How to Make Delicious and Super Simple Microwave Beef Jerky - Mytour

Photo by Ngô Tuyết Phượng

Beef jerky comes in various forms such as whole pieces, shredded, balls, moist, etc., with prices ranging from 500,000đ – 1,000,000đ/kg. Despite its relatively high price, you can easily make it at home with a simple microwave method to enjoy. 

Aside from being a popular snack, beef jerky can also be used in various dishes such as cakes  to create delicious delicacies. Beef jerky is also a common snack during Tet holiday. It is both delicious and nutritious, making it a meaningful and practical Tet gift for friends and family. There are many ways to make beef jerky, but making beef jerky with a microwave is both quick and cost-effective while ensuring hygiene. Let's join Mytour in the kitchen with your family and learn how to make beef jerky with a microwave!

2. Guide on making beef jerky with a microwave

You can make beef jerky in various ways, but using a microwave is quick and convenient. Let's check it out now.

Prepare the ingredients 

Here are some ingredients you need to prepare for making beef jerky with a microwave:

• 1 kg beef
• 3 cloves garlic
• 2 teaspoons ground pepper
• 5 stalks lemongrass
• 1 ginger root
• 3 – 4 cloves cloves
• Sugar, fish sauce: 3 tablespoons
• Five-spice powder
• Chili powder, fresh chili
• 2 small spoons oyster sauce
• 2 tablespoons sesame oil

Image by Diệu Thu

Processing steps

Step 1: Pre-processing

Clean the meat, cut into large, thick slices about 1cm or more. If making shredded beef jerky, cut the meat lengthwise for easier shredding. After cutting, gently tenderize the meat with a mallet to make it soft, absorb seasoning more easily, and save time compared to making beef jerky with a microwave.

Ginger, garlic, lemongrass, fresh chili cleaned and finely chopped, cloves microwaved for about 15 seconds.

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Step 2: Marinate the meat

After pre-processing, marinate the beef with the prepared seasoning mixture. Mix all the prepared spices evenly with the meat and marinate all sides for absorption. Adjust the seasoning according to your family's taste.

Wrap the marinated meat in food wrap and refrigerate for 6 – 8 hours or more. For the best result, flip the meat every 2 hours to ensure even marination. This is a method for making flavorful microwave beef jerky.

Step 3: Glaze the meat

The next step in making microwave beef jerky is glazing the meat. After marinating, when the meat has absorbed the seasoning, cook it until done, glaze off excess liquid. Glaze the meat for about 30 minutes. In the first 10 minutes, glaze the meat over medium heat, then after 20 minutes, increase the heat to high to quickly dry and develop color.

Image by Diệu Thu

If making whole beef jerky, glaze until the liquid evaporates. For shredded beef jerky, glaze until almost dry, leaving some glazing liquid to mix for color after shredding.

Step 4: Drying the meat

After glazing, let the meat cool, gently tenderize it to make it soft and not tough. Making microwave beef jerky with whole pieces is simpler; at this step, evenly arrange the beef jerky in the microwave, rotate for about 5 – 10 minutes until the meat dries. Monitor frequently to avoid over-drying or burning the beef jerky.

Image by Diệu Thu

Microwave beef jerky with shredded beef, after glazing, shred the beef, do not shred too small as the meat will shrink and not taste good when dried. After shredding, mix the meat with the remaining glazing liquid to enhance color and flavor absorption. Then microwave dry the meat for 7 – 10 minutes until desired dryness.

3. Achieved product

With the method of making shredded beef jerky in the microwave that Mytour guides you, you will have a delicious dish from beef right away. When eating, the meat is both sweet and chewy, the more you eat, the more you feel the attractive sweetness. The meat absorbs the seasoning evenly, has a bit of spiciness, perfect for gatherings and parties.

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Beef jerky can be enjoyed directly, eaten with other dishes such as sticky rice, bread, used as an ingredient for delicious salads... Beef jerky becomes even more delicious when you squeeze a little lime juice over it before eating, creating an unforgettable flavor, the more you eat, the more addictive it becomes. 

4. Tips for making tastier microwave beef jerky

In addition to making microwave beef jerky, Mytour Blog will share some secrets with you to achieve delicious results:

• When selecting beef for making beef jerky, choose fresh and delicious meat, usually choose the rump or sirloin or tenderloin. If making shredded beef jerky, according to the experience of those who specialize in making beef jerky, it is advisable to choose the rump because it is just the right toughness to make perfect beef jerky.
• Microwave beef jerky for an appealing beef jerky dish, during the glazing step with high heat, do not cover the pot. If you cover it at this point, it will result in an unattractive color, with a dark hue. 
• To achieve the standard taste of your family, during the glazing step, you can adjust the seasoning according to your preference.

Image by Xuân Kiều Kudo

Beef jerky is a food that can be preserved for a long time, from 1-2 months. Making beef jerky in the microwave is not difficult but quite time-consuming, so when making beef jerky, it is often done in large portions for gradual consumption. Here are some things to note when preserving beef jerky. 

After making shredded beef jerky, let it cool and put it in a clean jar, cover tightly, store in a cool place and avoid direct sunlight. With this method, you can preserve the product for 1-2 months. Another better preservation method is vacuum sealing, with this method, beef jerky can be used for about 2 – 3 months.

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When using, take out just enough, do not put too much out at once, you can reheat it in the microwave for about 10 seconds.

Above is the method of making microwave beef jerky quick and easy, a very simple way to save time. Let's get into the kitchen right away to have delicious beef jerky to enjoy every day!