Preparing your meals without making use of the right tools will always give you poor results. And if you love jerky, then a jerky shooter should be one of the must have tools in your kitchen. These tools are the secret behind your mouthwatering jerky recipes and will help you unleash the chef inside you.
The market offers various brands for you to choose from and each brand will vary from each other. Choosing a jerky shooter can be at times daunting. We understand well how poor quality tools can ruin the quality of your food, and we focus on helping you choose high-quality products that meet the industry standards. On this roundup, we have reviewed the best brands to help you choose the best jerky gun that meets your jerking needs.Best Pick
Our best pick on the list goes to LEM 468 jerky gun. The tool boats of its heavy duty construction, large meat barrel, quality attachments and cleaning brush sets.
Budget Pick
Nesco BJX-5 jerky gun is our best budget pick. The jerky shooter is affordable, handy, with a clear meat chamber and stainless steel trigger. Recommended for beef, venison, or turkey.
Quick Comparison: Top 10 Best Jerky Guns
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1. LEM 468 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
If you a jerky lover who is hunting for a quality cannon, then you should give this LEM 468 model a try. The jerky shooter is designed to make the preparation of your jerky fun and easy. For better user experience, its piston is built using sturdy and superior quality plastic material, while its handle is made of stainless steel with a plastic coating and stainless steel rod.
Loading your meat is fun and easy, thanks to its anodized aluminum barrel which is flared on both sides. This jerky shooter has a capability of holding 1 ½ pound of meat which is a generous quantity, making the preparation of those round snacks sticks, and flat jerky enjoyable.
Included on the package are Backwoods seasonings (two bags), Jerky &snack stick (original) which can prepare up to 5 pounds each, two stainless steel nozzles (1/2” ID snack rounded stick nozzle & 1-3/16” X 3/16”) which are easy to use. LEM jerky cannon also come with a nylon brush for easy cleaning of your barrel. The jerky shooter can be used by professional butchers, restaurants or at home to prepare yummy jerky’s.
2. Nesco BJX-5 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
Making turkey jerky, beef jerky or venison jerky is fun and easy with this jerky shooter from Nesco. The tool boasts of its clear meat chamber which helps you keep track of the quantity of ground meat inside. Nesco BJX-5 has a big jerky gun which can accommodate one pound of ground meat.
Its trigger is designed using high-quality stainless steel for convenience and reliability. Included inside the package are jerky seasoning (10 packs), three attachments. For best results, the tool is recommended to be used with Nesco meat dehydrator.3. Nesco FD-28JX Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
This Nesco FD-28JX jerky gun comes with everything you need to prepare your yummy jerkies at home. Aside from the jerky gun, the kit also comes with a dehydrator and 4 13-1/2” dehydrator trays. Drying your food with this Nesco kit only takes hours without trays. So no more waiting for days for your meat to dry.
The jerky shooter comes along with three attachments and four cure packets for preparing your yummy jerkies. With this tool, you can prepare your tasty venison and beef jerkies faster and easier. Nesco FD028JX boats of its 350watts element which delivers even temperatures for your jerking purposes.
Its barrel can hold up to 4 pounds of ground meat which is pretty good quantity. The tool has a fast driven head which makes the jerking process fun and easy. Once you buy this jerky shooter, you can start enjoying your tasty jerkies straight away because the package comes with all you need to get started.4. Jerkyspot Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
Prepare your favorite round snack sticks or flat jerkies with this amazing jerky shooter. As the name says, this tool is designed to not only make the jerking process manageable but also to turn your home into a jerky spot. The shooter touts of its long lasting and corrosion resistant stainless steel nozzles and anodized aluminum barrel which can withstand the pressure from extended use.
The barrel holds double the capacity of other jerky shooters. And with few triggers, you can easily fill your dehydrator faster. The tool comes with two stainless steel attachments (round and flat) which attach easily to your barrel with few simple twists.
Two jerky tubes are also included for convenience. JerkySpot has simplified not only the jerking process but also the maintenance of the tool. An extra-long brush is included inside the package to help you keep the tool in great physical shape. This jerky shooter can be a great pick for professional chefs and jerky lovers who would like to prepare their tasty jerkies.
5. LEM 555 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
LEM has designed yet another amazing jerky shooter to help you prepare those round snack sticks and flat jerkies at home. LEM is one of the market leaders in the production of high-quality meat processing equipment’s, and this jerky shooter has not been left out.
