Dried Beef (Cured & Smoked)

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Bearcarver

Gone but not forgotten RIP
Original poster
OTBS Member
Group Lead
Sep 12, 2009
45,279
18,182
Macungie, PA
Dried Beef (cured & smoked)


I got a Hot Tip about Eye Rounds being on sale for $1.99. That's the first time I saw it that cheap since more than 4 years ago!!!

The first time I used Eye Rounds for Dried Beef, I injected cure because they were over 3" thick:
Link:
http://www.smokingmeatforums.com/t/93718/smoked-dried-beef-with-lots-of-qview

This time I decided to slice them all in half instead of injecting (See Below):



Day #1 (Prep & Cure):
Trim all the exterior fat off the Eye Rounds.
Since the Eye Rounds were well over 3" thick, I decided to slice them in half to make the pieces each under 2" thick.
This way I won't have to inject the over 3" thick pieces, and it will be easier for the cure to get to the center.
Rinse well, dry, and weigh each piece.
Weigh the proper amounts of TQ for each piece (1/2 ounce per pound of whole meat).
Rub the TQ and one or two tsp of Brown Sugar per pound on each piece of meat to be cured.
Put each piece in a Ziplock, and put any cure that falls off before it gets into the bag, in the bag with the piece it belongs with.
This way the proper "weighed" amount of cure stays with each piece.
Squeeze excess air out of bags, and zip them up.

Tip: Fold Ziplock bags back at the opening, like a pants cuff, until you're ready to close. You young guys can ask your parents what a pants cuff is.
This way you don't get any cure or sugar in the zipper, which will ruin the seal of the zipper.
Put bags in Fridge for proper amount of time.
The thickest piece I had to cure was less than 2" thick, so I made the number of days to be 9 days, however due to frequent snow storms, these pieces stayed in cure for 11 days.
Note: I Never cure for less than 8 days.
Also flip the bags over every day that it is in cure, for best cure penetration.

Day #12 (Getting Ready to Smoke)
Drain juices from bags, remove meat, and soak in cold water (20 minutes) to remove surface salt.
Cut thickest piece in half to check if cure got to center. (Should be pink in center)
Take a couple small slices from an end of a small piece, and fry it to test flavor.
Fry test was perfect, so I rinsed, dried, and put the pieces on two smoker racks.
Note: You don't have to perform a Fry-Test to check for salt, but you don't have to look both ways before crossing the street either.
I put the thinner pieces on one rack, and the thicker pieces on another.
I also sprinkled CBP, Garlic Powder, and Onion Powder on the pieces.
Then into my Meat Fridge to begin forming the pellicle.

Due to bad weather---Couple feet of snow----Meat stayed in fridge a couple extra days.

Day #16 (Smoking Day!!):
7:00AM-------------Pre-heat MES to 160*.
7:30-----------------Put meat in smoker (Thicker on 2nd position---Thinner on top position). The second position in my smoker is a bit hotter than the top.
8:00-----------------Put in well lit AMNS, filled with Hickory Dust. Cut heat back to 140*
10:00----------------Meat at 102* IT.
12:00----------------Meat at 120* IT. Bump heat up to 160*.
2:00-----------------Meat at 135* IT.
4:00-----------------Meat at 143* IT. Bump heat up to 180*.
6:00-----------------Meat at 148* IT.
7:00-----------------Meat at 152* IT. Bump heat up to 190*.
8:00-----------------Meat at 158* IT. Check with Thermapen---Pieces ranged from 153* IT to 164* IT.
8:15------------------Remove All pieces, place in large bowl, and put in Fridge (uncovered) for a couple days.

Day #19 (Slicing & Packaging):
Slice all ends & side edges at 3/16" thick, and give to my Son. He says it's the best Beef Jerky there is.
Slice all the rest paper thin, vacuum pack & freeze.

Results: This stuff is Awesome. I left it a little moist because my favorite thing to do with it is cold sandwiches. All I do is coat 2 slices of fresh white or Italian bread with Miracle Whip (Mayo if you prefer more bland). Then put a couple layers of thin sliced Dried Beef on one side. Then a slice or two of American Cheese, and close it up. I used to eat two Sammies a day like that for months!!!

