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Sustainability in Beef Production: Is Australian Beef the Answer?
It seems the topic of sustainability has encroached upon just about every aspect of public life in recent years, and for good reason. The free and open flow of information on the internet has given consumers a great deal of power to make more informed choices in what they buy, and so industries can no longer ignore the demand for responsible manufacturing and production practices. People care about where the things they buy come from, and in no other industry is this more important than in the food industry. Livestock agriculture adds another element to the mix—animal welfare. It's not enough to only deal with issues of climate change, greenhouse gas emissions, land use and its environmental impacts, consumers want to know that the animals that become their food are treated well and have a good life before they end up on our plates. This puts a lot of pressure on the livestock industry to conform to a range of industry practices and regulations to ensure that producers are acting in both a sustainable and ethical manner. Those that do, however, are awarded accreditation with industry bodies such as MSA Australian beef grades. What are the benefits to buying local produce? There are many benefits to spending your money on local produce. For starters, it's always good to support the local economy, but more importantly, it helps to reduce the carbon footprint that is created from getting your food from paddock to plate. Transporting food across global supply chains requires a lot of energy use that can otherwise be avoided by shopping locally instead. That's just one of the reasons why The Jerky Co only uses locally sourced MSA beef to make the best Australian beef jerky. Keeping it local also helps to ensure a higher level of animal welfare. There are parts of the world that still engage in egregious farming practices, where producers simply don't care about the welfare of their animals and therefore don't treat them with the care that they deserve. We've all seen the tragic videos of animals being severely mistreated which led to temporary bans on live exports. We're not saying that's standard practice among all overseas livestock industries, but there is zero accountability among those who do engage in that kind of behaviour. When we buy local beef for our air dried meat products, we're helping to maintain ethical and sustainable beef production where cattle enjoy fresh and open pastures rather than being cooped up and fed a grain diet. Is beef production sustainable? There have been many questions asked about the sustainability of livestock production, particularly in the beef industry as cattle production is a significant contributor of GHG emissions—particularly methane production. However, Australian scientists have found a way to address this situation and significantly reduce these emissions. It was recently discovered that a particular strain of native Australian seaweed greatly reduces methane production in the digestive system of cows when it is added to their feed. This new and exciting feed production method is currently being rolled out globally in an effort to potentially reduce methane emissions from cows by up to 80%. While some people may wish to see an end to beef cattle production, the reality of the situation is that over a billion people on this planet rely on meat production for their livelihoods. And with a constantly expanding global population, food production will continue to rely more and more heavily on beef as a source of protein. The answer, therefore, isn't to roll back beef consumption and production, but instead to ensure beef sustainability through science and technology. The improvement of beef-production systems has played a huge role in lifting millions, if not billions of people out of poverty by making cheap, nourishing meat available to as many people as possible. This has played a key role in advancing human health and wellbeing around the globe, so while there are challenges to overcome in terms of its environmental impact, it's important that we continue to make beef available to as many people as possible. We're extremely fortunate to have an abundance of readily available beef here in Australia, so it's incumbent on us to support sustainable food systems. When you buy any of our products such beef jerky, beef biltong or droewors, you can be assured that your money is going towards supporting local and sustainable beef producers. Not only is this good for the livestock sector, but it's good for you too, as you're eating a higher quality food product than one that doesn't source sustainable ingredients. Enjoy sustainably sourced, local MSA-grade air dried meat So, is the meat industry sustainable in Australia? Absolutely yes, it is, but it's up to all of us to keep it sustainable by supporting responsible businesses. To check out our range of delicious and sustainable MSA grade dried meats, buy beef jerky online by clicking the 'shop now' tab. Enjoy!
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Ideas For Your Next Grazing Table (Feat. Beef Jerky & Biltong!)
