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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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What is Droëwors Made Of? All About The Delicious South African Snack
When it comes to dried and dehydrated meat, the first products that come to mind are jerky and biltong. As far as dried meat snacks go, these two are probably by far the most popular here in Australia. Meanwhile, a snack that is popular among Southern parts of Africa has slowly started to make its way onto Australian shelves. This snack is called droëwors. Like biltong and jerky, it is predominantly made from beef and comes in a variety of styles and flavours. What Is Droëwors Made Of? Droëwors are made from minced meat and fat which is then seasoned and put into natural casings to create a thin sausage. The seasoning is a mix of salt, pepper, coriander and other spices to give it a traditional droëwors flavour. Like biltong, the whole sausages are then hung to dry for several days, meaning the end product has a nice soft chew as the middle of the sausage will have retained a small amount of moisture. Meanwhile, the addition of fat into the sausage mince gives it a delicious, buttery feel and flavour. Currently, The Jerky Co offers traditional droëwors, and chilli droëwors for those who like a little extra spice. What Is The Story Behind Droëwors? Just like Biltong, it began as a Southern African snack food (droëwors translates to ‘dry sausage’ in Afrikaans). Popular in countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Namibia, it was based on the traditional, coriander seed spiced boerewors thick sausage which is made into a spiral shape and then cooked. Because boerewors doesn't keep well unrefrigerated, it was realised that drying these sausages by hanging them in hot dry African conditions was a good way to get them to keep for longer. And thus, the traditional droëwors was born. Since then, dried meat producers and enthusiasts have put their own various takes on this old Southern African snack, but as is often the case, the original is usually the best. This is why we don't overdo it with loads of spices and complex flavours. The meat should always be the focus of the product, with the seasoning just providing a nice accompaniment. Nutritional Benefits Of Droewors Much like jerky and biltong, droëwors is a high protein snack, which is great for fuelling your body as well as helping you to feel fuller for longer. What sets droëwors apart is its higher fat content. There has been some contention over the pros and cons of including fat in our diets, but for those on a low-carb or keto diet, including fat in moderation is a good way to derive energy if it's not coming from carbohydrates. Additionally, droëwors is an excellent source of iron and has about 1700mg less sodium per 100g than jerky. It's therefore fair to say that overall, it's a well balanced snack as far as nutritional value is concerned. Best Ways To Enjoy Droewors Because it has a nice soft chew, droewors can be enjoyed in a variety of dishes. Of course, it's great by itself as a snack, but it can also go really well as an accompaniment. Here are some ideas: Add it to a quiche Slice it up and add it to a baked potato Use droëwors slices on pizza Add it to your list of charcuterie board ideas As a protein boost to any salad Droëwors and cheese sandwich Crumbed droëwors and ricotta fritters There's loads you can do with droëwors as alternatives to eating it by itself as a snack. Basically anything that you can add cured or cooked meats to, you can just substitute that out and use droëwors instead. Droëwors By The Jerky Co The key to perfecting this traditional cured sausage is in the drying process. A lot of other packaged droëwors that you will find on supermarket shelves is over dried and over seasoned to account for lengthy supply chains. But because we deliver ours to your door much fresher, we are able to achieve the perfect moisture content and therefore the ultimate chew. Dried meat is our passion, so as far as we are concerned there is no room for compromise in sticking to the best traditional recipes and drying processes. Our traditional and chilli flavours are our first forays into the world of droëwors because we believe in perfecting the basics before experimenting with new ideas. Shop our range of delicious handmade droëwors online now, you won’t be disappointed!
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What Are The Different Biltong Flavours Available At The Jerky Co?
