Is Beef Jerky Healthy? – 4 Must Know Facts About It

Beef Jerky is one of the popular as well as convenient snack foods. The word ‘Jerky’ is the Quechua word “ch’arki,” meaning dried and salted meat. Read this article to know ‘is beef jerky healthy.’

Beef jerky consists of lean cuts of beef marinated with different sauces, spices, and a variety of other additives. The beef jerky undergoes different processing methods like smoking, curing as well as drying before the final packaging is done for the sale.

It’s still a question among many people ‘is beef jerky healthy’ since it is regarded as a snack food. Jerky is one kind of lead-trimmed meat that is then chopped into various strips followed by drying to prevent spoilage. All that is required for the production of ‘jerky’ is to dry it at a low temperature and salt for inhibition of the growth of the bacteria. At the end of the article, you will have answers to ‘is beef jerky healthy.’

What is the nutritional value of beef jerky?

Beef jerky constitutes good levels of protein. It is also rich in different vitamins as well as minerals which include iron, folate, vitamin B12, phosphorus as well as zinc. The shelf life of it is quite long, and it is considered to be a convenient option since it is portable.

This also contains little amounts of pantothenic acid, molybdenum as well as manganese. If you are curious regarding ‘is beef jerky healthy,’ then this article will brief you about the same.

It is rich in protein as well as low in carbs which makes its nutritional composition quite healthier than most of the other kinds of snack foods and is suitable for different diets like paleo diets as well as low carb.

The presence of minerals such as zinc and iron, which are significant for different functions, including immunity as well as energy level support, is what makes it more healthy. If you have been actively searching about ‘is beef jerky healthy,’ then this article will resolve all your queries.

It is considered an essential option for traveling, backpacking, and other situations because of its long shelf and portability. While traveling, people often have limited access to foods that are rich in protein as well as fresh foods then they can consume beef jerky.

What beef jerky is considered to be healthy?

Beef jerky is regarded as healthy since it is high in vitamins as well as minerals such as:-

• Zinc: 21% of the Daily Value (DV)
• Vitamin B12: 12 % of the DV
• Phosphorus: 9% of the DV
• Folate: 9% of the DV
• Iron: 8% of the DV
• Copper: 7% of the DV
• Choline: 6% of the DV
• Selenium: 5% of the DV
• Potassium: 4% of the DV
• Thiamine: 4% of the DV
• Magnesium: 3% of the DV
• Riboflavin: 3% of the DV
• Niacin: 3% of the DV

At the time of cooking, the elimination of moisture, as well as fat from the meat, makes it richer nutrient-wise. It is a great source of protein without a higher composition of fat; it contains only 1%-3% fat.

You should read this article to know if ‘is beef jerky healthy’. It is a very healthy snack which you can give in the lunch box for your children. It also helps in losing weight since it is rich in protein. If all these components make you go crazy about your weight, here is an article on how to manage your weight using Yoga.

How to choose the right beef jerky?

People often consume beef jerky since it is quite rich in protein, and that’s what makes it healthy. If you have been thinking, ‘is beef jerky healthy ?’ this information might benefit you. But every beef jerky is not the same. Since several beef jerky companies fill their products with MSG, sodium, nitrites, as well as artificial ingredients for preservation and mass production, which lessens its nutritional advantage.

The high content of sodium can cause harm to those whose heart health isn’t strong, individuals who are dealing with high blood pressure, and those who have higher stroke risk—as per the Heart Association, consuming less than 2,300 mg a day is recommended. Individual who is on a diet restricting beef consumption should take care of their consumption of beef jerky.

Some of the beef jerky brands’ products are highly processed. Beef jerky demands simple meat seasoning and processing. It doesn’t require much processing. So it’s very important to choose your beef jerky from a very trusted source. You should purchase beef jerky from a company that makes it with utter hygiene. You won’t feel any health-related consequences. Read this article till the end to know ‘is beef jerky healthy.’

What is the disadvantage of consuming beef jerky?

Although beef jerky is rich in nutrients, its consumption should be done within limits. It contains a higher level of sodium, and an individual should consume 2,300 mg sodium per day. Read this article further to know ‘is beef jerky healthy.’ Higher consumption of sodium-rich food can cause harmful effects on your health, such as stroke risk, higher blood pressure as well as deterioration of your heart health.