You've heard of the grazing board but have you heard of the grazing table? If you've got a big get-together coming up and you want to impress your guests, forget about those pre-made serving platters and try turbo charging this humble snack serving idea into your party's pièce de résistance! So what is a grazing table? Well, you can probably take a guess at this one. A grazing table is essentially an elevated cheeseboard on a larger scale. Instead of using individual cheese boards, it uses an entire table top to serve an array of cheeses and snacks. A grazing table can feed a large amount of people, and provides a great opportunity for people to gather and share food together. A well executed grazing table is truly the grazing platter to end all grazing platters. It seems awfully messy, why would I want to do this? Firstly, because they look amazing. If you're putting on a big party or you're even organising a baby shower or wedding reception, it's great to create a bit of theatre with the food that you're serving. Having the host walk around with a nice charcuterie board is all well and good, but if you really want the food to be the centrepiece, this is the way to do it. By using a whole table top as your grazing table, you're effectively giving yourself a nice big canvas to create a stunning culinary centrepiece. Although some cleaning is required after the event, using a grazing table is less cumbersome than dealing with multiple dishes and utensils that may not fit in the dishwasher or are difficult to wash by hand. What are some grazing table ideas for my next party? They're basically just oversized cheese boards, so really you can put anything you want on them. A typical grazing board will usually have the following components: Cheeses such as cheddar, brie, mozzarella, swiss etc Crackers and pretzels Dips Meats, including cured meats and other deli meats Fresh fruits of your choice, e.g. grapes, cherries and strawberries Dried fruits such as apricots and figs Veggies; cherry tomatoes, celery sticks, carrot sticks etc Sweet treats such as chocolate, sweet coated nuts etc Of course, this wouldn't be a Jerky Co blog without suggesting some of our delicious air dried meats now, would it? Simple grazing tables with mostly store bought ingredients are fine, but if you want to really impress your guests then it's definitely worth exploring some gourmet options. Why throw on some rolled up ham slices when you could instead put on a handful of our fatty beef biltong? Or better yet, our exotic truffle biltong? Instead of slices of deli-bought roast beef, you could try adding some of our delicious Great Southern Outback Spiced beef jerky. We have a tonne of jerky and biltong options that will work with any of your other ingredients. If your platter is loaded with savoury ingredients such as olives, vegetables and strong cheeses, then perhaps some Sweet BBQ beef jerky will help to break it up a little bit. On the flipside, say you've got a lot of fruit and other sweet ingredients on your grazing table, our smokey or chilli flavoured jerky options would work well to balance the flavours out. Can I DIY a grazing table? Yes, that's the beauty of grazing tables. While there are specialised companies that offer grazing table setup services, you can also easily create one yourself for full customisation. This allows you to be creative and add your own unique touch in terms of both flavours and presentation. You can even opt for an all-desserts table. Ensure you have on hand the right sized table for your event and the number of guests. You can lay down flat serving boards across the entire table top as a base for the food. All that is left to do is purchase your ingredients, and display them nicely on the table shortly before your guests arrive.  Other DIY grazing table tips and tricks: Plan ahead: Make sure to plan the grazing table layout, including the type and amount of food you will serve. Consider dietary restrictions and food allergies of your guests. Variety is key: Offer a variety of sweet and savory options, including cheese, meats, crackers, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and dips. Visual appeal: Create a visually appealing display by using different heights and textures. Use wooden boards, baskets, and serving platters to add depth and interest to the table. Balance flavors: Balance flavors by pairing strong cheeses with sweet or mild fruits, and salty crackers with creamy dips. Label ingredients: Label the food items and ingredients clearly to help guests with allergies and dietary restrictions. Keep it fresh: Make sure to keep perishable items like fruits and cheese chilled until ready to serve. Space it out: Space out the food items to make it easier for guests to reach and try everything. Have utensils ready: Make sure to have utensils such as knives, serving spoons, and toothpicks readily available. Consider the time of day: Offer different types of food based on the time of day. For example, lighter options for lunch and more substantial options for dinner. How many people can a grazing table cater for? A grazing table can accommodate any number of guests, as it can be customised to fit your needs. The advantage of a grazing table is that all the food is displayed on one large table, making it easier to estimate the amount of food needed and reducing waste. By having a well-sized table to accommodate for your number of guests, you can avoid having excessive leftovers that will eventually go to waste. Elevate your grazing table with beef jerky and biltong! If you've got a function coming up and you think a grazing table might be the way to go, head over to the online store and have a look at our wide variety of beef jerky and biltong products. You'll find every flavour you need to fulfill all your grazing table ideas for a night of nibbles your guests won't soon forget.
