How to Dehydrate Ground Beef
Packed with protein, dehydrated ground beef is an exceptional food item that fulfills the dietary needs of any outdoor enthusiast. When rehydrated, it retains its delicious flavor, making it an excellent ingredient for creating a wide range of backcountry meals, such as chili, spaghetti sauce, or tacos. Dehydrated ground beef also has a remarkable shelf-life, making it a perfect food for long-term preservation.
Notable Equipment
- 1 Dehydrator
Ingredients
- 1 lb lean ground beef (1 lb yields about 3 cups cooked)
Instructions
- 1. Pan fry the ground beef. Avoid using any oils in the pan (some water if is a great alternative if needed). Stir and scramble well so the pieces become a relatively equal size.
- 2. Once cooked, drain oil/fat and, if needed, use a paper towel to pat and absorb excess fats (excess oil increases drying time and decreases shelf life).
- 3. Arrange on a mesh lined dehydrating tray with enough room for air to circulate between the pieces (although unrealistic to avoid any pieces from touching or overlapping, avoid as much as possible)
- 4. Place in dehydrator and dehydrate at 160°F for about 6 hours
Notes
- Beef is considered a higher-risk ingredient when it comes to at-home dehydrating for long-term storage. For added food safety, consider storing your dehydrated beef in the freezer until you’re ready to use it. To learn more about high risk ingredients, check out our post Dehydrating Dont’s: Foods to Avoid and Ingredients to Handle With Care
- 1lb raw ground beef will yield about 3 cups cooked ground beef, which yields about 1.5 cups dehydrated
- A mesh liner is required for ground beef
- Dehydrating times may vary (the water and fat content in the beef, as well as the humidity and altitude of where you live in impact the time)
- To learn more about dehydrating, check out our post How to Dehydrate: Learning the Basics
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