Does Beef Jerky Expire? Know the Warning Signs

Beef jerky is well-known for its long shelf life and has been enjoyed for centuries all around the globe. But even though it lasts for a long time, beef jerky eventually expires.

If you have a package of jerky nearing its expiration date, you may be wondering whether you can eat it. Does beef jerky go bad, and can eating expired jerky make you sick?

We always recommend not eating anything past its best-by date, so in this guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about how long beef jerky lasts, how to know if it’s spoiled, and how to store jerky correctly.

Signs Your Beef Jerky Has Gone Bad

Inspect the Jerky For Mold

Finding mold is the most obvious sign that your jerky has gone bad. Mold is microscopic fungi that grow on plants and animals. Its spores are often transported by water, air, and insects, which can grow in warm or refrigerated temperatures.

Mold can look fuzzy, dusty, or furry, and appear in different colors like white, gray, green, black, or blue. It can appear as spots, circles, or even protruded growths on the surface of your food, and may even grow roots below the food’s surface.

Mold’s appearance can vary on different kinds of foods, but in a jerky, it often looks like white and green spots or dusty spiderwebs. If you find mold on your expired jerky, it’s not safe to eat. In fact, mold can cause allergic reactions and respiratory issues. Use your sight, not your smell, to identify mold so you don’t inhale any mold spores.

When you find mold on your jerky, chuck it in the garbage and take it out of your home to prevent the spores from spreading. If only some pieces of jerky have mold on them, you still need to throw out the entire bag since untouched pieces have been exposed to mold spores. Remember that mold can grow beneath the surface of your jerky, so it’s best to be safe.

Besides throwing your jerky away, there are other things you can do to keep the rest of your neighboring groceries uncontaminated. Always thoroughly clean the place you were storing your jerky, whether that’s your fridge or pantry. Don’t forget to inspect any nearby food items to make sure they don’t have signs of mold growth.

Does the Beef Jerky Have A Weird Smell?

The smell test is a great initial step if you’re looking at a packet of beef jerky that’s either been sitting open or you’re just not sure about its best-by date. If there’s no appearance of mold, open the bag and sniff it. Meat that’s gone bad may have a sour, putrid smell. If you find your nose wrinkling up in disgust, it’s time to toss your expired jerky.

If you’re not able to use your sense of smell, see if there’s anyone else in your household who can test it for you. Again, if your jerky’s past its expiration date, play it safe and toss your jerky in the trash before replenishing your supply.

Feel the Texture of the Beef

There are many kinds of beef jerky on the market these days, and their textures will vary. Old-fashioned beef jerky should have a tough, dry texture, and some beef jerky will have a soft, tender feel. How can you tell if beef jerky has gone bad by its texture?

No matter the style of jerky, if it’s mushy and squishy, your beef jerky probably isn’t safe to eat. Another sign is if the texture is uneven and has uncharacteristic soft or tough spots.

Can You Get Sick From Expired Beef Jerky?

Let’s start by stating that we never recommend eating expired jerky. Always eat your beef jerky before its best-by date when the seal hasn’t been broken. If the package is opened, you’ll need to eat it within three days.

It’s important to understand the difference between expired food and food that’s gone bad. According to the USDA, most expiration or use-by dates aren’t safety dates. Instead, they refer to the quality of that food item. When you consume it before the use-by date, you’ll enjoy it at its best quality.

Food that’s gone bad, however, is a different story. Food can spoil when it’s exposed to the elements. This includes oxygen, temperature, and light. If you eat spoiled food, you’re in danger of becoming ill or even having food poisoning.

Food poisoning can happen when you eat food that has certain types of bacteria or viruses. If you ingest it, the bacteria can grow in your digestive system and you risk getting an infection, which can cause diarrhea, belly cramps, and fever.

Now the big question: does eating expired beef jerky make you sick? It all depends.

If you’ve already opened your jerky, it has been more than three days, and it’s past its expiration date, it can indeed make you sick. Even if it hasn’t been exposed to the elements but is still past its expiration date, it may not be safe to eat.

You can always inspect it to see whether it’s moldy, smells funny, or has a weird texture. However, we advise erring on the side of caution and tossing it.

How Long Does Beef Jerky Last For?

A major appeal of beef jerky is that it’s non-perishable and can last a long time. This is because it’s slow-smoked and dried, which removes the beef’s moisture. This removal prevents bacterial, fungal, or other naturally occurring enzymes from reacting with the food. When food is dried, it’s preserved from other biological forms.

If you’re making beef jerky at home, it can only last for one or two months. That’s because pathogenic bacteria can survive the dry heat of a warm oven and a food dehydrator. To keep it fresh, you’ll need to seal it in an airtight bag and keep it in the fridge.

So how long does store-bought beef jerky last? When unopened and stored in airtight packaging, jerky typically has a use-by date of 12 months. You can keep it in your pantry or at room temperature and safely chow down on your jerky within that time period.

When it’s opened, you should eat your jerky within three days. That’s because the minute you break the seal, you expose your jerky to the elements. Left too long, it may spoil. If you open jerky and haven’t finished the bag, squeeze out as much air as you can and reseal it before storing it in your fridge for the next few days.

If you’re not sure how long your store-bought jerky lasts, get in touch with the jerky company. They can tell you about expiration dates and the best ways to store your jerky safely.

Can You Eat Expired Beef Jerky?

Just to reiterate, we don’t recommend eating expired jerky. If you have eaten expired jerky and are worried or feeling unwell, you should seek the help of a medical professional.

The USDA states that most use-by dates don’t indicate when a food item will spoil, and that includes jerky. In fact, many shelf-stable foods that are stored properly can be safe to eat past their expiration dates. The only way to tell is by examining and smelling it.

If your jerky is expired and you’re wondering if you can eat it, open it up and take a look. If it smells rancid, shows signs of mold, or has a weird texture, it’s probably gone bad and isn’t safe to eat. If it shows no signs of spoiling but is still past its use-by date, the safest thing is to not eat it and instead throw it away.

Still Hungry? Try Wild River Old Fashioned Beef Jerky

The best jerky is the kind that uses quality ingredients. At Wild River, we make old-fashioned beef jerky using 100% beef and a tasty blend of spices. Plus, we make it with less than 1g of sugar, artificial colors or flavors, or added nitrates or nitrites.

Our rough and tough jerky is slow-dried to make sure it lasts both in your pantry and between your teeth. In other words, it’s the kind of jerky that makes your mouth water. Stock up today by shopping our products.