Jerky

[Markbnj]

I had ordered four 2 Oz. packs of jerky from two companies last week, and to my surprise both orders showed up today. I opened them all up for sampling, and... holy crap this stuff is good.

The first two are from Slant Shack.

http://www.amazon.com/SlantShack-Jer...ds=slant+shack

http://www.amazon.com/SlantShack-Jer...ds=slant+shack

The second two are from Kings County Jerky Co.

http://www.kingscountyjerky.com/products/korean-bbq-grass-fed-beef-jerky'

http://www.kingscountyjerky.com/products/cracked-pepper-grass-fed-beef-jerky

The texture, chew, and moisture content on these is just about perfect. It's exactly what I like a jerky to be: slightly dry, tender, very beefy in texture. Not the least gelatinous. Of the four, only the Korean BBQ from Kings stands out as "spicy" in a significant way. Of the others, the Jack McGurks from Slant Shack is probably the boldest in flavor, but really all four are excellent.

Edit: ate some more and I would say I probably prefer the Slant Shack texture over Kings County just by a hair. It's a little more resilient and doesn't crumble quite as readily, but it's really a small margin of preference.

 

[lxskllr]

I like Uncle Mike's for a brand that isn't so easy to find, and Wild Bill's for a common brand.

 

[Markbnj]

Wild Bills used to be my favorite years ago, when they were a small producer. But they began to taste a lot more mass market as time passed. I guess it's not surprising given that the highest rated jerkies on Amazon are Jack Links, and aside from their "heritage" jerky that stuff is uniformly horrible.

One of the reasons I started this thread was to gather suggestions for some other brands, so I'll put Uncle Mikes on the list.

 

[lxskllr]

Jack Links is pretty bad. I mean it's edible, but I don't get much joy from it. I've been eating Aldi jerky lately. It's slightly better than than Jack Links imo, but I really only get it cause it's convenient and cheap($3.50 for 3oz if I remember correctly). I keep it in the truck for when I don't have time for lunch, or if I'm gonna be out in the sticks all day. It's easy to carry.

 

[Raizinman]

I ordered some jerky via mail last year and many of the packages arrived with green spoiled pieces in the package. The company made good, but it still left a bad taste about ordering jerky through the mail. Many shops including Trader Joes sell Jerky and you can examine it before you buy it. I've taken a liking to Salmon Jerky. If you have not tried it, it is worth a try. Many places don't sell it except in the Northwest area, but Trader Joes and a few other stores do sell it. Yummmmmy!!

 

[IronWing]

My personal favorites are Samak Smoke House Peppered Beef and Fatman's Salt and Pepper. Samak also sells smoked trout and salmon but I'm not a fish person so I haven't tried it.

 

[Markbnj]

I ordered some jerky via mail last year and many of the packages arrived with green spoiled pieces in the package. The company made good, but it still left a bad taste about ordering jerky through the mail. Many shops including Trader Joes sell Jerky and you can examine it before you buy it. I've taken a liking to Salmon Jerky. If you have not tried it, it is worth a try. Many places don't sell it except in the Northwest area, but Trader Joes and a few other stores do sell it. Yummmmmy!!

The packaging on all these orders was pretty identical: heavy-duty brown paper plastic-lined perishable food bags with ziplock seals. So far no signs of spoilage. I got them in like four days from the factory, and that is probably no longer than it takes stores to get them. We do have a Trader Joe's in striking distance, so checking them out is a good idea.

IronWing, thanks for the suggestions. Noted on both.

 

[Gunslinger08]

I like Pacific Gold pretty well. I prefer a more tender jerky with moderate moisture content. The stuff I've bought online was extremely dry and tough.

 

[IronWing]

I like Pacific Gold pretty well. I prefer a more tender jerky with moderate moisture content. The stuff I've bought online was extremely dry and tough.

Samak, above, is a more moist variety. Fatman's is thin cut and very dry.

 

[Markbnj]

I like Pacific Gold pretty well. I prefer a more tender jerky with moderate moisture content. The stuff I've bought online was extremely dry and tough.

I also like some moisture, but I hate the gelatinous texture of 90% of store-bought jerkies. I want it to feel like slices of beef in the mouth. I've sampled quite a bit more of the four I listed since the OP (stop, I must stop), and the texture/moisture is excellent on all of them.

 

[norseamd]

does amazon sell any pemmican brand beef jerky in large amounts

 

[Anubis]

I really Like blue Ox jerky their sausages are amazing

actually i just ordered some
http://blueoxjerky.com/

 

[jwhorfin]

http://www.nodinesmokehouse.com/

They have Bangers!

 

[Markbnj]

does amazon sell any pemmican brand beef jerky in large amounts

I think they do. I ran across the Pemmican name in a few message threads, but when I looked at it the appearance didn't appeal to me. Seems a little too gelatinous for my taste.

 

[norseamd]

I think they do. I ran across the Pemmican name in a few message threads, but when I looked at it the appearance didn't appeal to me. Seems a little too gelatinous for my taste.

here we go

pemmican brand beef jerky not the real pemmican

real pemmican is probably far more tasteful

thinking about trying some of the real pemmican shit

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_ss...can+beef+jerky

 

[toughtrasher]

Does anyone else heat these up in like a mini-grill or something like I do? I don't know, I just like jerky better when it's hot.

 

[UglyCasanova]

One of my to-do projects this summer is to make good jerky. I've never done it before but it doesn't seem too difficult.

 

[QueBert]

Oberto's Applewood Smoked Bacon Jerkey's GOOOOOOOD! The Jalapeno one's good too but it's kind of overly salty.

 

[Markbnj]

Does anyone else heat these up in like a mini-grill or something like I do? I don't know, I just like jerky better when it's hot.

Ha, not I. At first consideration it makes me go "eeew" a little. But hey, who knows?

 

[John Connor]

OP, is that jerky you ordered softer than Jack Links? I just buy the Jack Links and it's way to hard to chew. I can chew it but with jerky you just want to swallow the shit right away. LOL

My Bro, being the outdoorsmen he is bought a bunch of jerky of all types including alligator jerky. I never tried it but he said it was good. LOL

 

[Markbnj]

OP, is that jerky you ordered softer than Jack Links? I just buy the Jack Links and it's way to hard to chew. I can chew it but with jerky you just want to swallow the shit right away. LOL

My Bro, being the outdoorsmen he is bought a bunch of jerky of all types including alligator jerky. I never tried it but he said it was good. LOL

It's much, much tenderer than Jack Links. The difference is night and day.

 

[LucJoe]

It's much, much tenderer than Jack Links. The difference is night and day.

I would hope so. 2 oz for $15?

 

[Markbnj]

I would hope so. 2 oz for $15?

No, 2 oz. for around $8. It seems pretty much in line with the general pricing for specialty jerkies (i.e., not mass-produced crap).

 

[SunnyD]

I make my own. Find myself a decent London Broil, especially when it's on sale, then it's about 14oz of jerky for about $7, made exactly how I want it made with no crap in it that I don't want.

 

[Markbnj]

I make my own. Find myself a decent London Broil, especially when it's on sale, then it's about 14oz of jerky for about $7, made exactly how I want it made with no crap in it that I don't want.

I'm tempted to do this as well. Have to read up on it a little bit.