The tool has been designed using superior quality materials to withstand the test of time. The jerky shooter comes with a ½”round nozzle, flat nozzle (1-3/16” x 3/16”), and, and a Backwood jerky seasoning pack which can prepare up to 4 pounds.
Its drive system is of high quality and can handle a large quantity of ground meat while withstanding the pressure. For better user experience, the shooter comes along with detailed instruction making the jerking process a child play.
6. Weston Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
This Weston jerky shooter is designed using durable materials which can withstand the jerking pressure. It's easy to squeeze trigger offers you secure grip making the preparation of your jerky a breeze. The gun can accommodate 1 ½ lb of ground meat.
Two stainless steel attachments are included on the package for easy preparation of your round snack sticks and flat jerkies. Loading your ground meat is simple and easy, thanks to the Weston stomper which offers you convenience.
A sausage funnel is also included for preparing your sausages. Included also in the package is a 12oz Weston dust classic jerky seasoning.7. Weston 37-0111-W Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
Preparing your homemade snacks sticks, jerkies, sausages have just got better with this new and improved jerky shooter from Weston. The tool is designed to help you prepare low calories and high protein snack s at the comfort of your home.
The model boats of its sturdy design that allows it to withstand high pressure for large production. Its aluminum tube can hold 1 ½ lb of meat. Included in the package are 4.3 oz premium dust seasoning, sausage funnel, two jerky attachments (double snack stick, double jerky strip) and a stomper for fast loading.
A cleaning brush set is also included for easy maintenance. Due to its great features, Weston 37-0111-W is an excellent pick for hiking, road trips and on the go snacks.8. Oster FPSTDHAC01 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
No more spending money on jerkies. You can now prepare your tasty jerky with this best beef jerky gun from Oster. The tool comes with three different sized jerky strips for customizing your jerkies.
The large jerky shooter can accommodate 1 pound of ground meat which is pretty good quantity. Included inside the package are five cure packets and seasoning for customizing your jerky. Recommended for use at home or for your outdoor snacking purposes9. Chard JG-9 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
This Chard JG-9 jerky gun boasts of its ergonomic handle which offers you a smooth operation, die-cast metal frame and spring loaded ratchet trigger for user convenience. Its chamber is semitransparent and allows you to keep an eye on the loaded quantity.
Unlike aluminum chamber which will dent easily, this jerky shooter is built to last. Its handle is elongated to offer you the leverage you need even for the most demanding jerking use. Making your round snack sticks and double flat jerkies is a breeze with the help of the three stainless steel attachments.
It doesn't matter whether you would like to use your jerky gun for outdoor purposes, home use or to process meat. This tool will help achieve this much faster. Its dishwasher safe and the metal frame is easy to disassemble making the entire cleaning process manageable.
10. Sportsman MJG15 Jerky Gun
Highlighted Features
This shooter from sportsman will allow you customize your jerkies from your favorite turkey jerky to venison to beef, steak, fish, flat and round strips. The 15” jerky shooter features a heavy-duty aluminum handle and frame for your jerking needs.
Two stainless steel nozzles are included inside the package to help you customize your jerkies. Using the tool is easy and possesses great features to enable you to make your yummy jerkies at the comfort of your home.
Benefits of using a jerky gun
If you love jerkies then using a jerky shooter is the secret behind those mouthwatering jerkies. And for those who have used this tool before can testify the wonders this small gadget can do. Beside improving the quality of your cooking, here are some of the other benefits you would enjoy from adding a jerky gun to your kitchen tools.
Saves money
Buying jerkies from the stores can be costly. It may seem affordable but in the long run you will have spent a lot of money that you could have saved if you owned a jerky shooter. With this simple tool you can customize your favorite jerkies and enjoy just the way you would love to.
Reduces wastage
Unlike other traditional methods of making jerky which tend to waste your meat, using a jerky shooter can help you minimize wastages. A jerky gun ensures every piece has been used without wastage or mess.
Saves time
With a jerky gun, you do not have to spend days preparing your jerkies. Though the preparation process may be time-consuming, taking advantage of a jerky shooter will help you get your tasty jerkies ready within hours.