People who are on a diet also avoid consuming it because of higher protein content. It is also highly processed, which is not good for health. Studies have shown a significant relationship between diets that are highly processed as well as red meats such as beef jerky which is also prone to different cancers like gastrointestinal cancers.

According to a recent study, dried cured meats such as beef jerky might be infused with some of the toxic substances regarded as mycotoxins, whose production is done by fungi that are growing on the meat. This is one of the reasons why it is prone to cancer.

Can beef jerky be made at home?

You can easily make beef jerky at home. You can also take care of all the different ingredients, especially sodium, while making beef jerky at home. If you have been thinking, ‘is beef jerky healthy’ then this information might benefit you.

To make beef jerky at your home, you can use a lean cut of the beef like top round, flank steak, sirloin tip, the eye of round to chop your beef into some thin slices. After you have chopped it, then marinate your meat in spices, herbs as well as sauces according to your preference. To remove additional marinade, it is recommended to pat the jerky strips followed by placing them in a meat dehydrator at around 68°C to 74°C or 155°F to 165°F.

Depending on how thick your meat is, you should keep it in a meat dehydrator for around 4-5 hours. However, individuals who don’t have a meat dehydrator at home can still do the same thing via an oven at a comparatively lower temperature ranging between 60°C to 75°C or 140°F to 170°F.

You can also dehydrate your meat jerky at room temperature for 24 hours before the packaging is done. It is suggested to freeze your jerky if you do not consume it within a week or so.

Check this YouTube video to know more about how to cook beef jerky at home.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. Is beef jerky effective in losing weight?

A: Beef jerky is rich in protein. Consumption of protein is significant for losing weight since the digestion through it takes place at a slower pace in comparison to carbohydrates. So you are not likely to feel hungry for a longer time. Another benefit of beef jerky is the nil production of insulin, a hormone that provides signals to the body for storing fat.

Q2. Is it jerky processed meat?

A: Some of the processed meat products are canned meat, bacon, lunch meat, sausages, jerky, ham, corned beef, salami, as well as some sauces based on meat. The processing of the meat includes different processes which would change fresh meat, the simple mechanical processes being an exception like mixing, cutting, and grinding.

Q3. Why is beef jerky so expensive?

A: Beef jerky is exorbitant because of the higher cost of raw beef, higher quality of ingredients, non-automation processing as well as the entire process of dehydration. Although the best kind of beef jerky is readily available at the market, it’s quite expensive in comparison to other types of salty snacks.

Q4. Is beef jerky good for keto?

A: Beef jerky is considered to be a great Keto snack due to the presence of high content of protein and lesser amount of carbs. However, most of the jerky is made from lean topside cuts of beef which is not that high in fat. Although if you consume jerky with nuts or cheese, it might increase the fat level in your body.

Q5. How long should beef jerky be marinated?

A: You should keep the whole bag in the refrigerator to completely marinate for 24 hours but not at all fewer than 4 hours. Since the longer you marinate your jerky, the deeper it would be flavored with a tenderizing action. The most reliable process is to freeze it overnight and start the next step, which is to dry after that freezing.

Conclusion

The individuals who lead a very occupied and active lifestyle them finding a suitable snack to keep them fueled can be a daunting task. At the end of the article, you will have answers to ‘is beef jerky healthy. That’s where the consumption of beef jerky comes in.

Beef jerky is high in protein and is non-perishable. It also helps in meeting the protein needs per day. It also helps you to avoid those snacks which are high in carbs. Read this article further to know ‘is beef jerky healthy.’

Beef jerky is also regarded as a powerhouse of protein, having over six gms of protein each serving for filling you up without weighing an individual down. If you have been surfing on the internet ‘is beef jerky healthy’ then this information might benefit you.

Beef jerky is purely made from cutting beef which is followed by drying and curing it are marinating it in seasonings beforehand. Such lean cuts constitute lesser fat as well as carbs. A huge piece of beef jerky constitutes about 82 calories,6.6 grams of protein, 5.1 grams of fat as well as 2.2 grams of carbs. This article would help you know ‘is beef jerky healthy.’