Homemade vs Store-Bought Jerky: Is Making Your Own Actually Worth It?

After 400+ batches over eight years, I can tell you straight: making your own jerky costs about 40-60% less per pound than premium store-bought, tastes better, and gives you complete control over ingredients—but it requires an upfront equipment investment and about 8-12 hours of hands-on and passive time per batch. If you eat jerky regularly (more than 2-3 bags per month), you’ll break even within 6-8 batches and never look back.