchen cabinets make color choices for accessories and countertops somewhat easier to select an accent color theme throughout the kitchen and surrounding rooms. Using white color cabinetry in any of the styles mentioned can accomplish a fabricate which is classic and stay approved for years to come. Modern style white gloss finishes give a very sleek Modern look, while white painted wood raised panel door styles can give a warm customary feeling in a kitchen. The flooring and countertop colors are the main accent areas and can drastically give distinct moods with distinct colors. A white customary style cabinet with wood flooring is very beloved and makes the kitchen feel very animated and warm. Adding granite countertops to this aggregate again can totally turn the mood of the kitchen depending on the color and texture.

French Door Refrigerators

The color option for appliances is also very prominent and contributes to the total fabricate statement. I would propose if you are planning a customary style kitchen use matching white wood front decorator panels on the dishwasher and refrigerator fronts as they will blend in best with the total look and use your option for ovens, cook tops and sinks as stainless steel or black. In a Modern style kitchen many designers select to accent all appliances with contrasting colors to create a more dramatic look. In the past many citizen felt that white kitchen cabinets were only for showrooms and plan white was too much work to maintain. With today's new wood finishes and artificial materials white kitchen cabinetry is as easy to maintain as any other stained color. White kitchen cabinets have been in style for the past 20 years and show no signs of going out of the style trends to date. It is much easier to turn color themes from time to time by changing window treatments, place mats and countertop accessories with new accent colors if you choose.

White Kitchen Cabinets and Kitchen manufacture

built in french door refrigerator counter depth bottom freezer refrigerator 4 door refrigerator

Crockpot Cooking Ideas For Cold Weather - Plan A Week Of Hearty Meals To Stay Cozy And Warm

If getting from your car to your door seems like a march straight through the tundra during cold winter days, a trip to the grocery store may be excruciating to think about. You may be inspiring thoughts of staying in your nice warm car and driving straight through a fast food place for supper instead. But, that sort of impulse can of course defeat a grocery budget, even though the nice warm car is tempting.

How can you feed your house a nice hot meal without suffering those icy cold trips? By planning one shopping day with one goal in mind - creating enough crockpot meals for a week. Let's see how this can be accomplished.

French Door Refrigerators

Start by conferrence together your beloved crockpot recipes, picking a range of dishes so your house doesn't get tired of the same old food. Make a grocery list that includes everything you need for the week based on the recipes you've chosen. Check your pantry for the approved supplies, too. Now do all your shopping for the week.

When you get home, carefully wrap and freeze the meat for the meals later in the week, chop up all your veggies for each meal and seal in containers. You are well on your way to a week of cozy meals without having to venture out in the cold. Here we go.

Sunday - Begin the week with a wonderfully aromatic Rotisserie Chicken. Your crockpot will furnish a nice, crispy and juicy chicken just like a deli rotisserie. Make it a Sunday supper by including your garlic mashed potatoes and steamed broccoli.

Monday - A Crockpot French Dip Roast is an easy way to serve a hot and satisfying sandwich for dinner. It may be just a sandwich, but it sure seems more like a meal when you use a good, hearty hard roll and add mozzarella cheese on top.

Tuesday - Time to spice things up a bit with a hearty White Chicken Chili. You operate the spice, so this meal will satisfy everyone's tastes. Serve with a nice crusty bread and no one walks away hungry. You may have enough leftover chicken from Sunday for this dish.

Wednesday - This is your night to go meatless with a fabulously rich Minestrone Soup. You could replace the beef broth with chicken broth if you choose, but, as is, this is a frugal meal that will please even your staunchest meat eater.

Thursday - Time to surprise your house with Homemade Calico Beans for dinner. This dish is wonderfully satisfying and relatively reasonable to make using dried cooked beans and ground beef. Save the leftovers for next week's lunches.

Friday - It's Smorgasbord time! One day of the week is always busier than the rest. You'll be glad to have a refrigerator full of leftovers for that day. You can use your creative nature to re-invent some of the leftovers into new dishes or you can plainly dispose your leftovers on the counter with plates, bowls, and silverware, and have your house dig in.

Saturday - The races are on Tv and we're not budging. So, when it comes time to eat, putting a platter of Pulled Pork Sandwiches on the table and having everyone help themselves, is a great way to enjoy the races and fill our tummies without missing a moment of the action.

