If you haven’t realized it by now, we’re crazy about our dog, Katie. Although we know she’s a pet … not a person, she adds a whole lot of personality to our home. And let’s face it, there’s nothing like a four-legged friend to share unconditional love with one’s family!
When it comes to feeding Katie, we try to make healthier food choices that use real ingredients. That’s true for her treats as well … like these Sweet Potato Jerky treats we made for her this weekend.
Rest assured, we don’t make treats every week. So what’s the occasion? Today happens to be Katie’s adoption day. I know it’s kind of silly, but we’ve penciled a reminder onto our calendars. Eight years ago today she came home with us, and we are so grateful to have her in our lives. It seems like just yesterday she was this tiny ball of fluff in my son’s lap.
To celebrate her adoption we usually make a homemade treat. This week I wanted to try something totally different, and I find this great recipe off The Humane Society’s website for Sweet Potato Jerky for dogs.
Let me tell you, this jerky is amazing. Yes, I’ve tried it, and I think Katie and I may have to arm-wrestle over it. 🙂
And look how simple it is!
How to Make Sweet Potato Jerky:
- Slice up sweet potatoes into long, thick strips. Place the strips on parchment-lined cookie sheets.
- Bake the sweet potato strips in a 225 F degree oven for 3-4 hours for a more tender jerky treat, or cook them longer if you want them crunchier.
- Cool the sweet potato jerky treats and store them in an airtight container.
- Before sharing a treat with your dog, adjust the size of the pieces so they are appropriate for your dog and do not present a choking hazard. Also, always watch your dog when giving them treats.
And what’s the end result? One happy dog! Just look at Katie waiting for her homemade Sweet Potato Jerky treat! She was a little disappointed when she only got a small piece of this jerky strip.
Although this jerky is so easy to make it doesn’t really need a “formal” recipe, I’ve posted one below.
Hope you and your dog enjoy these amazing, healthy, one-ingredient treats!
Cheers!
Bruce
Sweet Potato Jerky for Dogs
- Total Time: 3 hours 5 minutes
- Yield: 16 -20 strips of jerky 1x
Ingredients
- 2 large sweet potatoes
Instructions
- Scrub your sweet potatoes and make sure they are free from any mold.
- Preheat your oven to 225 degrees F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper.
- Using a sharp knife cut the sweet potato lengthwise into long slices that are 1/2 to 2/3-inches thick. I like to cut each slice in half to create two long strips from each piece.
- Bake sweet potato jerky in the pre-heated oven for 3-4 hours or until they reach the desired tenderness. You may want to occasionally flip the strips occasionally when they’re cooking in order to help them dry out more evenly.
- Cool jerky and store in an airtight container. Jerky strips will last 2-3 months if crisp or 2-3 weeks if more tender.
Notes
We recommend organic ingredients when possible.
Make sure you cut or tear the jerky strips into an appropriately sized treat for your dog. Also, always watch your dog when giving them treats to make sure they don’t choke on them.
If you’re making a lot of jerky or drying a lot of fruits and veggies, consider buying a food dehydrator like this deluxe 9-tray one from Excalibur.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 3 hours
- Category: Pet Treats and Food
Kitchen Tips and Resources:
- Cutting sweet potatoes into long thick slices can be a little challenging without a good knife. I had great success with my Henckels serrated bread knife.
- A great, non-slip cutting board is an invaluable kitchen asset when cutting up the vegetables. I upgraded to these Epicurean non-slip boards a year or so ago, and I’ve been really pleased with them.
- A high quality cookie sheet is indispensable in the kitchen. Here’s one from Norpro that’s similar to what I have.
- If you’ve never baked with parchment paper, you should definitely give it a try. It’s so simple to use, and it makes clean-up a breeze. Here’s an unbleached parchment paper that is Green Seal Certified.
- If you’re serious about making lots of jerky or dehydrated vegetables and fruits, consider investing in this deluxe, 9-tay Excalibur food dehydrator.
2 Responses
Thanks for this cool recipe. I’ve just purchased a food dehydrator, and have been having a few misses while getting the hang of it. Any tips on people recipes or storage for dehydrated foods? (for example, I made sweet potato chips that were AWESOME on day one, by day 2 they were only suitable for the dogs.
Thanks!
Hi Teresa:
So glad you liked this recipe and thank you for your comment. I’m by no means a food dehydrator expert, but storing your dehydrated foods properly is a really important part of the whole process. Airtight containers and the use of food safe oxygen absorbers will help extend the shelf life of dehydrated foods.
Hope that helps some, Teresa!
Cheers!
Bruce