Convenient
Whether you are making jerkies for commercial purposes or for your loved ones, you do not want to keep your visitors waiting for long. A jerky gun eliminates the need for manual slicing while increasing the loading speed. The tubes hold a generous amount of ground meat which saves time making the process fun and exciting.
Ability to customize your cooking
Investing on a jerky gun gives you the freedom to customize your jerkies while controlling the level of spices and calories. This has an advantage as compared to the commercially sold jerkies.
Factors to consider when buying a jerky gun
To make your sumptuous jerky, you will need the right tool. The market offers a wide variety of Jerky gun brands for you to choose from. One thing you should bear in mind is that while these tools are designed to help you prepare your jerkies, they are not the same. We have done a detailed guide to help you select a jerky gun that matches your jerking needs. And below is what you should consider.
Barrel Size
Jerky guns come in varied sizes and can accommodate different quantities of ground meat. When choosing your preferred jerky shooter, you should consider the size of your family. For commercial purposes consider the consumption level or your targeted production quantity.
Large sized barrels can hold a generous amount of meat making the process easy and faster.
Performance
Preparing your meat requires time and using a jerky gun that does not offer you smooth operation will cause delays. A good jerky shooter should work without getting clogged up. At times it may be tricky to know the performance of your jerky gun but with the help of consumer experience, you can make decision on the best model.
Ease of use
To successfully make your favorite jerkies, you should know how to properly use the tool. A jerky gun that has hard to follow instructions will always consume much of your time and may not produce you the desired results.
Material
Different materials are used to design jerky guns with the most common being plastic, Stainless steel and anodized aluminum. The plastic material is lightweight and ideal for less demanding production purposes. Stainless steel material and anodized aluminum are durable and resistant to rust, great feature which allow you to enjoy preparing quality food for more years to come.
For meat cylinders, stainless steel makes the best material due to its corrosion resistance. Stainless steel is also a food grade material that can withstand high temperatures. If you cannot afford an aluminum or stainless steel model, ensure the plastic material is of high quality.
However, you will be forced to pay more depending on the quality material used.
Attachments
Jerky guns come with tips for helping you customize your jerkies. Usually, most jerky tips are made using stainless steel or plastic material. Choosing a model that comes with varied sized tubes or attachments will help you prepare your jerkies to your desired size and shape.
Remember ground meat may be left on the tip or the wall of the barrel, and when proper maintenance is not done, these may contaminate your food. To make sure a high standard of hygiene is maintained, remember to clean the tip of your jerky shooter thoroughly. Utilize the cleaning brush set if your model comes along with one, and if it doesn't consider investing in one.
Type of meat
Depending on the kind of jerky meat you like enjoying, you should select a jerky gun which is recommended for the type of meat you will use. For instance, if you love turkey jerky, choosing a beef jerky gun will not give you the desired results.
Choosing a jerky shooter that is recommended for making varied meat jerkies can help you enjoy quality cooking anytime without the need of buying another tool.
Budget
The price of the jerky gun will be dictated by many factors among them being material, the technology used, and other features like size. While everybody loves the quality, you will be forced to part with extra dollars for premium quality models. However, you do not have to break banks to own one. You can still get quality models at an affordable rate if you take your time.
Warranty
Great manufacturers ensure that their customers are covered. The cover duration will always vary depending on the model you choose. Jerky guys may develop issues which may interfere with the entire jerking process, and due to this reason, you should consider choosing manufacturers who cover you for an extended period.
What is the best jerky gun
Jerky guns come in different design, size, and material which at times may confuse you making it hard to make decisions. If you have been in this position before, you are not alone. Most people experience challenges when choosing their jerky shooters.
Nevertheless, knowing what you need in a jerky shooter can help you quickly identify your preferred model. The first step when choosing your jerky shooter is to identify your needs and the type of jerkies you would like to prepare. For instance, if you love fish or sausage jerkies, you should identify a jerky gun that will help you achieve that.
Relate how other feature like material quality, size, and performance will help you improve the quality of your cooking.
Conclusion
Say goodbye to traditionally made and hard to chew jerky by taking advantage of quality jerky shooters. These tools are reliable, economical, easy to use, effective and time-saving. With these tools, you can prepare your sumptuous jerkies at home or for your outdoor parties.
You do not need to have the skills to use one. However, when choosing the best jerky gun, you should identify your jerking needs by comparing and contrasting how different brand features will help you prepare healthy meals. Though it will take some time, it’s worthwhile.