Stocking up and preparing for a week's worth of meals ensures that you have a house full of food for your family. But, equally as important, when your house ultimately gets home in out of the cold, they will walk into a house fragrant with the savory aromas of a yummy supper ready to enjoy. Give this plan a try for one week and I certify you won't miss those stops at the drive-thru for a moment!

Crockpot Cooking Ideas For Cold Weather - Plan A Week Of Hearty Meals To Stay Cozy And Warm

refrigerator for sale

What Makes bottom Freezer Refrigerators Stand Out?

With the lifestyle we have, refrigerators are not only a indispensable part of any kitchen, but are style statements with an array of styles and features offered with high end refrigerators. It is the most beloved means of cooling or frozen the foods and prevents them from spoiling. The refrigerator has mainly two compartments namely the Freezer compartment and the cooling compartment. Depending upon their positions, the refrigerators are whether top-freezer refrigerators or lowest freezer refrigerators.

But then what are the features that make the lowest freezer refrigerators dissimilar from the classic top-freezer refrigerators?

French Door Refrigerators

The most prominent inequity between the two types of refrigerators is the position of the freezer. In classic model the freezers are at the top and the cooling compartments at the bottom, while in the lowest freezer refrigerator, the freezer compartment is at the lowest and the cooling compartment at the top.

There are many advantages of having lowest freezer refrigerator. The biggest advantage being that one is able to use the cooling compartment very in effect without bending much. Many studies that have been conducted with regard to the usage pattern of the refrigerators have proved that almost every person uses the cooling compartment nearly 90% more as compared to the freezer compartment. Hence it makes sense that the compartment one frequently uses is at eye level.

Various needs like the fresh milk, vegetables, fruits or anything else can be seen at the eye level and one need not bend to remove them. Moreover, as these things are at eyelevel, the chances of them getting forgotten and then spoiling reduces drastically. One can see till the end of the refrigerator as to what foods are stored and use them appropriately.

Nowadays many dissimilar models of the lowest freezer refrigerators are available. Some are pull out drawers while some have swing out door. The pull out drawer's type of refrigerator is less spacious as compared to the swing out door models as the drawer takes more space. Moreover the refrigerator requires extra space exterior for the drawer to come out. The pull out drawers are good for those habitancy who have use the freezers less frequently and have to keep only few boxes in them.

On the other hand the swing out door models apply less space to open up and are available as single door or French door, also known as the duplicate door refrigerator. Out of these two models the French door models are more spacious and capacity, wherein one can keep large dishes inside the Freezer. an additional one highlight that makes French door lowest freezer refrigerator more absorbing is the fact that it has the same features of the classic side by side like filtered water dispenser or the indoor icemaker.

These were just the basic differences in the lowest freezer refrigerators, but within these basic differences and features there are varied types of models with dissimilar features and styles available depending upon the maker and the capacity one is seeing for. One can get varied range of refrigerators made of dissimilar materials, and having dissimilar colors and styles of doors and also dissimilar temperature control mechanisms.

Though the lowest freezer refrigerators are more expensive as compared to the classic models, but then the style and advantages overrule all and makes them value for money.

What Makes bottom Freezer Refrigerators Stand Out?

commercial glass door refrigerator glass door refrigerator

At Home With Wine

Wine improves with age. The older I get, the great I like it. Anonymous.

Years ago, I dated a wine importer after I graduated from college. I have few recollections of this particular person, but it was then my love of wine began. All wine regions have their wonders - from German and French wines that were more coarse twenty years ago - to today's beloved Australian and prized American wines. It seems that with each passing year the interest in wine grows. Today it's coarse to see wine refrigerators sold at home centers and discount grocers. And, more population are drinking wine, too. According to a Cbs record last year, of the population who said they drink alcohol, about 40% of those drank wine, rising from a low of 27% in 1992 to 40% in 2005. Fine wine sections can now be found anywhere from convenience stores to shopping clubs. So it makes sense that wine would also find its way into homes - ranging from a uncomplicated countertop rack to full-blown wine cellars whose storehouse can be tracked with software specifically designed to carry on a wine inventory. If you have even a uncomplicated interest in wine, why not make that interest a part of your home?

French Door Refrigerators

Wine basics

It helps to know that wine is finicky. It doesn't like light and it likes to be cool. Even vibrations aren't good for wine. So, a quiet, dark, cool location is best. Once you find the spot that's away from windows, the stove, and stereo or televisions, you have a good start on storing your wine in the conditions it likes and responds to best. You should always store wine on its side so that the cork stays moist and maintains it seal.

