The beef jerky is a favourite food because it is easy to make, keeps for a long time, and tastes good. No matter how experienced you are, you must know how long jerky stays fresh.
This article discusses how beef jerky is stored and how long it will last. We’ll talk about how to keep jerky fresh after it’s been opened and whether or not homemade jerky lasts as long as store-bought jerky. You’ll also learn how to tell when jerky has gone wrong and how to make it taste better.
Table of Contents
How long does beef jerky last?
Beef jerky made at home or bought in a store has different storage periods. At its best, beef jerky sold in stores will last a year. Eat it within six months of buying it to enjoy its great tastes and textures fully.
The storage period of beef jerky made by hand is shorter. If you put it in a jar that doesn’t let air in, it should stay suitable for one to two months. A Ziplock bag will keep it fresh for a week in your pantry.
Putting homemade beef jerky in the fridge for a week or two will last longer. Beef jerky lasts longer if you store it the right way.
How does beef jerky stay good for a long time?
Our oldest ancestors dried meat to ensure they always had food when there wasn’t enough. One of the best things about making beef jerky is that it can last long without refrigeration.
Jerky is carefully made to stay fresh for a long time. Many things affect how long beef jerky lasts. First, the fact that it has little fat makes food go bad faster. It uses more than one way to keep it from going rancid. These essential ways to do things are:
Salt and Sugar: Beef jerky is marinated in salt and sugar. Salty seasoning has two uses. High salt and sugar content improves meat flavour and drains water from cells and surface microorganisms. Salting preserves food well.
Salt keeps meat dry and prevents spoilage. Pepper’s capsaicin prevents bacteria, keeping food fresher. Nitrites can extend the shelf life of commercial beef jerky.
Dehydration: Dehydration is essential for jerky. Bacteria and chemicals that rot flesh need moisture. By drying beef jerky, organisms and processes lose water. Because of this, they are unsuitable to live. A significant reason beef jerky lasts longer is dehydration.
Meat with less fat: Meat is dried out to make jerky. Fats include oils, which go bad quickly if they aren’t kept cool. When making jerky, almost all of the beef fat that can be seen is cut away. This precise method stops fat from rancid and meat from losing quality.
Even though beef jerky lasts a long time, it doesn’t last forever. Throw away any beef jerky that has been around for over two years. Usually, beef jerky lasts for two years before it goes bad.
How long does opened beef jerky last at room temperature?
If you open a box of beef jerky and can’t eat it all, you might wonder how long it will last. First, check the package for signs or warnings that say the food needs to be refrigerated once opened. Suppose you are told to put any extra meat in the fridge.
Beef jerky that isn’t packed will only stay fresh with warnings. The best time to keep beef jerky at room temperature after opening it is three days. After this time, it may lose its taste and be less tasty than beef jerky that was just made.
When you open a package of jerky, air and wetness can get into the meat and cause bacteria to grow. If you don’t think you’ll finish it in three days, eat it immediately or put it in the fridge to keep it fresh longer.
The Best Way to Store Jerky
You can put jerky in the fridge after you’ve opened it, but we don’t recommend it. The feel and taste of a product may change if it is refrigerated. You shouldn’t freeze Savage Jerky or any other kind of jerky, even if made at home, because it loses its texture and taste.
The best way to keep jerky fresh is in a cool, dry place. If you’re one of the few people who can open a box and take a bite, let all the air out of the bag before you seal it. This keeps the meat as tasty as the day it was opened.
What causes beef jerky to spoil?
Even though beef jerky lasts a long time, it worsens over time.It’s easy to tell if beef jerky has gone wrong. There may be a darker colour, a stiffer, leatherier feel, or an unpleasant smell. Eating something other than beef jerky that looks fine but smells terrible is best.
Two main things make beef jerky go bad faster:
- Oxygen speeds up chemical processes in food. This can happen in different ways, but air helps microbes grow.
- Microorganisms need moisture to grow and spread, making food unsafe.
Both of these things will make beef jerky go bad faster than jerky kept in a vacuum-packed bag to keep it sealed. The key to making irregulars last longer is to store them correctly.
FAQs
Does the kind of spice change how long the jerky will last?
Yes, Salt and other seasonings can be used as preservatives, which could make beef jerky last longer.
What happens if I put opened beef jerky in the fridge?
Beef jerky that has been opened can stay in the fridge for up to two weeks, but the texture and taste may change.
Does the kind of packing affect how long beef jerky lasts?
Yes, the type of packing can change how long beef jerky lasts.
Conclusion
Beef jerky can last long if you know how to store and cook it. To keep the quality of store-bought or homemade jerky, it’s essential to know about wetness, air, and packing.
Even though beef jerky is very fresh, remember that it can go wrong. Knowing how food’s colour, structure, and smell change as it goes wrong will help you stay safe and enjoy it.
Beef jerky can last long because of how it is made. If you want this tasty, protein-packed snack, you can have it on the go, while camping, or at home if you take suitable safety measures. You can eat your beef jerky with faith now that you know how to keep it fresh.