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The Best High Protein Keto Snacks
The silly season is coming to an end, and we all know what that means—it's time to try to convince ourselves and our friends that this year we're definitely sticking to our new year's resolutions. These new year resolutions inevitably take the form of 'read more, drink less and lose weight'. And while there's not much we can do to help with the first two, we can definitely help you out with that third goal. With new year's resolutions fresh on people's minds, it's a great time to start exploring different diet options, and one that has been enjoying some popularity in recent years is the keto diet. Now, we're not dieticians, so we're not advocating for any particular diet. That is something for you to explore, preferably with the help of an expert, but if that is the path you're going down, you're going to want to know about high protein keto snacks. What is keto? It's an extremely low-carb diet that aims to force the body into a state of ketosis. This is a metabolic state in which the body is deprived of carbohydrates, forcing it to draw on your fat reserves for energy. It's therefore seen by some to be a very effective way to lose weight.* *Results vary, and we do not recommend undertaking this diet without guidance from a qualified doctor or dietician. How is ketosis achieved? It's achieved by eliminating carbs from your diet, such as breads, grains and sugars. It also involves keeping a very close eye on other foods such as milk, broccoli and other vegetables as they also contain small amounts of carbs. Instead, high protein foods form the basis of the diet, including foods that are rich in healthy fats. Ultimately it's a pretty restrictive diet because after eliminating all foods with carbs, you're really only left with meat, eggs, cheese, nuts and vegetables. People therefore need to get creative with recipes and snacks to keep their food interesting. So let's take a look at some delicious high protein low carb keto snacks that you can use to keep your diet fresh and interesting. Veggie sticks with nut butter Using veggies like carrots, celery and capsicum as sticks for dipping has always been a staple at parties, but most dips aren't keto-friendly snacks. However, replacing regular dips with peanut butter, cashew butter, or almond butter will make this snack suitable for a keto diet. Nut butters are a good source of healthy fats, making them a great keto snack. Just be sure to check the label of the nut butter that it contains 100% nuts with no added sugar. Keto sushi rolls As you can probably imagine, these are just like regular sushi rolls but without the rice. Fish is a great source of protein and healthy fats, so simply fill your seaweed sheets with fresh veggies and smoked salmon or another protein of your choice and you have a delicious keto snack. Just be careful with marinades and dipping sauces as some of them do contain sugars. Beef jerky Is beef jerky keto compatible? You betcha! Provided it's good quality, real beef jerky made from MSA grade topside beef, then it is absolutely compatible with the keto diet. Many store bought beef jerky brands do not make keto suitable products though. Check out our blog on beef jerky vs candy jerky to learn the difference. Candy jerkies are often full of sugar and other additives so it's essential you avoid them and instead stick to the proper stuff. How much protein is in beef jerky? There are almost 7 grams of protein in every 10 grams of beef jerky, so it's one of the best high protein low carb snacks available. In fact, whatever diet you may be on, beef jerky is the perfect snack when you're trying to achieve weight loss or boost your protein intake. Hard-boiled eggs It's a humble snack, but it gets the job done. There's really no nonsense when it comes to hard-boiled eggs. Protein-rich and full of healthy fats, eggs are a healthy addition to anyone’s diet. Sprinkled with a little sea salt, or perhaps dipped in your favourite hot sauce, it's as pure a snack as you can have. Greek yoghurt with fruit, nuts and pumpkin seeds You do have to be a little careful with this one if you're on a keto diet. Fruits are generally high in sugars, however there are a handful which are considered keto-friendly. These include strawberries, raspberries, blueberries and blackberries. Add a sprinkle of nuts and seeds and this makes for a delicious breakfast or snack, as well as boosting your protein and calcium intake. Shop our Keto-friendly beef jerky online now! Whether you’re going full blown keto, or are just on the hunt for some healthy, filling snacks, we hope this article has helped you. As long as you opt for low carb ingredients, there are plenty of ways you can put together high protein snacks that are compatible with a keto diet. Here at The Jerky Co, we pride ourselves on making high quality beef jerky and biltong products that won't conflict with your dietary requirements, so jump on our online store and grab yourself a delicious snack that won't ruin your new year's resolution!
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Our Top Picks For Christmas Gifts in 2022!
