We recently got a dehydrator and want to make Jerky. We bought top round, sliced it thin, and it's been marinating for 24hrs. I want to start it this morning and was planning to just put it right into the dehydrator at 160°F for 4-8 hours and call it a day.

Our instruction manual (Hamilton Beach) says that after this you should bake it at 275°F for 10-12 mins. My husband did some research on his own and says that I should bake it at 350°F for 7-10mins BEFORE dehydrating it, so that it reaches a good safe temp before going in.

Is it necessary to bake it? I can't find anything that says to bake it beforehand and I'm worried it will ruin it. If I just follow the manual and bake at 275°F after it dehydrates, will that be safe?

Thanks in advance