Best Beef Jerky

How to spot only the best beef jerky products available.

With so many different types of jerky on the market, you shouldn't have to settle for low-quality junk. There are too many good products out there for you to compromise. YOU DESERVE BETTER! Just because a product is placed in your face at every checkout line at every grocery store and gas station doesn't mean that it must be a good product. In cases like this, the deep pockets of big companies has more to do with products getting in front of you than the quality of their products ever would. If you are able to think further than the marketing strategy of the "big guys" you can find the best beef jerky for your buck.  Here are some obvious (and not-so obvious) things to look for to steer you away from the junk!

1.  Made in the U.S.A.!

This is a big indicator of quality for the best beef jerky products. And believe it or not...it can be worded in a way to make you think the product is made in the U.S.A when it really is not. Sound crazy? It is crazy! And it's true!

When products are actually made in the U.S.A., they are required, BY LAW, to comply with federal regulations of safety, meat handling, health and hygiene, packaging, and a whole host of strict rules. This is to ensure the safety and quality of all products manufactured for your consumption. Well, believe it or not, many of the products you see in the grocery stores and gas stations ARE NOT MADE IN THE U.S.A.! If you are a pet owner, you probably have heard all of the warnings of feeding your pet treats that are made outside of the U.S.A.. If you aren't supposed to feed your pets stuff that is made out of the U.S.A., why in the World would you feed yourself something made outside of the U.S.A.? Our suggestion: ONLY BUY PRODUCTS THAT PROUDLY STATE: MADE IN THE U.S.A.!!!

But be careful!  This isn't as easy as you think!  Some companies who have their products made outside of the U.S., use clever wording to imply the products are made in the U.S. when they are not! Be on the lookout for "Packaged in the U.S.A.".  When you see this, this usually means the products are imported (in bulk) in to the U.S.A. and then merely packaged up and bagged in a USDA inspected facility in the U.S.A.!  By doing this, the manufacturing facility (where the jerky is actually made) isn't required BY LAW to uphold to the standards that you are used to expecting by products made in the U.S.A..  Sometimes clever wording is used to say the products are manufactured in a facility that would pass USDA inspection, should it be inspected. But, the truth is, they will never pass USDA inspection because the USDA does not have jurisdiction outside of the U.S.!  And they know they will never be able to truly back that claim up. It's impossible! Just remember: "Packaged in the U.S.A." in a USDA inspected facility is NOT the same as "Made in the U.S.A." in a USDA inspected facility.

Key Take-Away #1: To get the best beef jerky around, insist on buying ONLY products that are explicitly marked "Made in the U.S.A." - Not "Packaged in the U.S.A." or any other variation. ONLY "Made in the U.S.A."! Got it?!  FYI - ALL products sold on Jerky.com are proudly Made in the U.S.A.!

2.  Quality of Ingredients

Obviously, the quality of the ingredients makes or breaks any food product.  And for the most part, this can be subjective.  For all intensive purposes, we suggest products with only all-natural ingredients as a key indicator of the best beef jerky products available.  Granted, this doesn't ensure the best possible tasting product...BUT...it is usually an indication of the overall quality of the product...and the manufacturer's commitment to quality.  All-natural ingredients are more expensive than ingredients that are not...so this is usually an indication that the manufacturer prefers to pay more for quality ingredients than to "cut corners" with cheaper alternatives. So, if the product you are looking at has ingredients that you can't pronounce or spell without looking at them letter-by-letter...the jerky probably isn't even in the running for the best beef jerky on the market.

Also, our preference and criteria for the best beef jerky are for products without preservatives. Now, this may make or break a purchase for some consumers, but we have had very good jerky products that have preservatives in them, and they are common in the marketplace.  But, we still maintain that only products that are made without added preservatives can be considered the best beef jerky.

Key take-away #2: Look for only all-natural ingredients, preferably without preservatives!

Summary


At the end of the day, we'd like you to buy Jerky.com brand products (which are all made in the U.S.A.! and of the highest quality ingredients on the market!). But, if you don't buy Jerky.com products, we want you to buy something that gets you the best bang for your buck. Sure, you can go get the cheap junk and get more quantity for your buck. The best beef jerky will NEVER be able to compete with the cheap junk on price. But, if you want a better quality of a product than the mass produced stuff, look for the things we listed above when making your purchase and the chances of you finding the best beef jerky for you have already been exponentially increased! You'll thank us later!

Shop U.S. made jerky of the highest quality ingredients!