Here at The Jerky Co, we reckon we've got a pretty good range of products to suit everybody who enjoys a beefy snack. In fact, we're particularly proud of our range of beef biltong - a snack that originated in South Africa. While beef jerky is made from raw meat strips that have been marinaded and then dried in a dehydrator, biltong is made by drying larger pieces of meat in a biltong box and then cut into pieces. This longer curing process can take several days, and it allows for the meat to be cut at the desired softness. That's why the texture of biltong is often soft and chewy, rather than dehydrated and firm like jerky. Just like our range of beef jerky flavours, we offer many variations on our biltong recipe to cater for all your snacking desires, so let's take a look at the different biltong flavours we've got. Traditional Let's start with the basics. Our traditional biltong is an absolute classic for any situation. It starts as a piece of MSA grade beef topside, marinaded in our signature spice mix for 24 hours, and then dried from the outside in. This results in the purest style of biltong as it allows the flavour of the dried meat to be front and centre of the flavour palette. It has a nice soft chew, and will work with pretty much anything you put it with. It's not sweet or hot, so it offers a neutral addition to any dish or salad you may want to add it to. Of course, it's just as good on its own as a snack... especially with a nice cold beer. Fatty Our fatty biltong uses the same flavours as traditional biltong, but instead, we keep the fat strip on, leaving the meat moist and buttery. Its softness and moisture content takes traditional biltong to a new level of decadence. But that said, if you were to ask us how to eat biltong, with this flavour we'd say 'with a few pieces of paper towel handy'. Chilli With a similar marinade to traditional biltong, the addition of dried chilli adds a lovely bit of spice to really crack open the flavours. Our chilli biltong is not super hot, so it's suitable for pretty much anybody who can handle a little bit of spice. Chilli Fatty Much like regular fatty biltong, the fat content of our fatty chilli biltong gives the meat a savoury butteriness that just melts in your mouth and really compliments the chilli flavours. Extra Hot You can probably guess this one. If you want to impress your friends with your superior tolerance for chilli, or if you just really really like hot food, our extra hot biltong will get your tongue tingling! It's probably not a bad idea to keep a cold one handy to douse the fire a little bit. Garlic Are you that person that just loads everything up with garlic? If you are, our garlic biltong may be the one for you. We don't go too overboard with the garlic, but there is enough in there to add a lovely warmth to the meat. Pepper Starting with our signature spice mix, we add pepper to enhance our traditional recipe. If you're a pepper steak kinda guy or gal then our pepper biltong could be the one for you. Smokey Similar to our garlic and pepper recipes, smokey biltong uses our signature spice mix but this time adds smoke for a more earthy snacking experience. Our smokey biltong is delicate in flavour, but bound to satisfy the tastebuds. Sweet BBQ Sure, biltong originated in South Africa, but that doesn't mean we can't give it a sweet American BBQ flavour too. Adding brown sugar to the spice mix gives it a slightly sweet, southern style flavour that makes this the comfort food option among all the biltong varieties we make. Pair our sweet BBQ biltong with a nice glass of New England IPA and you'll be bull-riding and line-dancing before you know it. Exotic Truffle Fatty Of all the different flavours we've explored, this one is our pièce de résistance. We add the amazing flavour of truffle oil to a choice cut of marinaded topside beef to create the most delicious snack. By keeping the fat on, we've achieved the most decadent, buttery biltong experience money can buy. If you're looking to impress somebody, show your class by putting our fatty exotic truffle biltong on your charcuterie board. Lamb Biltong All sorts of meats can be used to make biltong and jerky. From beef to game meats, even crocodile. But we decided to get a little creative and recreate the classic Sunday lamb roast...but in biltong form. Adding mint and rosemary to the spice mix gives it that quintessential roast lamb flavour which gives you that nice warm feeling. Try our lamb biltong today - you won’t regret it. Get snack happy with our delicious biltong No matter what your jam, we've got all the different biltong flavours available in Australia to suit everybody. If you're looking to add something special to a nice dish or salad, or if you just want something to snack on while watching a movie and enjoying a beer, you'll find it on our online store. So check out our biltong selection and place your order today.
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Is Biltong Good For You?
Biltong and jerky are somewhat synonymous terms among many consumers who are unaware of the difference between the two. But rest assured, there is indeed a significant difference between these two delicious, protein rich snacks. Jerky originated in the United States, and is made by applying hot air to thinly sliced and marinated strips of meat. Biltong, on the other hand, originated in South Africa, and dates back hundreds of years to when communities developed this unique method for preserving meat. To read more about the origins of biltong, check out our previous blog here. What is Biltong? Biltong, like jerky, is a style of air-dried meat. It is made by curing large pieces of meat in vinegar and a spice mix, and then hanging it out to dry for several days. Once dried, it is then cut into pieces, resulting in a softer meat snack than what one might expect from jerky. While a smoker or dehydrator is required to make beef jerky, biltong instead dries naturally in the open air over a longer period of time. The curing process helps preserve the meat so that it does not become contaminated during the drying process. Beef is probably the most common meat for biltong, however, more gamey meats such as venison and ostrich are sometimes used. Here at The Jerky Co, we have even created a delicious lamb biltong, seasoned with mint and rosemary. Biltong vs Jerky The result of this process is a different snack to jerky. Because the meat is sliced after drying, there is less of a reliance on added flavours. Jerky, on the other hand, often relies on the thin strips of sliced meat being completely marinaded to create the desired product. This means that biltong tends to have a more natural meat flavour, rather than focussing on the added flavours that are used to make jerky. Is Biltong a Good Source of Protein? One of the many reasons biltong is such a great snack is that it is an excellent source of protein. Protein makes up between 41 and 50 grams per 100g of biltong across our range. This makes it a rich source of protein which is essential for muscle growth. Many people rely on protein bars or protein powder to rebuild their muscles after exercise, when in fact biltong is a richer and more natural daily protein source. Other Nutritional Benefits While beef jerky is indeed a very healthy snack, biltong has the additional nutritional value of going through a more natural flavouring process. This means it is generally lower in salt than jerky because the marinade doesn't reach every strand of muscle fibre like it does when the meat is sliced before it is dried. It's rich in vitamin B12 which is a nutrient that helps keep your body's blood and nerve cells healthy. It is also a great source of iron, which is essential for your body’s growth and development. Iron is an incredibly important dietary mineral as it is involved in various bodily functions, most importantly the transport of oxygen in the blood. Without enough iron, one can feel fatigued. Eating iron rich food sources such as biltong and jerky helps to maintain healthy blood cells for overall good health. Therefore, biltong is not just renowned for its high protein content, it is a rich source of many of the most important nutrients that keep the body healthy. Not Just a Snack While it's most common to simply enjoy biltong straight out of the packet, there are other ways to enjoy this particular cured meat. Due to its softness compared with jerky, biltong can be used as a component in many dishes. Biltong slices can be added to salads to help make them more satisfying and to boost the protein content. Alternatively, it can make a great topping for a jacket potato along with sour cream and chives. There are so many ways biltong can be used in your cooking to serve up delicious and unique dishes. Check out some of the ideas below: Add some biltong slices to your roast veggies Add it to your scrambled eggs or omelette for brekky Use biltong instead of pepperoni on your pizza Combine it with nuts and dried fruit for a delicious trail mix Add it to your favourite cheesy pasta dishes such as mac 'n cheese Put some biltong in a quiche Or just chuck some slices in a sanga! There are so many ways to get creative with biltong and make it much more than just a high-protein snack. The next time somebody asks: is biltong good for you? You can tell them that not only is it good for you, but it is also good for your culinary repertoire. Have a look through our biltong range to place an order today. The hard part will be deciding which flavour to choose!
