How to smoke meat for the beginners
Do you love to eat jerky? If you live in Australia, you cannot avoid it. It is one snack that is popular and enjoyed by Australians all through the year. You can have it as a small snack at a picnic or serve it as finger food at a party. Having jerky in your backpack while you are hiking can give you a great energy boost. It is the perfect practical snack as it is low in fat and high in protein and has a long shelf life. It is delicious and nutritious; moreover, you can get it in different flavors. But, like everything else in life, jerky is best for you when you don’t overdo it!
What Is Jerky?
Jerky is marinated and seasoned meat that is cut into strips and dried. The drying process may vary and can take up to 15 hours. In Australia, traditionally jerky has been both mass-produced by big companies as well as made by small businesses. Since jerky does not last very long if left open, it is best to buy in smaller bags. When buying jerky, make sure that it retains its original color, smells meaty, and has no signs of mold formation.
Buying The Best Jerky
Australia is full of jerky producers. You can buy the best jerky online or in stores. If you want to buy the best, then you need to choose good quality brands. Several brands of jerky are available in the market, which is made from low-quality meat and contains preservatives and additives. These are unhealthy, and you should avoid them.
By spending a little more on a good quality product, you get something which is worthwhile such as ones that are organically and ethically processed.
Tips For Buying Good Quality Jerky
So, you want to buy jerky in Australia. Where do you buy it? Online or offline? How do you choose? These are some considerations that you can keep in mind while buying jerky.
Texture: you can get tougher, drier jerky, or try a softer, tender style. Generally, jerky is put into 3 broad categories to make it easier for people to choose.
- Old-fashioned: very hard
- Traditional: not too hard and not too soft
- Soft & tender: easy to chew and not dry.
Flavors: many people don’t care about texture and only look for the right flavor. Some of the most common and popular flavors are
- Basic
- Sweet
- Savory
- Hot
Raw Ingredients: look at the product closely to see what all is in there. Choose an all-natural product. Avoid jerky, which has preservatives. You must read the label carefully and understand the fine print.
Nutrition: jerky is a good source of lean protein and quite healthy. Try to find a product made from meat that is free from hormones and comes from grass-fed sources. Some jerky contains excess sugar and sodium, and it is best to avoid it.
Top Australian Jerky Producing Companies
Though people’s tastes may differ, some companies have been producing high-quality jerky which makes it easy for others to pick the one as per their taste. It is ideal to look for the best jerky companies that produce high-quality products consistently.
The Biltong Man
They make high-quality jerky using traditional family recipes and deliver delicious flavors with hints of black pepper, coriander, and many other herbs. It is excellent for people with low levels of iron in the blood and can fight anemia.
Bald Rock Beef Jerky
They only use grass-fed and free-range cattle meat for the jerky. The meat is dried and marinated using a traditional drying process to preserve the natural flavors.
Bigwig Jerky
Bigwig Jerky Company is the best place to find the best beef jerky in Australia. It is a high-quality jerky marinated in its proprietary blend of spices. It is air-dried for at least 24 hours, and the result is a mouth-watering jerky to die for.
Jim’s Jerky
It is made with meat raised and processed under the strictest standards. Moreover, they ensure the highest level of animal welfare and humane treatment of livestock. The Jim’s jerky company is well known for its wide variety of jerkies
Bulk Beef Jerky
If you are looking to buy your jerky in bulk, then check out bulkbeefjerky.com.au. Bulk Beef Jerky Australia is one of the cheapest places to buy large quantities of jerky online. With a minimum order size of 1kg it is quite a lot of jerky but by buying in bulk you save good money. We recommend getting your friends together and all chipping in on your next bulk jerky order.
Noosa Jerky Co.
A popular holiday destination for many in Australia is Noosa in Queensland. Surrounded by national parks and rainforest, the Noosa region produces many quality artisanal products, and Noosa Jerky Co. is one of them. Using local ingredients, Noosa Jerky Co has 2 main products; Finger Lime and Chilli, and Cracked Pepper + Smoked Salt. Check out their website at noosajerky.com.au for more info
Apart from these, there are many other companies that make top-quality jerky in Australia. A few are listed below.
- Bigwig Jerky
- Empire Jerky
- Riverina
- Bullbar Beef Jerky
- Heavenly jerky
- BulkBeefJerky.com.au
- Kev’s jerky
- Ironhide jerky
- Mad cow jerky
- Barossa fine foods
- Noosa Jerky Co.
Conclusion
Jerky has come a long way from the time it was limited to salty, leathery, preservatives laden meat sticks. You may now get jerky made after various protein bases, which includes chicken, turkey, wild game meats, fish, apart from beef. Different flavors also add to the deliciousness of jerky, such as sweet, barbecue, spicy, smoky, etc. Jerky is not only all about the taste but also offers a great healthy snack choice. Many Australian companies are using modern technology, while others are using traditional methods to make various jerkies. Selecting the best jerky is easy if you know what you want.
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