Beef Jerky, Its good, Not bad but definitely ugly!

In Australia beef Jerky is growing in popularity and not only is it consumed as a healthy snack but also as a fine accompaniment with a cold beverage. For some time now Biltong has had a strong hold on the meat snack market but more and more businesses are popping up producing great quality American style Jerky.
There seems to be a lot of confusion between American style Beef Jerky and South African Biltong. Beef Jerky unlike Biltong is a dry meat snack made from lean cuts of beef with a very high protein and iron percentage. Many people compare the two but they are very different, Biltong can, in some causes contain up to 50% fat, less protein in the finished product and its drying/flavouring method is completely different. In addition, the reduction is minimal with product in some causes still being very moist. Beef Jerky on the other hand if processed according to the strict food safe guidelines will have well over sixty percent reduction in weight. It should be low in fat, very high in protein and iron and most of all high in flavor.
Making this tasty treat sounds simple but if done correctly it is a very timely process. The meat is sliced thinly with the grain to make it chewy and is trimmed of all fat. Once all the meat is trimmed of fat and sliced it is then marinade and put on drying racks for roughly 12-17 hours. Most businesses will have their own secret Beef Jerky Recipe but others are stock standard. Proper beef jerky has a reduction of 60% or more giving it a stable shelf-life of up to six months. Having this high reduction reduces the water activity, which in return reduces the chance of bacteria growth unlike other moist products such as biltong. If you want a snack that is healthy try to avoid beef jerky and biltong with artificial preservatives, flavor enhancers , fillers (bulking agent to make product weight more) and MSG.
Once product is dried out completely it is then placed in containers to cool down to prevent moisture build up in packaging. This process generally takes one to two hours and then it can be stored until ready to packed and sold retail or wholesale. Always check the expiry date, the production date and the ingredients. Also it very important that your product you purchase is made in an accredited food safe kitchen and the business has a full HACCP plan, if not you may find that this jerky was made in an unhygienic kitchen with no safety plan.
A tip for you when you purchase bulk jerky for storage is to simply put in an airtight container and store in the cupboard. Most people will instantly store their Beef Jerky in the fridge but this causes it to moisten up and in some causes promotes mold.
I hope this has helped and you go online today to purchase your healthy snack and start enjoying a better lifestyle- Geronimo Jerky