Jerky Yield Calculator
See how much shelf-stable jerky your meat will make, plus the marinade and dehydrator trays for the batch.
Jerky Yield Calculator
Jerky is the ultimate shelf-stable, high-protein survival food, and venison makes some of the best. Enter your fresh meat weight to see how much finished jerky you'll get, plus the marinade and dehydrator trays you'll need.
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Your Jerky Batch
What This Means
Enter your fresh meat weight to plan a batch.
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Jerky-Making Gear
A dehydrator with a thermostat gives you consistent, safe results, and a good knife makes thin, even slices that dry uniformly. Freeze the meat for 30 minutes first to make slicing easy.
Make jerky
Elite Gourmet 5-Tray Food Dehydrator
$39.99
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Butcher at home
TIVOLI Game Processing Knife Set
$39.98
View on Amazon
Freezer-burn proof
Food Vacuum Sealer Machine
$29.99
View on Amazon
Dry It Safe
Wild-game jerky should reach an internal temperature of 160°F to be safe. Either start with a brief oven heat step or use a dehydrator that maintains at least 160°F. Use lean meat (fat goes rancid), and once fully dried, vacuum-seal it. Properly dried, stored jerky keeps for 1-2 months at room temperature and much longer frozen.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much jerky does a pound of meat make?
Fresh meat loses about 60-65% of its weight as water during drying, so 1 lb of lean meat makes roughly 5-6 oz of finished jerky. Put another way, it takes about 2.5-3 lbs of fresh meat to make 1 lb of jerky.
How much jerky can I make from one deer?
If you dedicated an entire 50 lb boneless whitetail to jerky, you'd get roughly 17-20 lbs of finished jerky. Most people jerk only part of the animal and freeze the rest as steaks and burger.
What temperature should venison jerky be dried at?
Dry wild-game jerky at 160°F to be food-safe, since venison can carry bacteria that lower temperatures won't kill. Many recipes heat the meat to 160°F first, then finish drying at 130-140°F. A dehydrator with a thermostat makes this reliable.
How long does homemade jerky last?
Properly dried and stored jerky lasts 1-2 months at room temperature in an airtight container, 3-6 months refrigerated, and up to a year vacuum-sealed in the freezer. Removing air and moisture is the key to shelf life.
Disclaimer: This calculator is for general informational and planning purposes only. Yields, costs, and freezer estimates are based on published averages and vary with the animal, processing, and conditions. This is researched general guidance, not professional or food-safety advice. Always follow USDA and local food-safety guidelines for handling, cooling, and cooking meat, and comply with all applicable regulations.
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