Many people have trouble with knowing when their dish is ready, not only when it comes to jerky. That's why many of them are getting already made meals which have less nutritious because they are made then frozen. One of the ways to know is to have experience with bad meat.

You can taste it every 10 minutes to check but it isn't recommended to open the oven every ten minutes because it will lower its temperature but even then you wouldn't know if the taste is perfect. Another way is to taste others well-prepared beef jerky so you can compare it with yours.

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There isn't a Standard

Something that may be a problem is that there isn't any standard objective to know that the jerky is done. The most important thing to do is to follow the instructions. Because it is full of moisture, it needs to stay for hours at 160 degrees Fahrenheit so the moisture can evaporate. In many cases, the slices that are placed in the oven will be very thin so you won't be able to measure the exact temperature in the meat.

To prove that time isn't reliable here, professionals did tests where the drying process could last from 3 to 15 hours. Everything will depend on the quality of the meat and what other ingredients are in it and how thick are the slices. A good thing is that you will have enough time to determine if the taste suits you. Moister jerky is easier to eat and tastier but drier type lasts longer. Read more on this link.

Chew and Bend

One of the ways you can check is it done is to take a piece, leave it to cool for 5 minutes and bend it for around 90 degrees. You will know that it isn't done if there is moisture coming out of the piece. You can place it back and repeat the process a little bit later. The problem is when it breaks and cracks which means that it is overcooked. You shouldn't throw it because it is edible but it won't have the perfect taste.

It will have a great taste if it's flexible like leather and if it cracks slightly when you bend it further. If it reached that point, you can take a bite. If it doesn't taste like fresh meat, you will know it is good and ready to be served.

Spoiled Jerky

A lot of complications may happen if you don't know when the jerky is spoiled and you eat it. There is a high chance you will become ill. Other foods may not have such bad effects on people as bad meat. If you get a fever, headaches, diarrhea, vomit, abdominal pain or nausea after eating it, it is a sign it wasn't properly made. One of the worst things that are carried through bad meat is Salmonella which can be deadly in extreme cases.

This isn't something that happens rarely, in many situations large amounts of beef that were removed from stores because the inspection found traces of Salmonella. Manufacturers have become very strict nowadays and food inspection can be seen at every farm after a few food poisoning epidemics that happened in the past decades. Beef that can be found in the stores is made to last longer and the majority of them can be stored for at least one year. When it comes to homemade beef jerky, it won't last as long and the risk is higher. The processes used are different. Manufacturers need to follow what the government regulated. The homemade type will usually last for about 2 months if properly made.