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.
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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
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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. I baked raw chicken until no longer pink then allowed it to cool enough to be handled before slicing into strips).
How Long Is Homemade Chicken Jerky Good For? This jerky will be good in an airtight container at room temperature for up to a week. Stored in the fridge, it will be good for up to 2 weeks!
FDA CAUTIONS CONSUMERS ABOUT CHICKEN JERKY PRODUCTS FOR DOGS
FDA has received more than 70 complaints involving more than 95 dogs that experienced illness that their owners associated with consumption of chicken jerky products. To date, FDA has not been able to determine a definitive cause for the reported illnesses.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Eggs are nutritious for both people and dogs. They can be tasty treats or a hearty breakfast, whether they're hard-boiled, poached, scrambled, or over easy. A cooked entire egg or yolk can be good for your dog, unless your pet has a pre-existing health condition like acute pancreatitis or diabetes.
Properly prepared jerky will have almost all the moisture taken out of it. If that is the case, then it will last for months or even years at room temperature. If moisture remains in the product then without preservatives it will mold and go rancid in a matter of days if not refrigerated or frozen.
Chicken jerky has a taste that's surprisingly different from beef. First and foremost, the overall flavor is milder and has lesser hints of smokiness. Instead, you get much more tanginess when biting into chicken jerky, which some individuals prefer.
A pound of meat or poultry weighs about four ounces after being made into jerky. Because most of the moisture is removed, it is shelf stable — can be stored without refrigeration — making it a handy food for backpackers and others who don't have access to refrigerators.
Dehydrated chicken treats are a popular protein-rich snack for dogs and can be a convenient option for owners. However, individual preferences may vary, so it's always best to introduce new treats gradually and observe your dog's reaction.
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.
Information. To make jerky safely at home, the United States Department of Agriculture's Meat and Poultry Hotline recommends that consumers cook all meat to 160 °F and all poultry to 165 °F (73.9 °C), before they begin the dehydrating process. This cooking step ensures that any bacteria present will be destroyed.
Dehydrating ground chicken and turkey is similar to drying ground beef: Add breadcrumbs or ground oats/millet to the meat before you cook it. After I brown the ground chicken in a pan, I give it an extra ten minutes in the oven to ensure that it is cooked through.
Introduction: My name is Errol Quitzon, I am a fair, cute, fancy, clean, attractive, sparkling, kind person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.
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