Can you believe it's Christmas already?! It certainly feels to us like 2022 has been a particularly short year—might have something to do with the last two years! But hey, the silly season is upon us so why not avoid the last minute mad rush and get all your Christmas shopping out of the way now? Everybody loves Christmas food gifts, and luckily we're all stocked up and ready to get our delicious jerky into your loved ones' stomachs! We reckon we've got something for everybody here at The Jerky Co, so let's take a look at some 2022 Christmas gift ideas to please the meat eater in your life. The Gym Junkie - Traditional Jerky For the gym junkie, there is only one thing that matters, and that is protein. The gym junkie is way too focused on his or her macros to pay any attention to flavour or style. Delicate flavours are of no interest when it's all about the gains. So, with 60g of protein per 100g bag, our Traditional Jerky is the perfect gift idea for your active friend or family member. The Craft Beer Snob - Smokey Jerky The craft beer snob can be quite difficult when it comes to food because he or she clearly has extremely sophisticated taste, however, it's important not to overwhelm the palette when there are Belgian Trappists and barrel-aged German Saisons that require the drinker's full attention. It's therefore a delicate balance between stroking their ego with some interesting flavours but without upsetting the palette. This is what makes Smokey Jerky the perfect choice for the craft beer snob. There aren't any palette killing flavours, however, the smokey flavour will give them the perfect opportunity to impress everybody with their knowledge of hickory and mesquite smoke. The Adventurer - Sweet BBQ Jerky Trail Mix If there's one thing an outdoorsy person loves as much as a sunset selfie from the top of a rocky outcrop, it's a good trail mix. And it just so happens that in our previous Beef Trail Mix Recipe blog we took a look at some trail mix recipes that use our various flavours of beef jerky. We reckon the Sweet BBQ trail mix will be a huge hit with your trail hiking family member or friend, and plus, who doesn't love a thoughtful DIY gift?! The Foodie - Exotic Truffle Fatty Biltong The foodie wants everybody to know that there are no half measures when it comes to putting on an exquisite culinary experience for friends. For those who like the finer things in life, our Exotic Truffle Fatty Beef Biltong is a great gift for the foodie you know. Because what foodie doesn't like truffle? The Chilli Hero - Red Hot Reaper Beef Jerky There's one in every family. That one person who just has to drench everything in hot sauce and then sit there stoically pretending not to have overdone it. Give them the ultimate chilli challenge this Christmas day with our Red Hot Reaper Beef Jerky. With a fiery hit of reaper chilli, this one is not for the faint hearted. The BBQ Boss - King of the Q Bundle The BBQ boss has to make sure that all bases are covered when it comes to putting on a meaty feast. The epic King of The Q Bundle includes loads of beef jerky varieties, as well as our delicious Poppa Porky’s pork crackle, and two types of dry rub for the perfect BBQ main course! The Grey Nomad - Great Southern Outback Spiced Jerky Once the holiday season is over, the caravan dwellers will be itching to hit the road again. The grey nomad loves the Australian outback experience, and a big part of that is the bush tucker, so why not incorporate that in your Christmas present ideas? Great Southern Outback Spiced Beef Jerky is our latest creation and perfectly captures the flavours of our great southern land. The Risk Taker - Who Dares Wins Beef Jerky One in five pieces in each pack of ‘Who Dares Wins’ is loaded with a fiery Reaper Chilli punch in our Russian Roulette Jerky challenge. It's Xmas night, you've all had a few drinks, the board games and card games are out and it's time for a laugh. The loser of each round takes a piece of Jerky from the Who Dares Wins packet and hilarity ensues! Just make sure there is plenty of iced water on hand! The 'Cover All Bases' Gift Giver - Meat Lover's Bubbles and Beef Bundle Sometimes it's just too hard to know what to get somebody, so with our Meat Lover's Bubbles and Beef Bundle, you get a bit of everything—a selection of beef jerky varieties, a bottle of bubbles, and everybody's favourite...a couple of pairs of socks. But they're not just any old pair, The Jerky Co socks make for a delightfully unique gift. Shop Our Range Of Gifts This Christmas Online Now! Our online store is stocked up and ready to sort out all your beef jerky Christmas gifts. Or, you can pop into any of our 17 locations across WA. Whether you're after a few small stocking stuffers or more substantial gift bundles like our Hunter & Gatherer Bundle, we've got all the best gift ideas covered this festive season. From all of us here at The Jerky Co, we wish you all the happiest of Christmases. Fill your bellies with delicious food (and jerky!), enjoy the company of your loved ones, and make sure to unwind with a glass of bubbles or a nice cold beer. See you in 2023!
