Dehydrating food is all the rage these days — great for meats along with summer’s fruit, berryopens in a new tab and vegetableopens in a new tab bounty, and for making sumptuous, healthy treats for your dogs. Making chicken jerky for your dog in your home means you control all of the ingredients (organic, free range, whatever) and don’t have to worry about contaminants or adulterated ingredients, plus, it’s pretty cheapopens in a new tab too. Treats are a good place to start for anyone who is hesitant to make dog food. It doesn’t have to be complicated or gourmet.
Is Chicken Jerky Good for Dogs?
Chicken is a pretty common component in dog foods. Unless your pup is allergic to chicken, chicken jerky is a good source of protein and other key nutrients like niacin, selenium, and phosphorus.
While homemade chicken jerky is safe for dogs, there have been many problems associated with commercial chicken jerky treats in the past. As of 2015, the FDAopens in a new tab has received 6,200 reports of illnesses (including over 1000 deaths) associated with commercial jerky imported from China. “FDA continues to believe that there is an association between some of the reports and consumption of [commercial] jerky pet treats,” reports the FDA.
“Buy American treats or, better yet, bake your own or buy locally made ones. Raw or cooked vegetables also make tasty alternatives and are especially good for pups who need to lose weight,” says Dr. Shea Cox, founder of BluePearl Pet Hospice.
While it’s possible to dehydrate food in an oven, it’s much more efficient and convenient to use a dehydrator. This recipe for homemade chicken jerky treats is a healthy yummy snack that your pup will enjoy.
Homemade Chicken Jerky for Dogs
Here’s a recipe for every dog’s favorite: chicken jerky. Before you start, make sure you have a very sharp knife. Also, partially frozen meat is easier to slice, and the thinner the slices, the less time they take to dry. Note: This jerky is not safe for human consumption.
INGREDIENTS
1/2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breast tenders
1/2 cup vegetable oil
Your choice of dog-friendly seasonings: parsley, rosemary, sage (preferably fresh and chopped very fine)
DIRECTIONS
Rinse the chicken breasts and remove any fat, which slows down the dehydrating process and will shorten the jerky’s shelf life.
Slice the chicken into strips about 1/4- to 1/8-inch thick; slicing with the grain will make the jerky even chewier.
Coat the strips with oil and seasonings.
Place the strips on the dehydrator tray, spacing them evenly; make sure they do not touch. The drying process depends on adequate airflow between the strips.
Put the tray in the dehydrator, turn it on and set the temperature for 140 degrees.
It will probably take between 3 and 12 hours for the strips to dry fully, depending on how thick you cut them and the exact temperature of your dehydrator.
Because of the varying dry times, you’ll need to check it often.
After the first hour, start checking the strips on an hourly basis. To determine the dryness level, remove one strip from the dehydrator, cut into it with a sharp knife and examine the inside.
How do you know when the chicken jerky is done?
When the meat is completely dried, you won’t see any moisture and it will be the same color throughout. If it needs more time, put it back in for another hour. As it gets closer to being finished, check every half hour.
How do you store cooked chicken jerky?
When your chicken jerky is done, store it in air-tight containers; zip-lock bags work great for this. Refrigerate the containers for an even longer shelf life.
dogopens in a new tab
dog foodopens in a new tab
dog nutritionopens in a new tab
recipesopens in a new tab
Claudia Kawczynska
Claudia Kawczynska was co-founder and editor-in-chief of The Bark for 20 years. She also edited the best-selling anthology Dog Is My Co-Pilot.
Claudia Kawczynskaopens in a new tab
Related articles
Can Dogs Eat Sweet Potatoes?Add it to the list of healthy human superfoods pups can eat, too. opens in a new tab
Peanut Butter Is the Best Snack. Can Your Dog Have It?Elvis famously loved peanut butter. So, can your “Hound dog” lap it up, too?opens in a new tab
How to Make Homemade Stew for Your DogMake this easy chicken stew for your pup.opens in a new tab
Let Your Dog Lap Up Your Bone BrothIt isn’t just a healthy co*cktail for the likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Kylie Jenner.And we’ve got a recipe.opens in a new tab
In the FDA's November warning, it said consumers who choose to feed their dogs chicken jerky products should watch for decreased appetite, decreased activity, vomiting, diarrhea – sometimes with blood, increased water consumption and/or increased urination.
