I,ve been making jerky for about 20 years, but I've never made turkey jerky. I have made chicken jerky, and it turned out well, but I'm just too paranoid about salmonella to feel safe doing so, so I prefer to use beef. I also prefer the texture and flavor of beef.
If the meat is properly marinated (in a salty brine) and completely dried, the risk is low, but it still intimidates me (mostly because I have a habit of testing the jerky before it's completely dry - and with good beef that's pretty safe
My jerky marinades are all based on this recipe (though I'll add different spices to experiment)
3 cups good soy sauce (Kikommans is about the weakest soy I ever use. I prefer to use a stronger soy sauce from asian groceries where you can buy gourmet soy sauces cheaper than store brands).
1 medium onion, pureed or grated finely (I liquify it in a blender or food processor)
liquid smoke (1 tsp of concentrate or 1/3 cup of brands like Colgin or Wright)
sweetener to taste (my original recipe called for 1/2 lb of brown sugar. I now use a teaspoon or two of blackstrap molasses and some splenda).
I marinate beef up to 24 hours. When I made the chicken jerky, I marinated it 36 hours just to be safest.
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Homemade Jerky