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Recipe: Beef Jerky Trail Mix
There are loads of snack options for the health conscious, and what all good snacks have in common is that they're a good energy boost and often high in protein and healthy fats. Foods such as nuts, peanut butter, beef jerky or biltong, dried fruits and even dark chocolate are all very popular among those who enjoy a good snack but are keen to avoid junk food. One of the ultimate snack foods is a good trail mix. Why? Because it combines the most popular snack foods together and turns it all into one delicious, high energy, high protein, low carbohydrate super snack. It's sweet, it's savoury, it's rich, it's super satisfying, and ideal for after the gym, on a hike, an addition to your cheeseboard or simply a handful as an afternoon snack. However, there is one thing missing from regular store-bought trail mix, and that's beef jerky. Beef jerky in itself is something of a super food. It's extremely high in protein, low in fat and very low in carbs. It also comes in multiple flavours, which means if you're using it to add to something like a homemade trail mix, you can be creative with flavours to get the perfect balance. A healthy trail mix is a relatively simple thing to make, but with the addition of beef jerky, you can still get a little bit creative in finding the balance of flavours and textures that best suits your palette. Let's take a look at a couple of recipes, starting off with a basic savoury mix. Savoury If you're more of a savoury person, it's best to stick mainly to these kinds of ingredients. The following recipe should hit all the right parts of your palette while giving you exactly the energy and protein hit you need. 1/2 cup chopped traditional beef jerky 3/4 cup salted peanuts 3/4 cup smoked almonds 1/2 cup sunflower seeds 1/2 cup pumpkin seeds 3/4 cup dried raisins or sultanas 3/4 cup pretzels 1/2 cup popcorn Simply mix it all up in a big bowl and divide up into zip lock bags or or small, airtight containers. Sweet If you have a sweet tooth then you may like to focus a bit more on dried fruits and other sweet ingredients. One rule, though: don't be that person who just picks out all the good bits and leaves the rest for everybody else! 1/2 cup chopped sweet BBQ beef jerky 3/4 cup cashews 3/4 cup chopped pecans 1 cup pumpkin seeds 1/2 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup chopped dried apricots 1/2 cup dried banana chips 1 cup dried coconut flakes 1/4 cup chopped 70% dark chocolate 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon Toast your coconut flakes in a frypan over a low-medium heat for 3-5 minutes. Add all ingredients to a big bowl, except for the beef jerky. This is because we want the cinnamon to focus mostly on the other ingredients. Once you add the jerky to the mix there will be some inevitable mixing, but ideally, most of the cinnamon should be on the other ingredients. Spicy Spice in a trail mix is an often neglected option that can otherwise add that hit of flavour. By adding some spicy flavours you can really add some heat to your trail mix, and as an added bonus, your friends that have zero tolerance to chilli certainly won't be stealing it any time soon! 1/2 cup chopped texan beef jerky 3/4 cup cashews 3/4 cup almonds 1 cup pumpkin seeds 3/4 cup dried cranberries 1/2 cup chopped chilli dark chocolate 1/4 cup wasabi peas (optional) 1 tbsp dried chilli flakes (adjusted to taste) A good way to get the chilli flakes to stick to the other ingredients is to lightly toast the pumpkin seeds and the nuts in a frying pan with just a touch of olive oil. Add the chilli flakes while toasting and the heat and oil should combine all the ingredients nicely. You can play with spices depending on your taste preferences as well. This recipe also works well with toasted cumin seeds, smokey paprika or cajun seasoning. You can also sub out our classic texan jerky for our delicious limited edition flavour — great southern outback spiced jerky. Or, create your own recipe! These are just a few easy examples of beef jerky trail mix recipes that shouldn't take more than about 5 minutes to put together. These recipes can be tweaked depending on your own preferences. You could try adding other ingredients that aren't mentioned in these recipes including; dried mango, dried cherries, macadamias, peanut butter chips, pistachios, popcorn or chopped dates. These can be used as substitutes for existing ingredients, or you can use them to come up with your own delicious recipes from scratch. With our huge selection of beef jerky flavours to base your trail mix recipes on, there are a zillion ingredient combinations that you can use to get creative. So jump on our online store to browse our range of beef jerky flavours and get to work on your own delicious and healthy beef jerky trail mixes!
