With beef jerky, the flavoring options are endless.
Beef jerky is an incredibly popular snack food, and while it may be high in sodium, it's lean and full of protein. We're experiencing somewhat of a jerky renaissance these days, with companies like Jack Link's and Matador being joined by more out-of-the-box companies like Krave, which was recently purchased by Hershey's and sells jerky in flavors like chili lime and pineapple orange. Here are 10 things you might not know about this popular snack.
Jerky, by definition, is lean meat that's been trimmed of fat, cut into strips, and dried with salt. Both the drying and salting processes prevent spoilage and bacterial growth, and when prepared properly, it can last for months on end. While the sodium level is high, it's still a great protein source, and the possibilities for flavoring are endless.
Today, some less expensive brands of beef jerky are made by finely grinding the meat, mixing it with spices and seasonings, and pressing the resulting paste into strips before drying. Thankfully, there are still plenty of companies -- as well as artisanal producers -- who make jerky the old-fashioned way, using whole muscle meat dried over low heat. Some producers smoke the meat to preserve, dry, and flavor it simultaneously.
Click Here to see 10 Things You Didn't Know About Beef Jerky Slideshow
Jerky exists in one form or another all over the world. In South Africa, biltong is cured with the help of vinegar, salty-sweet bakkwa is popular in China, carne seca is eaten in Mexico, dendeng is dried via frying and is beloved in Indonesia, and jerky is called sukuti in Nepal.
Read on for 10 things you may not have known about beef jerky.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Larry Jacobsen
Beef jerky was invented around 1550 by the Quechua people, who are native to South America.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons/ Christa N
Jerky's first purpose was to provide a way for Native Americans to bring protein-rich food on long journeys.
Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons. Stefano A
The word jerky is an Anglicization of the Native American term charqui, which means "dried meat."
Photo Credit: Flickr/ Ryan Dowd
NASA has been sending astronauts into space with jerky since 1996.
Photo Credit: Flickr/ David Bote
Jerky can be made with just about any protein, and is available in turkey, pork, salmon, elk, moose, and many more varieties.
Support HuffPost
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
At HuffPost, we believe that everyone needs high-quality journalism, but we understand that not everyone can afford to pay for expensive news subscriptions. That is why we are committed to providing deeply reported, carefully fact-checked news that is freely accessible to everyone.
Whether you come to HuffPost for updates on the 2024 presidential race, hard-hitting investigations into critical issues facing our country today, or trending stories that make you laugh, we appreciate you. The truth is, news costs money to produce, and we are proud that we have never put our stories behind an expensive paywall.
Would you join us to help keep our stories free for all? Your contribution of as little as $2 will go a long way.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you’ll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.