How to Dehydrate Beef Stock
This is our step-by-step guide on how to dehydrate beef stock. Dehydrating beef stock to make beef bouillon is really easy to do. Many of our dehydrated camping meal recipes use bouillon in one way or another. So it just makes good sense to dehydrate what you use day-to-day and have it on hand in your pantry for when it’s needed.
Equipment
- Removable fruit roll sheet insert (one for each dehydrator tray)
- Common kitchen tools (including cutting boards, chef's knife, dough board scraper, saucepan, sheet pan, etc.)
- Spice jars with tight-fitting lids
- Spice jar funnel
Ingredients
- 32 ounce beef broth or beef stock (unsalted)
- 4 packets Knox Gelatine (unflavored)
Instructions
Process the Beef Stock
- Using all four gelatine packets, prepare according to the package directions using beef stock.32 ounce beef broth or beef stock, 4 packets Knox Gelatine
- Pour the beef gelatine onto a sheet pan. Refrigerate until firm, about 3 hours.
- Use a pastry dough board scraper or similar item to section the beef gelatine into small squares, approximately 2 or 3 inches (5 or 8cm).
Prepare the Dehydrator
- Layer the processed beef gelatine on the removable fruit roll sheet inserts. Ten or twelve squares per tray.
Dehydrate the Beef Gelatine
- Set the dehydrator thermostat temperature to 160 °F (71 °C). Dry for 24 hours, or until done.
When is the Dehydrated Beef Bouillon Done
- When the beef stock has fully dried, it will easily snap into little pieces. There should be no tacky spots.
Equalizing and Conditioning the Dehydrated Beef Bouillon
- After a short cooling period, loosely pack the dried beef bouillon shards into a clean, dry canning jar with a tight-fitting lid, leaving some headspace.
- Every day, for 7 to 10 days, check the jar for moisture. Roll the jar contents around and note any clumping or sticking. If seen, put it all back on the dehydrator for several more hours.
- If you notice any mold at all, even the slightest bit, throw it all out.
Storing the Dehydrated Beef Bouillon
- Use a spice grinder to break down the dehydrated beef stock shards into a bouillon powder.
- Store the powdered beef bouillon in a spice jar. Depending on how well you dehydrate it and your pantry storage conditions, the beef bouillon should keep for at least 12 months.
- Attach or include a label describing the jar contents and the date the product was dehydrated. The label identifies the canning jar contents, and the date helps with the rotation schedule. A first-in, first-out rotation helps us to use items that have been on the shelf the longest, so we're using the oldest food first.
Notes
Drying times will vary depending on your dehydrator and environmental conditions. Refer to your dehydrator owner’s manual for recommended temperatures and times for dehydrating specific foods. Remember to use drying times as a guide.
Nutrition
Serving: 10gCalories: 35kcalCarbohydrates: 1gProtein: 10gSodium: 75mgSugar: 1g
Nutrition information is only an estimate and may differ depending on the ingredients you use.
Tried this recipe?Let us know how it was!