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The Best Biltong and Wine Pairings
Having a few friends round for Saturday night drinks? Any old excuse to put together a cracking cheese board to share with your mates over a glass of vino or two! But if you really want to take your nibbles and drinks to the next level, why not experiment with some biltong and wine pairings? Coming out of winter, it's still a bit on the chilly side which is an excellent excuse to crack open a bottle of wine. Meanwhile, with biltong's soft chew and delicate flavours, the two make for a perfect match to sip and snack away on throughout the evening. Getting your pairings right takes a little bit of thought, as you want to make sure that the flavours of the wine and the biltong work together, rather than fighting for space on your tongue's palate. Get it right, though, and your taste buds are going to have one seriously enjoyable evening! With so many styles of wine and so many flavours of Jerky Co biltong, there is plenty of opportunity for delicious biltong and wine pairings, so let's take a look at a few suggestions to help get you started. Cabernet Sauvignon & Chilli Biltong Cab Sav is one of the most popular styles of red wine. It has a rich palate of black fruits such as blackcurrent, black cherry and plum. It can also include adjunct flavours such as liquorice, mint, cedar and even eucalyptus. This makes it a full-bodied red wine that pairs well with chilli. Those who have a tolerance for chilli know how it can really crack open the flavours in your food, so nibbling on our chilli biltong with a glass of Cab Sav can really fill your mouth with lots of bold flavours. Pinot Grigio & Sweet BBQ Biltong Pinot Grigio is a delicate, slightly acidic white wine that is known to have lemon, lime, nectarine, pear and apple flavours. The predominantly citrus characteristics of this wine pair well with the sweetness of our sweet BBQ biltong as it fills in the sweetness gaps that citrus fruits are absent from. Merlot & Fatty Truffle Biltong Similar to Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot's flavour characteristics are mostly made up of black fruits, however, it also includes herbal notes with undertones of vanilla and mocha. This gives it a lovely smooth and mellow flavour while still having a medium to full-bodied feel to it. This flavour profile goes really well with our exotic truffle fatty biltong for a warm, earthy flavour as its lack of acidity allows the dark fruit flavours in the wine to really cut through. Chardonnay & Lime and Pepper Biltong Our lime and pepper biltong is the new kid on the block, and it is just as delicious as it sounds. With earthy black pepper contrasted against zingy fresh lime, this biltong goes perfectly with a glass of crisp Chardonnay. Chardonnay is a classic white, usually containing notes of apple, pear, lemon, apricot and ginger. There are variations of Chardonnay (depending on where the grape is grown and the process in which it is made), but generally it is delicious full-bodied white, which goes perfectly with a strip of our zesty lime & pepper biltong. Rosé & Garlic Biltong Rosé gets its pink colour by allowing red grape skins to touch the wine during the fermentation process for just a short amount of time—usually just a couple of hours. This imparts just a small amount of their red colour and some flavour notes on the white wine to create this refreshing, fruity number. Rosé can vary quite a bit depending on the type of red grapes that are used in the process, but generally, this style of wine gives off flavours that include red fruits, melon, flowers and citrus with a finish of celery or rhubarb. These sweet and floral characteristics couple really well with garlic biltong. Garlic's bold and spicy flavour nicely compliments the fresh, citrus and fruity characteristics of the rosé, so together they please the sweet, bitter and sour zones of the tongue. Covering all these bases at once makes the tastebuds very happy! Malbec & Extra Hot Biltong Malbec is another red wine with a rich flavour profile that is made up primarily of dark fruits. Unlike many other red wines though, Malbec gets a lovely rich and smooth flavour by adding notes of chocolate, violet flowers, leather and even sweet tobacco depending on the ageing process. Just like how Cabernet Sauvignon can benefit by having its rich flavours cracked open by chilli, Malbec's even richer flavours will be further complimented by our extra hot chilli biltong. This is definitely the most intense and full-bodied of all wine and meat pairings you're likely to find. Tempranillo & Smokey Biltong Tempranillo is a a Spanish wine that incorporates contrasting earth and fruit flavours such as leather and cherry. These result in quite a savoury flavour that pairs well with the slight bitterness and earthiness of our smokey biltong. Not much sweetness going on in this combo, which makes it an ideal savoury pair before a meal. Sauvignon Blanc & Traditional Biltong A bit of an all-rounder, Sav Blanc gives the tongue a little of everything, including citrus fruits, grapefruit, passionfruit, peach and bell pepper. Additionally, if aged in an oak barrel it will also express vanilla and custard notes along with a riper tropical fruit profile. As it covers all bases, there isn't much room for any other particularly strong flavours so the best biltong to go with this one is good ol' traditional biltong. Its all-round meat flavour doesn't get in the way of the Sav Blanc, so it's the most complimentary among our range of biltong. Get ready to sip and snack It's hard to beat an evening with good company, a few glasses of wine and something delicious to nibble on. But pairing these wines with the perfect biltong to show off your superior culinary insights is sure to impress your friends. So, before you send out the invites to your next get-together, check out our biltong range and start planning your wine pairings!