Use what you have

A love of wine can be translated into your décor and lifestyle easily. Either you have a basement that can be converted to a cellar, a spare closet or cabinet, or just a projection of the dining room, there are many ways to work wine into your home that range in price from ten dollars to tens of thousands of dollars. If space is limited, plump a small cabinet area for a nice wine rack to store your beloved bottles. If you have kind pantry space, think adding wine racks here. Pantries are commonly dark, cool, and quiet, manufacture them a good selection for wine storage. If you have a butler's pantry and no butler, why not turn this area into a wine bar? remove shelves and a cabinet door to add a wine cooler. If you can spare the room, fit someone else cabinet with racks. If you have a small closet, replace the door with a wrought iron gate and setup racks and you have an instant cellar. Even an unused formal dining room can be converted into a wine-tasting room with the right décor elements. If you're curious in creating a real wine cellar and are a serious accumulator of wines, it's wise to hire an scholar who can build the storehouse racks and setup the proper cooling ideas required to ensure the wines are kept at the optimal temperature. Today there are a amount of companies that will come to your home and compose a cellar that includes a tasting bar, barrels, refrigeration - and approximately whatever an oenophile heart could desire. Adding a spot to your home for the collection and enjoyment of wine couldn't be easier with all the accessories and décor items available today. Your next home correction might need to be one that will allow you to savor life by the glass.

At Home With Wine

french door refrigerator best bottom freezer refrigerator

Valentine's Gifts from Kids to Mom and Dad

Looking for some great Valentine's Day gift ideas for your parents? Some kids write captions like "We treasure you", "We scored big with you" or "We love you" on a chart paper. Others get ready a photo frame, carrying the words "You are the Best Mom/Dad in the world". Let's look some more gift ideas.

Valentine's Gift Ideas

French Door Refrigerators

A green 'Valentine' tree with heart-shaped ornaments and topped with an "I love you" note and can make a festive gift for your parents. So does a magnet boasting tiny photos of house members that are pasted on magnetic paper to stick on the refrigerator.

Children of all ages, even adult children, can acquire modern photographs of the house members and get ready a mini scrapbook. A 'Kiss Jar' is a fun gift, too, prepared by painting the exterior of a jar with hearts and kisses and adding Hershey's candy kisses inside. Another neat gift is a puzzle pin is prepared by arranging old jigsaw puzzle pieces.

Mother and children statues are an apt Valentine's Day gift. So are themed gifts like giving a small box that represents a room where inside the box the recipient will find stuffed teddy bears sitting on a sofa with "We Love our Parents" written on a tiny photo hanging over the sofa, and a 'bears family' with the house names written on each bear drawn on an along card.

To go along with the gift, or as a gift in itself, a cake that is shaped like the word Dad or Mom can be prepared at home.

Don't forget that greeting cards and flowers are original gifts, always good for recipients of any age. And fingerprint cards can be prepared at home if you're looking for more unique gift cards.

Valentine's Gifts for Mom

Kids can present the following Valentine's gifts for mom - House Helper Card, I Love You Card, Photo House Card, Thumb Bunny Card, Pop-Up Bouquet Card, Wheel of Affection, Abc Book of Mom, Bagel portraits, Brooches to Brag About, Cameo Necklace, Handprint Apron, Handprint Towels, Kitchen Angel, Button Bracelet, Paper Blossoms, Spa Door Hanger, Sparkling Sun Catcher, Treasure Box, You and Me Book. A necklace or bracelet or earring will evoke memories everyday. Diner style mug is good for daily use. Three cubical candles that together spell Mom, which have a 46-hour burning time is ideal for celebration. A Pacific Revolution Waist Bag can also fit within the budget.

Valentine's Gifts for Dad

Kids can present the following Valentine's gifts for dad - A Pup for Pop, Computer Frame, Daddy Duct Dollars, Funny faced refrigerator Magnets, house Key Keeper, Golf Ball Mobile, house Key Keeper, 5 Fab Crafts for Dad, Formal Greetings, Me and You Book, Painted Pebbles, Personalized Hobby Boxes, Treasure Box, Chore Card, Collage Card, Photo House Card, Thumb Bunny Card, photo Puzzle, Memo pads & Paperweights and Best Dad Certificate. The Hairy Daddy Longlegs Cupcakes can be prepared at home. Kids may make a dessert or bake a cake at home. Kids can honor their dad, a breakfast of Omelet, Cheese Tart or Baked French Toast.

Valentine's Gifts from Kids to Mom and Dad

four door refrigerator reviews slide door refrigerator