Beef Jerky: Any Recommendations???

[rmomjian]

This may seem off topic but it's not. I, like most of us, am always on the hunt for a variety of protein-based food(s) I can easily eat while at work, on the go, etc. (between meals). In addition to tuna, cottage cheese, etc. I eat beef jerky (and love it).

I figure if I'm going to eat so much of the stuff, mind as well make it good. But the basic beef jerky at my local supermarkets are rarely that good. I'm sure there are some folks out there who specialize in making the stuff.

Do you guys know of any stores out there across the U.S. that specialize in making beef jerky and that do it well (meaning, lean meat, high protein, etc... the kind of stuff we would want) and that also accept orders to the west coast?

Any and all recommendations are welcomed.

[fatjoe]

http://www.linksnacks.com/
these taste great. They are in 7-11 near me. I like the Beef Steak - pepper steak. In 7-11 they are 2oz and on the site it shows 1oz. I'm certain it showed 2oz a month ago.

2 oz peppered beef steak - 120 calories 2g fat 4g carb 22g protein


making it yourself is supposed to be cheaper.

[NuclearArms]

Try your local butcher or auction/market. You may be surprised.

[Nikonguy]

It is way simple to make at home too. I use venison (deer) but lean beef will do just fine in your oven. You can controll the salt and additives at home.

[erod13]

vitamin shop and gnc sell ostrich jerky, its delicious, has several flavors, and nutrition wise its supposed to be better than beef jerky. I buy a box of the stuff (around $15) for 12 or 14 pieces(I forget how many) and keep them in my locker @work.
Ed

[crazycelt]

I order mine online through americangrassfedbeef.com. They make a great low sodium jerky, which I found to be one of the best!

[TDetroit]

In Michigan. On I-75, I just the the Beef jerky superstore or something like that. It is south of Gaylord, north of Saginaw. Sorry I can't narrow it down more than that.
They claim to have the largest selection of jerky in America. Hard to believe a store in the middle of no where can make that claim and be true, but they claim it.

Easy to make on your own, check the "As seen on TV" store for equipment. Ask the butcher about equipment.

[SR800]

You are in California so you have some great hunting opportunities. All you need is a food dehydrator. I have made jerky from deer and turkey. Umm Umm Good!

[V-240]

If you don't feel like killing anything yourself and you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's, they have the best prices on decent beef jerky and also turkey jerky. Great stuff.

[fatjoe]

If you don't feel like killing anything yourself and you live anywhere near a Trader Joe's, they have the best prices on decent beef jerky and also turkey jerky. Great stuff.

There is a TJ's about 50 min by from my apartment and I might check that out next weekend and compare the taste/price to the Jacks Links I currently eat. which beef jerky products are good at TJ's? How much do they cost in Cali?

[deerhearse]

venison, in my opinion, makes the best jerky and if you hunt and process your own deer like I do, you'll have plenty of lean meat to make jerky or steaks out of.

There are recipes for making it at home...just search the web...either in a dehydrator or your oven. Just remember, if using your oven, you are using it to DRY the meat, not BAKE it...lowest temp (160ish) with door about 1 inch open at top for the moisture to escape....drying time for 1/4 inch thick jerky strips by oven method varies from 3-4 hours (dry cure) to 4-8 hours for marinade cured meat. I package mine in small ziplock bags, and store in freezer until I take one out for work or hunting or whatever.

I make teryaki, regular and black walnut smoked venison jerky's...mmmm!

Do a web search...lots of good info out there...plus you control the quality of the product without extra preservatives!

Good luck!

[crazycelt]

Try your local butcher or auction/market. You may be surprised.

Anyone in Cleveland you recommend?

[rsheele]

It is way simple to make at home too. I use venison (deer) but lean beef will do just fine in your oven. You can controll the salt and additives at home.

X2
http://www.askthemeatman.com/how_to_...dated_9300.htm

I have since run out of free time but I used to love to make my own jerky. I felt very 'mountain manish'.

[V-240]

There is a TJ's about 50 min by from my apartment and I might check that out next weekend and compare the taste/price to the Jacks Links I currently eat. which beef jerky products are good at TJ's? How much do they cost in Cali?

D'oh!! I was just in TJ's today and forgot to check. Worse, I forgot to get some!

[NuclearArms]

Anyone in Cleveland you recommend?

Best I've had in the area is a vendor, need some time get the name, is out at the Geauga Fairground. I'll look it up by weekend.

[rotlex]

Try your local butcher or auction/market. You may be surprised.

Ditto - My wife makes a weekly trip to the local farmers market and picks up this, along with a lot of other good stuff. What I like best is everything is fresh, nitrate free, and DAMN tasty!

[jgbuf]

I make my own jerky--I have a plentiful supply of elk, deer and antelope in my freezer. I have yet found any store bought jerky that comes close to matching the flazor of homemade.

[tomdana]

Costco sales O berta beef jerky. Pepper variety tastes great.

[c502cid]

Might surprise you but the Walmart store brand beef jerky is pretty good stuff. Not like making it yourself but it is actually pretty good.

[Alphy]

Just came across these, thought it may be of interest:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/iron.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/protos/jerkee.html

[rmomjian]

Just came across these, thought it may be of interest:

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/acc/iron.html

http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/protos/jerkee.html

this is funny... never knew bb.com sold this type of stuff

thanks to all

will try different things and go from there

[Alphy]

this is funny... never knew bb.com sold this type of stuff

thanks to all

will try different things and go from there

Me either. I was actually checking out some of the protein pudding and somehoe came across the jerky as well. Time to order some new snacks!

[V-240]

There is a TJ's about 50 min by from my apartment and I might check that out next weekend and compare the taste/price to the Jacks Links I currently eat. which beef jerky products are good at TJ's? How much do they cost in Cali?

I was just at TJ's today and they now have Buffalo Jerky, along with the beef and turkey. The prices range from $3.50 to $5.00 a pop.

Edit: Slightly OT, they also have this great eggplant hummus, which I highly recommend. I'm not even an eggplant fan, but am a hummus fan so I tried it. Good stuff!

[rmomjian]

wow... old thread has been resurrected....

as an update from my end.... tried the jerky on BB.com.... sad to say it was horrible. (to bb.com's credit, they were willing to refund me for the pkgs i have not opened yet). I am going to go ahead and finish them off anyway, since the protein is there. but, next time i'm going to try some from tj's and see how those work.

[V-240]

I did resurrect this old thread to answer a question I couldn't answer until today. I'm thorough to a fault sometimes!

ROFL, what we do for our protein! Only bb.com regulars would eat something we deem as horrible, even with the possibility of a refund, just to get the protein we need. Ain't it great?

[pnycar69]

You are in California so you have some great hunting opportunities. All you need is a food dehydrator. I have made jerky from deer and turkey. Umm Umm Good!

I thought in California you are only allowed to hunt Quayle and Bush?

[Alphy]

I just got some of this in pepper:
http://www.bodybuilding.com/store/protos/jerkee.html

Its not too bad. Taste like slimjims but with more meat in it. Heck my g/f loves it and she usually hates everything. Guess it depends on the person and what they consider "horrible"

[FlyingDan]

I see a lot of jerky that has MSG in it, Is this something we want to try to avoid?

[rmomjian]

I thought in California you are only allowed to hunt Quayle and Bush?

reps for that...

[GSCampbell]

Mmmmmmmmm Jerky!