Jerky rod question

Morning Mudgie,

The steel rods wont kill you. They may rust and discolor. However, I think they may add a bit of off-flavor to the meat. Perhaps try a small batch and see.

If you're still looking to make your own rods, here's what I did. I callled a metal supplier/fabricator (check "metal" in the yellow pages) and told them what I had in mind. I sweet talked them into some of their scrap and short pieces at a pretty good price. The offer of some fresh-made jerky helped too.

Hook

The untreated steel will definately rust sooner or later.

The s/s jerky rods arent that expensive unless they're the only thing you are ordering. Then S & H automatically jumps the price $5.00- $7.00.

I had bought and had a set shipped with my smoker. Then, like you, I did a batch where there was "to much meat at the end of the rod."

What I did was get out my grilling skewers I use when making kabobs on the gasser.

Gosh maybe it's me, but isn't is easy enough to order from CS and support them for providing a free forum instead of saving a little money on a less than perfect solution?

Guess it's one of those days, lots of interesting posts today

Good suggestions, everyone. Thanks.

Smokin', I did order the jerky rods from Karen when she was here at the Fiery Foods show in March. But...hubby went out on his own and made the new ones and presented them to me as a gift to help. Now, let's talk male ego and not using a gift Don't want to go there. I'm just trying to keep the peace, appreciate the gift and not kill anyone! Maybe I can use them for a while - like til they rust - and them "find" some new ones

Mudgie

Gosh no Smokin'. Its not you. I agree. That's why I said CS rods are inexpensive enough, but I would want to combine with and order of wood or rub, or something else to keep the UPS man honest.

It kinda sucks paying more in dollars for shipping then the item weighs in ounces when the item is not a precious metal or stone.

To be honest the my skewers are less than perfect because they are twisted rods which makes thejerky difficult to remove w/o ripping. I used the them when I was in the middle of making a load of jerky and ran out of room on the rods. At that point it was kinda late to order more.

I improvised, I adapted. I overcame. OOHR AHH!

Mudgie,

If you're concerned with rust or an off taste from the rods why not just wrap a little foil around them?

I don't know if you can stab them through each piece of jerky with foil on them without the foil peeling back.

Your sure can buy the stainless rod somewhere, then it must be cut. Stainless is a lot harder than mild steel, then the ends need to be tapered somewhat, with some device. You might save a few bucks, but what is your time worth. Just wait until you need to order from CS and order them at that time.

Over time I have found it much faster to just lay out the jerky on those disposable grill things that they make for fish and veggies, The ones at wally world are less than a buck a piece and are aluminum. Wiped or sprayed with a little oil and they are pretty much non stick. I just forgot about the disposable part and reuse them over and over. It doesn't look quite as pretty as hung jerky, but who has jerky that "hangs around" long enough to notice it has little designs on the bottom.

If you really want to get on the thrifty side, why not buy bamboo skewers at the market and hang the jerky between the rack slots from one of the racks in you CS.

Just my nickel's worth.

Good ideas, I appreciate all the help. I will eventually be getting more of the rods from CS, just don't need anything else right now. Hubby may look for the stainless rods somewhere here and I am sure he can cut through them (with all the stuff if the garage, there has to be one tool up to the job). He used a grinder on the other ones to put a point on the end. Since I do all the cooking with our Smokette, this is his way of contributing to the process. I have been using a mesh screen on the botton rack under the hanging jerky to hold all the "cooks tidbits" that don't really fit on the rods. They get done faster and make really good snacks while the jerky finishes.

Mudgie

I use bamboo,kabob,squers from target or anywhere else. $.99 for 102 sticks. just toss the foil and sticks and cleanup is done