1500s

Some say Native Americans made the first jerky (buffalo jerky) thousands of years ago, while others say an ancient Inca tribe called the Quechua made jerky as early as the 1500’s.

History. Beef jerky is thought to have originated in South America during the 1800s. The Quechua tribe, who were ancestors of the ancient Inca empire, produced a meat similar to beef jerky called ch’arki, or charqui.

The oldest evidence of jerky has been found in Egypt. Thousands of years ago Ancient Egyptians were drying mass amounts of meat perhaps by laying strips of meat out in the sun. Archeologists made this discovery when they found dried foods preserved in tombs.

According to the statistical data provided by the Simmons National Consumer Survey (NHCS) and the U.S. Census information, a little less than half of the U.S. population consumes meat snacks and beef jerky on a regular basis – that’s approximately 160 million Americans.

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So the simplest answer is yes, as beef jerky is not raw. Yet it is not “cooked” in a conventional manner such as in an oven or on a stovetop as one might believe.

In short, though beef jerky is a healthy snack, its best consumed in moderation. Most of your diet should come from whole, unprocessed foods. Though beef jerky is healthy, avoid eating too much of it, as it’s high in sodium and may come with the same health risks that are linked to eating processed meats.

Beef jerky is high in protein. Consuming protein is important for weight loss because it digests slower than carbohydrates, so you will feel full for a longer amount of time. Another bonus for beef jerky is that it doesn’t produce insulin, which is a hormone that signals the body to store fat.

• Stryve Foods Original Beef Biltong. Nutrition: (1 oz) 80 calories, 0g fat (0g saturated fat), 450mg sodium, 1g carbs, 0g fiber, <1g sugar, 16g protein.
• Brooklyn Biltong.
• Chomps Grass Fed Beef Jerky Snack Sticks Original Flavor.
• Epic Venison Sea Salt Pepper Meat Bar.
• Lucky Beef Jerky Original.

Beef jerky is one of the easiest survival foods to make and keep. Many people eat jerky as a snack, especially while driving. However, jerky isn’t just a snack: it’s one of the best survival foods around.

Beef Jerky Shelf Life The shelf life of beef jerky depends on whether you’re storing commercially prepared jerky or homemade jerky. Unopened, commercially prepared and packaged beef jerky can last for 1 to 2 years if stored properly away from light and heat.

High in protein, low in carbs Jerky can be a wonderfully healthy treat. It’s lean and high in protein, low in carbs.

Is Deer healthier than beef? Venison has 50% less fat than beef, making it a healthier red meat alternative. And where’s it’s low in fat, it’s high in protein—that’s why eating venison is great for anyone trying to build lean muscle. Venison is also great for those on restrictive diets.

Beef jerky provides twice the iron of turkey (8 g to 4 g), has slightly lower cholesterol (20 mg to 25 mg), and typically has lower sugars and carbohydrates (4 g to 8 g). By the numbers, beef seems to be the healthier choice, but it’s important to remember that these numbers come from commercially prepared jerky.

Wild venison has about 50 percent fewer total fat content than beef meat. It also has 20 percent more protein than it. Deer jerky contains a lot of vitamins such as B6, niacin, riboflavin, and thiamin. As found in conventionally raised cattle it doesn’t include added growth hormone.

Venison (Deer) Venison (or deer meat) is by far one of the most popular and best cuts of meat for jerky. It’s because venison is typically that perfect blend of tender and lean with minimal to no interior marbling, which is ideal for making jerky.

Jerky can be made from beef, venison, pork or poultry. It’s important to use only lean meat, containing 10 percent fat or less. This is necessary because fat from meat becomes rancid quickly and excess fat may leak out of a dehydrator. The same should be done with pork.