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Jerky is a dried meat that has been sliced into thin strips. This type of food originated in the Americas and was made by Native Americans as early as 10,000 BC. The word "jerky" comes from the Quechua language (in which it means 'dried') or perhaps from the Spanish charqui, itself derived from "charque", meaning to dry thoroughly over smoke. Native American jerks were … [Read more...] about 3+ Best Jerky Slicer Options for Home Processing

Start with a quality chef's knife and a durable cutting board, and you're well on your way to a fully equipped kitchen. But did you know that, when it comes to preparing raw meat, there are cutting boards that you should never use? In my decade of professional kitchen experience, I've had the opportunity to use every type of cutting board imaginable. And I've narrowed those … [Read more...] about 6+ Best Cutting Boards for Meat for Every Home Chef

Have you ever thought about the cost of ground beef and sausage while you're at the grocery store? Pound for pound, there's a big markup on ground meats compared to the whole cuts they're taken from. Or maybe you've been unimpressed by the quality of the ground meat and sausage you get from the store. How fresh are those meats, anyway? Unless you have a personal relationship … [Read more...] about 4+ Best Meat Grinders for Home Use & More

Have you ever marveled at a restaurant's ability to nail the temperature of dozens of steaks, seemingly as if by magic? That's not just because the chefs are experienced craftspeople -- it's also because they have the right tools for the job. And when it comes to getting every one of your meats perfectly cooked (or at least not undercooked meat), there's no better tool than … [Read more...] about 4+ Best Meat Thermometers For Every Home Chef

When grocery prices are going up, the clever chef knows where they can save a few bucks without giving up their favorite foods. By choosing traditionally less desirable cuts of meat, and putting a little more work into making the meat tender, you can keep your food bill low and still have delicious, flavorful meats any night of the week. … [Read more...] about 4+ Best Meat Tenderizers for Home Chefs

The fine arts of curing and smoking meat have shown up in nearly every culinary tradition. From the refined charcuterie of France to the simple beef jerky of early Americans to low and slow barbecue smoked pork butts, your options for curing meat are close to limitless. Learning how to make cured meat products on your own can be tricky, though -- unless you have access to some … [Read more...] about 10+ Best Books on Curing & Smoking Meat

With their origins in the pellet stoves popularized during the 1973 oil crisis, pellet grills have come a long way towards their inclusion as a barbecuing staple. Also known as a pellet smoker, their continual design evolution has led to significant technological advancements that make professional-quality smoking and grilling available in the comfort of your own backyard. … [Read more...] about A Complete Guide to the Pellet Grill: Types, Considerations, and Best Options

Everybody loves the feel of being around a campfire on a weekend evening -- but if you're tired of washing the smell of smoke out of your clothes and hair, you should look into a smokeless fire pit. A relatively recent invention, the smokeless fire pit is a compact and convenient alternative to building a full fire, and a great way to get your time around a fire without any of … [Read more...] about Best Smokeless Fire Pits: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Buying meat in bulk is the best way to save money while eating well -- but if you don't have a meat storage container solution, chances are those savings will go to waste. … [Read more...] about Meat Storage Containers Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy

Meat tenderizers might just be the most important tool for a thrifty chef to get the most out of their grocery money. While expensive cuts of meat are renowned for their natural tenderness and ability to sear into succulent perfection, humbler cuts are often just as flavorful -- but less prized because of their tougher texture. The solution? Meat tenderizers, of course. … [Read more...] about Meat Tenderizers Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

The popularization of cheap, simple, and effective vacuum sealers for home use has been a huge boon for preserving, storing, and preparing food in the comfort of your kitchen. But as with any kitchen gadget, there are plenty of imitators on the market that can't deliver the results you're looking for. How can you know that you're getting the best vacuum sealer for meat? … [Read more...] about Vacuum Sealers for Meat Explained: Types, Considerations, Where to Buy

If you've been salivating over the possibilities of fresh bison burgers, elk sausage, or perfectly processed bavette steak, an electric meat grinder should be on your to-buy list. For anyone intending to get serious about only consuming the highest-quality, ethically sourced meats, an electric meat grinder will open up a world of culinary possibilities. … [Read more...] about Electric Meat Grinders Explained: Types, Considerations, and Where to Buy