Jerky on pit boss questions?

[DieselTech]

Guys & gals I'm wanting to make some smoked beef jerky on my pit boss sportsman pellet grill.

I got the side smoker box on it, & if my grill is set on 180°f, I can maintain about 155°-160°f in the smoker box.

I'm using eye of round roast for my cuts of jerky, cut 3/8" thick.

I'm using a LEM backwoods jerky cure kit for 5lbs of meat.

My question is: Can I smoke the jerky at 155-160°f? How long can I smoke it at this temp? Or should I try & maintain a bit higher temps?

Since I'm using a cure, do I need to worry about the 140°f in 4 hour rule?

Thanks. Any & all help will be appreciated.

 

[mr_whipple]

I've done jerky on my camp chef set to "low smoke" which is 160. I set my dehydrator to the same when going that route, but have no idea what temp it actually runs at since there isn't a thermometer.

And no... don't sweat the 0-140 rule in this instance. Can't say I've ever made jerky that thick, but that's purely personal preference. Anyway, the pellet grill moves a lot more air than my dehydrator so keep an eye on it as it will dry a bit quicker.

 

[DieselTech]

I've done jerky on my camp chef set to "low smoke" which is 160. I set my dehydrator to the same when going that route, but have no idea what temp it actually runs at since there isn't a thermometer.

And no... don't sweat the 0-140 rule in this instance. Can't say I've ever made jerky that thick, but that's purely personal preference. Anyway, the pellet grill moves a lot more air than my dehydrator so keep an eye on it as it will dry a bit quicker.

Thanks. I appreciate it. Yeah I wasn't sure on the 140°f rule for sure.

I like thick cut jerky is the reason for the 3/8" thick cuts.

 

[mike243]

Temp will be fine, run it till it gets to the dryness you desire,

 

[sandyut]

Ive done jerky at 180 for a while, then turn it up to 225 give or take to get the right dryness. I am always surprised at how long it take to dry at 180…feels eternal TBH. Thats why I crank it up. Also note it continues drying as it cools on the counter.

 

[DieselTech]

Ive done jerky at 180 for a while, then turn it up to 225 give or take to get the right dryness. I am always surprised at how long it take to dry at 180…feels eternal TBH. Thats why I crank it up. Also note it continues drying as it cools on the counter.

Yeah I think, now this is a think, not set in stone. I think I'll go 4 hrs at 180°f & see what it looks like in the 4hour window.

Then if need be ill increase the temp to 200-225°f to finish it out. Yeah in a oven at 180°f my jerky usually took 8-10hrs cook time.

Thanks.

 

[sandyut]

Yeah I think, now this is a think, not set in stone. I think I'll go 4 hrs at 180°f & see what it looks like in the 4hour window.

Then if need be ill increase the temp to 200-225°f to finish it out. Yeah in a oven at 180°f my jerky usually took 8-10hrs cook time.

Thanks.

I dont keep notes so…I think 3-4 hours is a good check point. You dont want to over dry it unless you like it crunchy…I had some come out this way, not the best.

 

[DieselTech]

I dont keep notes so…I think 3-4 hours is a good check point. You dont want to over dry it unless you like it crunchy…I had some come out this way, not the best.

Yeah I over dried a batch in the oven once. Lmao I kinda fell asleep. It was edible thou.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Can't wait for the finish pics!

Ryan

 

[DieselTech]

Don't look like much at 2hrs in. Pit Boss is smoking good at 180°f

 

[DieselTech]

Well after 9.5hrs of smoke time I finally finished my steak cut jerky.

It definitely takes some time for the jerky to finish in the side smoker box. But man it made for some fine jerky.

Started with a total of 6lbs of meat & time it smoked I ended up with a touch over 2.5lbs.

Smoked the jerky with Bear Mountain smokey bbq bourbon pellets & pit boss classic mixed 50/50. I also used a smoke tube mixed with apple chips & hickory pellets.

Well here is a couple more picks.

 

[Brokenhandle]

Looks good!

Ryan

 

[DieselTech]

Looks good!

Ryan

Thanks. Much appreciated. I am convinced thou, my pit boss sportsman starts to get mood swings at the 9-10hr mark. Starts to get a 30-40 temp swing around the 9hr mark & above.

I think it's due to the ash pot getting full of ash & it throws the fire into a hissy fit..

Great jerky thou. Sure beats using the oven.

 

[sandyut]

Looks delish! Nice work!

 

[BamBamCam88]

Looks good. If you like the low and slow method. This is the recipe I use on my electric smoker and it's usually done in 5 hrs.
https://www.bradleysmoker.ca/blogs/...zL1oeAiPy0R7c_3lXeucrhbZwJGbjuKt6OxMKoFOZceOs