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How Long Does Beef Jerky Last?
When it comes to moreish snacks, none are quite as addictive as beef jerky. You might be thinking; why are we talking about storing your jerky leftovers when its unlikely you're going to be able to abstain from finishing the whole bag? (go on, we challenge you to put the jerky away for more than five minutes!). But in the interest of public service and food safety, let's look at some ways to store your Jerky Co products and how long they will last. How Long Can I Store My Beef Jerky? If kept in a sealed container in a refrigerator, our bulk buy beef jerky shelf life is seven days after delivery/purchase. We realise this is a fairly short shelf life, but that's because our jerky is free of unnatural ingredients and preservatives. This is to ensure the best quality, natural and authentic jerky money can buy. We want our quality ingredients and delicious flavours to satisfy our customers, so we won't compromise our meat with any unnatural ingredients. Our pre packaged jerky has a slightly longer shelf life if left sealed, but we still recommend you eat it within seven days. Once unsealed, refrigerate and consume within seven days. How to Store Beef Jerky? The best way to store your jerky is to keep it in an airtight container and pop it in the fridge. Ideally, it should be stored below 5 degrees celsius. Don't store it at room temperature for long periods of time because it risks going bad. While we use MSA grade lean meat, it is still vulnerable to bacterial contamination if not stored properly. So don't just throw is in the pantry, make sure you seal it and put it in the fridge so that it stays fresh for up to seven days. To read more: How To Store Beef Jerky Why Such a Short Shelf Life? Meat preservation is as old as any culture in the world. It's something we've been doing doing since we began eating an omnivorous diet, but there are risks involved. While the intention is to prevent the meat from becoming contaminated with bacteria, the fact that the drying process does not expose it to high cooking temperatures means that dehydrated meat needs to be stored in sealed containers and at a low temperature. Before we had refrigeration technology, there was no choice but to try to preserve the meat and hope for the best, but with our modern food safety standards, we recommend you devour our jerky within this seven day time period. Let's be honest though, that jerky isn't going to make it past day one! Why Does Supermarket-Bought Jerky Have a Longer Shelf Life? This is usually because mass produced commercial beef jerky contains a lot of preservatives to ensure a longer expiration date. This is necessary for supermarket jerky to survive long supply chains at room temperature, without developing bacterial growth and giving their customers food poisoning. Unfortunately, adding unnatural ingredients and preservatives compromises the quality of the product. As we discussed in a previous blog about real vs candy jerky, a lot of the mass produced stuff is made from subpar meat and then pumped full of unnatural and unhealthy ingredients. This results in a product that can barely be referred to as ‘jerky’, and in fact it is far closer to a piece of candy! Can I Freeze My Jerky? You sure can! If you reckon you're able to refrain from demolishing the whole packet right now, or you have purchased in bulk, and you want to store some for much later, you can indeed pop your jerky in the freezer. The best way to do this is to make sure that your jerky is stored in an airtight container. Once frozen, you can store beef jerky like this for up to 12 months. While it does seem to use to be impossible to refrain from just polishing off the whole packet in one sitting, it also seems like a pretty good idea to have a batch stored away, so you’re always stocked up for a impromptu snack. It's Snack Time! Now that you know how to store your beef jerky, we challenge you to put the packet down and save some for tomorrow. Go on, we dare you! Once you try our delicious jerky, it's virtually impossible to stop before the packet is empty (don’t say we didnt warn you!). Nevertheless, it's good to know how to safely store our jerky so that you can avoid wastage. Jump on our online store to browse our excellent range of dried meat products. Our jerky and biltong is made from the highest quality topside beef and is marinaded with premium ingredients to ensure the most satisfying meat snack money can buy. Whatever your favourite flavours, we guarantee there is a product in our range that you will absolutely love. And we can pretty much guarantee that you won't be needing to store any leftovers!
