What Type of Meat to Use for Beef Jerky?

The best types of meat to use for beef jerky are top round, bottom round, pectoral, flank steak and skirt steak. 

Beef has been used to make jerky for a long time and is the most common type of meat and steak used for a few good reasons.

• It tastes good
• has a firm texture
• and can be found in most grocery stores.

(sourced from People’s Choice Beef Jerky)

You should be aware that even though beef is considered the overall best meat for jerky… it does have a few flaws: One of the biggest problems is that it has more fat than other meats. This can make it go bad or make it go bad faster than other meats. And beef can also be more expensive than other options.

For tender jerk you need to choose cuts of beef for jerky with a lot of marbling inside the muscle – like the lifter or pectoral meat. But the way the jerky is made has an even bigger effect on how soft it is.

Recipes that include sugar, soy sauce, and vinegar, which help break down the muscle fibers. Those are all used to make jerky that is softer. Another way to get sliced tender jerky is to try cooking and drying the jerky for a little less time can help it keep more moisture. Just make sure the jerky is completely dry to keep it from going bad.