Slice the chicken into thin strips. You should end up with about 7 or 8 slices.
Place chicken slices on a baking sheet and bake for 2 to 2 1/2 hours to remove moisture (cooking time will depend on thickness of chicken and whether chicken is refrigerated or warm from oven. ...
Made from 100% human-grade chicken breast meat that provides a nutrient-rich treat, filled with the natural goodness of protein, selenium and niacin (B-vitamin), making our treats super healthy! Contains ZERO artificial colors, flavors, and preservatives.
Start layering sliced chicken strips onto a dehydrator tray, ensuring they do not overlap. Place all the trays on top of each other and close the lid. Set the dehydrator to 60 degrees Celsius or 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Dehydrate the chicken for 6 to 8 hours until the pieces are fully dry.
FDA CAUTIONS CONSUMERS ABOUT CHICKEN JERKY PRODUCTS FOR DOGS
The Food and Drug Administration is cautioning consumers of a potential association between development of illness in dogs and the consumption of chicken jerky products also described as chicken tenders, strips or treats.
Do-it-yourself chicken jerky creates a delicious snack that is packed with nutrition and it is easier to eat than other types of jerky. The secret to our amazing DIY chicken jerky recipe is a healthy dose of all-natural flavors using a few of our best-selling seasoning blends.
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Meat and Poultry Hotline's current recommendation for making jerky safely is to heat meat to 160°F and poultry to 165°F before the dehydrating process. This step assures that any bacteria present will be destroyed by wet heat.
Heating meat to an internal temperature of 160°F and poultry to 165°F kills any harmful bacteria and pathogens of concern. You have three options when it comes to reaching these temperatures when dehydrating meat — before, after, or during dehydrating. Pre-Dehydrating Cooking Step - heating the meat before dehydrating.
For safety, yes. Using a jerky cure will inhibit bacteria growth and prevent botulism or other foodborne illnesses, as jerky is dried at low temps, not cooked. Cured jerky will also lengthen the shelf-life of your product.
Dehydrators are much more effective at this than most conventional ovens or other heat sources, so it is much easier to make a consistent product with a dehydrator. This allows fast, even drying with little risk of food spoilage. Look for a unit with a high wattage fan and a timer for best results.
Once open, keep it in a sealable plastic bag or an airtight container with as much air squeezed out as possible. If you don't think you'll finish the bag within the 7-10 day timeframe, consider portioning out the jerky and placing the remainder in the freezer.
The best way to tell if your chicken jerky is ready is to bend it. If it bends easily and feels rubbery, it isn't ready. You will want the jerky to crack, but not be so hard that it breaks. Look for the little white fibers that appear when tearing or cracking the jerky.
Chicken jerky is a light snack that's great to have on hand all winter long. It takes a while to slow-cook in the oven, but it's worth it! The marinade can also be used on beef, turkey, duck, or venison.
Dry at 160°F/71°C for 10-12+ hrs. It's helpful to set your dehydrator as high as it will go. You'll see a lot of recipes that call for 145°F degrees, but dry it at the safer temperature. And even feeding it to your dog, YOU are handling that meat.
If there is any fat adhering to the chicken, rinse away under hot water. Pull chunks apart into smaller pieces and spread out on dehydrator tray. Dry at 145 degrees for approximately eight hours.
Heating meat to an internal temperature of 160°F and poultry to 165°F kills any harmful bacteria and pathogens of concern. You have three options when it comes to reaching these temperatures when dehydrating meat — before, after, or during dehydrating. Pre-Dehydrating Cooking Step - heating the meat before dehydrating.
Dehydrate at 200˚F for 2 hours. Flip the chicken strips over and dehydrate for another 45 to 60 minutes, until the chicken has dried out completely and is crispy.
Introduction: My name is Lakeisha Bayer VM, I am a brainy, kind, enchanting, healthy, lovely, clean, witty person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
We notice you're using an ad blocker
Without advertising income, we can't keep making this site awesome for you.
