How to Eat Beef Jerky the Old-Fashioned Way

Nobody knows exactly where and when beef jerky originated. It could extend as far back as caveman times! You know those guys were at least cooking their meat once they figured out fire.

But we do know a few things about the history of beef jerky. According to the USDA, beef jerky has been around for at least as long as ancient Egypt, thousands of years ago.

Ages ago, before refrigeration was even conceived, drying would have been used to preserve meat from very large animals like bears and even whales.

A version of jerky was also part of life in South America thousands of years ago. The word “jerky” itself is derived from “ch’arki,” a Quechua word for a food made from dried and deboned alpaca and llama meat.

In North America, indigenous people would mix ground dried meat (bison, for example) with dried fruit or suet to make pemmican – a mixture of tallow and dried meat. And in southern parts of Africa, people dried ostrich and other game meats into a preserved food called biltong.

The point is, regardless of when and where jerky originated, the concept has been around for a long time, and it’s been utilized by people across the world. In other words, making meat into jerky is a damn good way to preserve it.

There’re also old-fashioned ways to eat and enjoy jerky. The key is to know your preferences and lean into them. Follow your instincts; you know the way to happiness.

Step 1: Know Your Preferred Chewing and Mouth Feel Experience

Rip and Tear

Old-fashioned beef jerky, like the kind from Wild River, isn’t like some artificial chicken nugget. It’s a dry, rugged beef and quite frankly, it gives the jaw a bit of a workout.

For this traditional style of beef jerky, there’s no elegant chewing strategy. The only way to approach it is by ripping and tearing it apart.

Tough and Dry

Good old-fashioned beef jerky will be tough and dry. Jerky types range from soft, moist and chewy all the way to tough and dry. Some reasons many jerky products are too soft and moist could be that the jerky might:

• Undergo a shorter dehydration period than old-fashioned jerky
• Be made of thicker cuts of meat that are cut differently than old-fashioned jerky

Identifying the consistency of jerky before you buy it can be tricky. If the meat seems damp or the juices are smeared against the inside of the package, that can be a good indicator that the meat will be on the softer side.

Step 2: Savor Your Snack With Each Bite

If you want to enjoy a snack like beef jerky the old-fashioned way, choose an option that’ll give you a longer chew. A true beef jerky will be rugged and require you to slow down and take more time to savor.

But there’s another essential element to a quality jerky: flavor. Plenty of people are traditional when it comes to their taste buds. A simple, mild old-fashioned beef jerky will do the trick.

Others want a jerky that’ll give them more of a jolt when they start chewing it. A flavor that’ll widen their eyes and perk them up a bit as they chew it between sips of coffee. Black Pepper Old-Fashioned beef jerky is the answer here.

And then there are those who want their food to sock them right in the mouth. The kind of people who put hot sauce on everything they eat. In this case, look no further than Hot Old-Fashioned beef jerky.

At the end of the day, eating beef jerky is an experience built from multiple elements. This isn’t like tossing a handful of popcorn into your mouth and munching mindlessly.

Beef jerky should be an old-fashioned ritual that takes you away from the hustle of the world and connects you to the past. It should be chewed slowly and savored as you enjoy every bite you rip and tear.

Chew On Our Wildly Satisfying Old-Fashioned Jerky Today

You know the value of time. It’s important to slow down and appreciate the quiet moments you have while you have them. Wild River Old-Fashioned beef jerky is the ideal snack to help you savor every moment.

Our jerky is durable and makes you appreciate each bite. The savory flavor will satisfy your cravings. Shop our products today and contact us if you have any questions or need more information.