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The 2022 Father's Day Gift Guide - Dad's Top Beef Jerky Picks
The Jerky Co Presents: Father's Day Gift Guide! Nothing beats the gift of meat! Celebrate the men in your life this Father's Day with a delicious bundle or hamper from The Jerky Co.
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How Much Protein Is In Beef?
Protein is integral to a balanced diet because it's the main dietary nutrient that sustains our muscles. Our day-to-day activities require energy and healthy functioning muscles, and protein is key to providing this. Those who do particularly physically demanding jobs or those who do strenuous exercise are going to need to include more protein-rich foods in their diets than others. Foods with a high protein content have become very popular in recent years. A lot of yoghurts, plant-based foods and even dessert options such as ice cream loudly advertise how much protein is included in each serving. But are these the best sources of this nutrient? Well, although there's nothing wrong with them, they often consist of synthetic proteins whereas other sources like meat, eggs and nuts are naturally high in complete protein. It is recommended to include protein from a variety of food sources to maintain a healthy, balanced diet. What are the best sources of protein? As previously mentioned, meat, eggs and nuts are great sources, along with cheese, chickpeas and greek yoghurt. But of all these sources, red meat is the most protein-rich, and when you consider things like availability, price and our culinary culture here in Australia, beef is the obvious choice of red meat. Protein is made up of essential amino acids, and because beef has a very similar amino acid profile as ours, it is the best source for human consumption as a complete protein. Other red meats like kangaroo, venison and lamb are also great sources of protein. How much protein is in beef? It depends on the cut, but generally, fresh-cooked lean beef will consist of around 26 – 27g of protein per 100g. Super lean cuts like topside or blade steak will be slightly more protein-rich while cuts with higher fat content, such as scotch fillet or porterhouse, will have slightly less protein. When beef is air-dried, protein content can be boosted to around 60g per 100 grams of beef. This is because the removal of moisture through the drying process results in a higher concentration of protein. So if your gym buddy sees you snacking on some dried meat and asks does beef jerky have protein, or is biltong high in protein—you can tell them they are among the most protein-rich, low fat, low carbohydrate snack foods available. How can I add more protein to my diet? Snacks are a great way to get more protein in your diet, and the best snacks for this are meat snacks such as jerky and biltong. They're so protein dense that a handful here and there will greatly boost your intake without having to indulge in large slabs of meat. They are a much healthier option than chips and lollies which offer very little nutritional value and are high in calories, saturated fat and carbohydrates. As well as being great for snacking, biltong can also be a great addition to your main meals. Salads, sandwiches, pizzas, stews and many more dishes can all benefit by adding biltong as it's the softer of the two products. For more tips on boosting your protein intake, check out our previous blog here. And if you want to read more about the health benefits of our delicious biltong, check out our recent blog here. What are the health benefits of a high protein diet? As previously mentioned, protein is the nutrient that rebuilds your muscle mass. It also helps to keep you feeling full, which is excellent for weight loss or maintaining a healthy body weight. But in addition to beef being a great source of high-quality protein, it is also an excellent source of other nutrients including iron, vitamin B12, niacin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and zinc. The benefits we enjoy from these nutrients include: Reduced tiredness or fatigue Hair, nail and skin health Maintain cognitive function Healthy immune system The recommended daily protein intake for women aged 19 – 70 years is 46g per day while for men in the same age bracket it's 64g per day. Beyond 70, the recommended daily intakes are 57g and 81g respectively. So if you're struggling to reach those targets then it would be a good idea to think about finding ways to get there. As we've already mentioned many times in this blog and in the past, beef jerky and beef biltong are excellent ways to boost that intake with their protein content reaching as high as 60g per 100g of meat. If you've decided to get on a bit of a health kick, or you're just becoming a bit more conscious about what you eat, then it's definitely worth taking a look at how much protein you consume per day. While chicken and fish are both good sources of protein, beef contains much more by weight, and is by far the most readily available of all red meats in Australia. Better yet, treat yourself to the best high-protein snacks money can buy from us here at The Jerky Co. That way you can hit your nutritional goals and feel less guilty when you reach into the pantry for a quick bite. Browse our range of beef jerky and beef biltong online now! Disclaimer Let's be real, we aren't claiming to be experts here! This advice is general only, and you should always consult your doctor or a registered dietitian for more personalised dietary advice.
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Beef Jerky - Traditional
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Beef Biltong - Exotic Truffle Fatty
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Beef Biltong - Sweet BBQ
