Howdy From Midwest

[Abraxxas]

I am Abraxas, from the Midwest. Joined to see if there is a good homemade recipe for jerky cure, without buying something premade. I keep seeing mentions of cure #1 and #2, and I assume they are a product.

 

[indaswamp]

Yes, cure #1 and #2 protect meats against botulism bacteria, along with a few other potentially bad ones. Cure #1 is salt with 6.25% sodium nitrite; NO2. It is used in Bacon (by law) and other cured meats that will be finished processing within 30 days, like sausages, summer sausage, snack sticks, Canadian Bacon, etc...
Cure #2 is for products that will take longer than 30 days to finish processing. The amounts are higher to allow for a longer protection time. Cure #2 is sodium nitrate; NO3. The nitrate NO3 breaks down into nitrite NO2 over time. Products like Salumi, Salami, long aged hams, etc....these use sodium nitrate NO3......

 

[JLinza]

Welcome from Colorado. As @indaswamp just gave a great example, there are plenty of knowledge folks to guide you down the right path.

 

[SmokinEdge]

Welcome from Colorado.
No need for cure #2 in jerky, just focus on cure #1 for that process.

 

[Winterrider]

Welcome from ND

 

[indaswamp]

Good catch SE....I missed the part about jerky....

 

[normanaj]

Hello from RI.

 

[sandyut]

welcome to SMF from CO

 

[BigW.]

Cure #1 has a couple trade names also like Insta Cure #1, Prague Powder #1, pink curing salt. It does not take much cure to make jerky. I'd get a digital pocket scale to weigh the cure. You can buy the cure #1 at most sporting goods stores that sell the jerky kits. $10 worth a cure last an avg person a long time.

 

[Fueling Around]

Welcome to the forum.

...
Joined to see if there is a good homemade recipe for jerky cure, without buying something premade.
...

Any particular reason you don't want to use a kit?
If you're just getting started, that would be the better path until you get a handle on the process.

 

[DougE]

Welcome from Kentucky!

As said, cure#1 is all you need to worry about for use in jerky.

 

[Straw_Sticks_Bricks]

Pleased to welcome a fellow Midwesterner. Also, I have to ask based on you user name if you are a fan of Dan Simmons.

 

[millerbuilds]

Welcome to SMF from North Texas!
- Jason