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What Beef Makes The BEST Jerky - The Rundown
The quality of beef jerky almost entirely relies on the quality of the beef that it uses. Unlike many preparation methods that may include different cuts of meats, various sauces, seasoning and cooking techniques, air dried beef relies simply on the removal of moisture from the beef. As a result, there is no way to hide poor quality meat. This is why at The Jerky Co, we strive to use the best possible ingredients for our products—from our source of lean meat, to the natural flavours we use, to the drying process, each stage of production is carefully designed to make sure we are proud of every packet of dried meat that we make. What Cut of Meat is Best for Jerky? People often ask what beef makes the best jerky, and different people may give different answers. A common misconception is often that the most expensive cuts are necessary to make the best jerky, but this isn't true. The most expensive cuts tend to have a high fat content. But the best beef jerky is actually made from the leanest cuts. The Jerky Co believes MSA grade Aussie topside makes the best beef jerky. Many cheaper store bought jerky brands try to cut their costs by substituting high quality fresh meat for ground meat. This is often referred to as 'candy jerky', where poor quality meat—fatty cuts, even offcuts—are processed into a paste and combined with loads of artificial flavours and brown sugar. This paste is then spread into sheets, dried, and then cut into squares. It makes for poor quality jerky that is higher in calories and has far less nutritional benefit. To read more about candy jerky and why you should always go for the real deal, check out our previous blog here. The Jerky Co, on the other hand, uses high quality topside beef cut, seasoned with natural flavours, including soy sauce, worcestershire sauce, garlic powder and black pepper to make the best jerky. This means it is high in protein and has extremely low sugar and fat content. Our Beef is MSA Grade We believe it isn't enough to use any old topside off the supermarket shelf. Instead, we make sure we use the highest quality ingredients that are available to us, and the most important ingredient is beef. For this reason, we only use MSA grade Australian topside beef, making ours the best quality and most delicious jerky you can buy. What is MSA Grade? Meat Standards Australia (MSA) was developed by the Australian red meat industry to improve the eating quality consistency of beef and sheepmeat. It is a grading system based on long term research and supported by large scale consumer taste testing across multiple countries. It takes into account all factors that affect eating quality from the paddock to plate. MSA calculates and differentiates on three levels of eating quality for each cut – MSA three star (MSA graded), four star (premium quality) and five star (supreme quality) in conjunction with recommended cooking techniques. By only using beef that has the MSA tick of approval, we can ensure the highest achievable standard for our products. Supporting Aussie Beef As well as producing delicious, tender jerky for our customers, we strongly believe in supporting Australian agriculture. By using Australia's best meat, we are doing our best to support and improve the Australian beef industry. It also means our beef is fresher, and through our dehydration process, allows for our jerky to have a longer shelf life than that of many of our competitors. What Makes MSA Grade Beef So Good? In order to achieve MSA grade, beef farmers must consistently produce the highest quality meat, particularly among the most popular cuts. It means having to maintain the best farming practices to keep the cows happy and healthy, as poor farming practices inevitably result in poor quality produce. The cows are free of hormones, excess fat, free to roam in open pastures and are generally grass fed rather than being given a diet of grain. The benefits of using MSA grade meat are not just in terms of the quality of the final product, it is also a marker of higher welfare agricultural practice. The world is slowly moving in the direction of engaging in more ethical farming practices, so when we source MSA beef, and when you buy our jerky, we're both indicating to the beef industry that we care about animal welfare, and are willing to pay a little extra to ensure that our beef comes with the highest farming standards in mind. MSA Grade Beef Benefits Us All By using strictly MSA topside beef, we ensure every stage of the process supports best practice and highest quality—from the farm, to The Jerky Co's reputation, to the consumer's eating experience. This is why MSA beef matters. It's one thing to use the best cuts of beef, it's another to ensure that it comes from the highest agricultural standards in Australia. Check out our online store and experience for yourself why MSA grade beef makes the best jerky.
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