Beef Jerky | Discover Flavors And Nutrition With Chronology

If you are hiking in the mountains or on a road trip or require prompt protein consumption, beef jerky will be the best choice to meet your hunger needs and keep you going. This perfect snack for any meat lover is made from high-quality ingredients and slow-cooked to perfection.

A rich source of protein and low in fat, but easy to pack for on-the-go snaking is beef jerky. It is a healthier alternative to any other processed snacks. This versatile flavoured snack can be prepared at home with just a few simple ingredients.

Let’s go to discover the rich history, know various flavours, health benefits of simple ingredients and many more through this wonderful journey!     

What Is Beef Jerky?

Beef Jerky is lean-trimmed beef cut into strips and dehydrated by adding salt to prevent spoilage due to bacterial growth.

It is a ready-to-eat and without any additional preparation food item that can be stored for months. Protein to moisture content must be maintained in the final cured product to ensure maximum shelf-life.

Other Preparation Of Jerky: 

This renowned food is made from domesticated animals as well as game animals. The domesticated animals include beef, pork, mutton, lamb or goat and game animals such as bison, deer, kangaroo or kudu are used. Presently, chicken, goose, duck, pigeon, horse, even camel or bear are included in the list.

The Modern Trend To Prevent Spoilage:

In the modern age, vacuum packaging and chemical preservatives have served to help prevent the risk of spoilage jerky. It must be dried promptly to limit bacterial growth. The meat must be cut into slices to dry promptly at normal temperature.

History And Origin Of Beef Jerky:

The meaning of “jerky” is “dried, salted meat” and derives from the Quechua word Ch’arki.

The Quecha Indians, a native South American group that landed from the ancient Inca empire, used jerky as a meat preservation method as early as 1550. The “dried meat” was termed as charqui. This was a fantastic way to preserve meat, as the Spanish winner discovered.

They referred to it as Char’qui. They discovered that Native Americans in North America also dried meat to preserve it. Finally, “jerky” replaced the original term, “char’qui.” People could now keep beef in jerky and use it as a high-protein food source during times of food scarcity. Jerky became a mainstay of the diets of the early pioneers. Other spices were added to improve the flavours. One of the most popular snacks in the world, jerky is created in a wide variety of flavours, meats, and forms nowadays.

Modern-day beef jerky‘s earliest forms were created by indigenous people living in the Andes mountains of Peru. This old-fashioned jerky was produced because of the special climate of this high-altitude area.

Making Process of Beef Jerky:

Ingredients:

• Beef of trimmed fat.
• Dark brown sugar.
• Soy sauce.
• Worcestershire sauce.
• Smoked paprika.
• Unseasoned meat tenderizer.
• Fresh ground black pepper.
• Red pepper flakes.
• Onion paste or powder.
• Garlic paste or powder.
• Seasoned salt.
• Water.

Instructions:

• Clean the meat with sufficient water before going to cook.
• Place the meat in the freezer for one hour to make it firm and easier to cut.
• Slice the meat between ⅛ and ¼ inch thick by using a sharp knife.
• Combine brown sugar, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, Smoked paprika, black pepper, red pepper flakes, brown sugar, onion and garlic paste in a large-sized bowl. 
• Whisk till combined evenly and the sugar is dissolved.
• Add the meat with all marinade ingredients and toss until all pieces are evenly coated.
• Cover the bowl with a lid or transfer it to a large ziplock bag.
• Insert it into the refrigerator to marinate for more than 12 hours.
• Prepare two baking sheets with aluminium foil for easy cleaning.
• Arrange the marinated meat on the wire racks in a single layer.
• Place a rack over each pan.
• Preheat the oven to 180°F for 5 minutes.
• Set two oven racks at the centre of the oven.
• Bake for 4 hours or until the jerky is thoroughly dried out.
• Let it cool to room temperature. 
• Let’s enjoy!

Beef Jerky: Nutrition, Benefits And Health Risk

Nutrients:

It is used as a healthy and nutritious snack. This food  item contains the following nutrients:

• Protein
• Fat.
• Carbohydrates.
• Fiber.
• Zinc.
• Phosphorous.
• Vitamin B12.
• Iron and more.

Benefits:

This snack food has a healthier nutritional composition with high protein and low carbs and is suitable for various diets.

It contains a rich amount of various minerals including zinc, iron, copper and more that are important for the immune system and energy level support.

This portable food option has a long shelf life makes it a great alternative for travel. Moreover, it is used in situations having limited access to fresh food and the requirement of protein hit. 

Risk Factors:

This nutritious snack is very high in protein and sodium. All health-conscious individuals should intake protein in moderation. This may be the cause of several health issues.

On the other hand, excessive sodium consumption may be harmful to blood pressure, heart health, and stroke risk.

Some Global Beef Jerky Market:

The leading players in the global beef jerky market include:

• Weavers Meat Inc.
• Country Archer Jerky Co.
• Mariani Foods Pty.
• Werner Gourmet Meat Snacks, Inc.
• Golden Island Jerky Co.
• Charqui Jerky Co.

Conclusion:

The beef jerky is a nutritious food item with many benefits and risky also for some individuals. It can be made with easily available ingredients and simple procedures. Additionally, you can use the leftover anytime after preserving it properly.

Lastly, we have to say that you can make the journey with beef jerky more safely by consuming it in moderation to control sodium and protein intake. 

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