Jerky Facts

What is Beef Jerky? Everything You Need to Know

We eat, sleep, and drink beef jerky here at our family beef jerky business.

With four generations and 89 years of history in the meat industry, we know a thing or two about handcrafting this American staple. For us, jerky is more than a job; it’s a way of life.

Which makes it easy to forget that not everyone in the world knows and loves this salty snack as much as we do. But we're trying to change that, one delicious bite at a time.

Pile of Hot & Spicy Beef Jerky

So let's dive into the question at hand...

What is jerky?

Jerky is a nutrient-dense meat snack that has been cooked and dehydrated so that it becomes shelf-stable. By removing the moisture from the meat, beef jerky can survive long periods of time without spoiling. Because of this, jerky is an excellent on-the-go snack. 

Most jerky products are marinated with a mixture of seasonings and liquid ingredients. The primary ingredient in any dried meat product is salt which acts as a natural preservative. Jerky is a ready-to-eat item that needs no additional preparation. It is completely cooked, shelf-stable, and does not require special handling. Beef jerky is not raw, but rather, fully cooked and ready to eat.

Jerky is most commonly enjoyed as a snack. Because it’s 100% shelf-stable, jerky is very convenient and portable. Today, most jerky is packed in re-sealable packages and pouches between 2 and 4 ounces (57 to 133 grams). At People's Choice Beef Jerky, we offer both smaller jerky pouches as well as larger format bags starting at 1 pound and going up.

Pile of Classic Big Slab Beef Jerky

Many people enjoy jerky during road trips, outdoor sports, sporting events, and on-the-go activities. If you’re looking for a healthy, portable, and convenient snack, it doesn’t get much better than jerky. While beef jerky is a great for on the go snacking, it can also be commonly found in the kitchen pantry as well as the office. There’s no place that jerky can’t go!

Jerky is typically high in lean protein and low in fat. There is a full spectrum of jerky products on the market with varying degrees of "healthiness." In its purest form, jerky is nothing more than dehydrated meat – making it a healthy snack and excellent source of lean protein. However, some producers will load jerky with artificial ingredients and sugars. It’s important to read the ingredient list to determine if a particular jerky fits in your diet and healthy lifestyle. At People's Choice Beef Jerky, we have a range of all-natural, clean-label jerky products that will fit into almost any diet.

Shop the Sugar-Free, Keto-Friendly, All-Natural Collection

Modern jerky is most commonly found in the United States, but the snack is spreading across the globe as modern eating behavior evolves to include more snacking on the go. 

Meat dehydration is one of the world’s oldest and most popular methods of food preservation. In fact, different variations of jerky can be found all over the world from Egypt, to North America, and Africa. The word “jerky” can be traced back to the South American tribe Quechua word “ch'arki.”

Learn More About the History of Jerky

The process of making jerky can be quite simple. The most important steps in the beef jerky making process are slicing the meat, marinating the meat, laying the meat onto screens, cooking and dehydrating the marinated jerky, and packaging the finished jerky.

Jerky can be made out of a wide variety of proteins. The most common protein sources include beef, pork, and turkey. There is also jerky made from exotic meat sources including Alligator, Buffalo, Duck, Elk, Fish (Salmon, Tuna), and Venison. We have even seen super exotic jerky types including Alpaca, Ostrich, Kangaroo, and even Vegan jerky!

There is a wide range of jerky styles from simple & traditional jerky as well as gourmet jerky. Jerky producers will define their jerky differently from handcrafted jerky, real beef jerky, premium beef jerky, and cheapest jerky, to even artisanal jerky. We like to think of ourselves as the just the best jerky, plain and simple. Don’t take our word for it; check out our 5-Star Reviews from the industry leader in jerky reviews, Steve Johnson from Best Beef Jerky.

As far as flavor, jerky is most commonly savory and salty. However, a whole range of flavors and styles can be found in the marketplace. From savory to sweet, and spicy to mild, there’s a flavor profile for everyone. 

At People’s Choice Beef Jerky, we pride ourselves on offering a full range of jerky styles. For the traditionalists, we have authentic “cowboy” style jerky in our Old Fashioned line. This real, authentic beef jerky is dry and chewy. It celebrates the natural meat flavor. For the more adventurous and gourmet jerky lovers, we have the Tasting Kitchen line which includes popular flavors such as Orange Honey Teriyaki, Garlic Ginger and Sweet Chili Habanero. 

We are Los Angeles' Original Beef Jerky. When you think of California and American jerky, we want you to think of People's Choice Beef Jerky. 

There is so much more to share about this delicious and versatile meat snack, and I could go on and on, but the best way to learn is by opening up a bag and trying some!

If you are local to the Los Angeles area, we invite you to visit our Downtown Los Angeles factory to learn more about our company and products, and purchase beef jerky direct from the source. Or you can always browse our full line-up of products on our Online Store, place an order, and see why beef jerky has been our focus for over 89 years and four generations. 

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