If you like it drier, just cut the heat back to 160*, and keep it in as long as you want. The longer you keep it in, the drier it will get.


That's All Folks,

Bear


Four Nice Eye Rounds, about 3 pounds each:
DSCN0432.jpg



Pieces & proper amounts of TQ weighed & ready to rub:
DSCN0434.jpg



20 minute soak to eliminate surface salt:
DSCN0480.jpg



Checking Cure to Center.
That Bright Red/Pink in the center shows that the cure got all the way to the center:
DSCN0481.jpg



Test Fry a few slices:
DSCN0482.jpg



Time to taste---MMMMmmmmmm:
DSCN0484.jpg



Ready for seasoning & into fridge to start pellicle:
DSCN0486.jpg



Lighting my AMNS:
DSCN0503.jpg



Into the Smoker:
DSCN0505.jpg



Fresh out of Smoker:
DSCN0519.jpg



Ready to slice:
DSCN0523.jpg



All sliced up. Two big bowls of thin sliced Dried Beef, and two bowls of Ends:
DSCN0526.jpg



Close-up of big bowl of goodness!!
DSCN0527.jpg



All vacuum packed, plus a couple zip locks for immediate consumption:
DSCN0530.jpg
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: gary s and twoalpha
 
Looks great as usual Bear.

I like how you protect your meat.   
biggrin.gif
Thank You CF !!!

The squirrel population dropped by 3 that morning.

My battery operated bird feeder isn't working right. Had to result to "other" method.

Bear
 
Good looking and nice detail as always Sir. I have not made any of this in a long time, and what a deal on the meat.

Is that a Mod 89 you are dispatching squirrels with. A guy in one of the pistol leagues I used to shoot in had one. Very nice piece.
 
 
X's 2...lol. Looks like you got another great batch of dried beef for a lil while. I was very happy with the results I had when I followed your recipe before on the dried beef. Thank's for sharing them Bear. 
Thank You Santa!!!

Glad you liked it !!

Bear
 
 Awesome looking dried beef! It is great stuff! Can we look forward to smoked squirrel in tomorrow's post?

  Mike
Thank You Much!!!

LOL---Too much work for such a small amount of squirrel meat. The Crows get rid of them in a short time.

I wouldn't shoot them, but they chew up my $150 Bird Feeder!!!

Bear
 
 
Good looking and nice detail as always Sir. I have not made any of this in a long time, and what a deal on the meat.

Is that a Mod 89 you are dispatching squirrels with. A guy in one of the pistol leagues I used to shoot in had one. Very nice piece.
Thanks Dave!!

I couldn't believe the price!!  $1 less than anything I've seen in 4 years.

Yes Mod 89, with Gilmore Red Leader.

Bear
Bear, once again, great post! Looks tasty and another great tutorial!
Thank You Case!!

Bear
 
 
yeahthat.gif
  Exactly what I was gonna say!  The qview looks great as always, Bear!

Red
Thanks Red !!

Never know when someone might break into my house & try to kidnap my Dried Beef !!! 
AR15firing.gif


Bear
 
 
The Gilmore is a nice sight, I have one on one of my 1911's most of my competition pistols are wearing Ultra Dot Match Dots.
Actually that one is my Son's. He loaned it to me because it's easy to stick out the window, and it is unbelievably accurate!!

Bear
 
yo Bear, hope you're out there.... I've got mt rounds drying in the frig, getting ready to smoke tomorrow. I've also got some elk backstrap that they butterflied to 1/2 inch thick that I've cured for 3 days. Question is, at what point / temp should I add them to the smoker along with the rounds?

Thanks!
Phil
 
Need little help Please!

I am trying to do this beef and here is what I have;  #1 instacure  Kosher salt 5lb eye of round. I would like to do dry cure instead of wet. I been reading, and the more I read the more confused I get. Yes I do have Masterbuilt smoker Propane and electric.

Thanks in advance!
 
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