Beef Jerky

Dried And Preserved IngredientBeefNot vegetarianSmokySaltyUmamiPepperyBeefySlightly Sweet

Nutrition (per 100 g)

Calories: 410
Protein (g): 33
Fat (g): 27
Carbs (g): 10
Fiber (g): —
Sodium (mg): 1780

Drying concentrates protein and sodium. Sugar content varies by marinade.

Storage

Room temp: up to 180 days
Refrigerated: up to 365 days
Frozen: up to 540 days

Beef jerky is thinly sliced, seasoned beef that has been dried to a chewy, shelf-stable snack. It tastes savory and smoky with a firm, leathery bite, and pieces can be torn or chopped to deliver concentrated beefy flavor. Common retail forms include strips, sticks, and bite-size pieces, often peppered or sweet-spiced.

The technique descends from Indigenous American methods of drying meat, and the word jerky traces to the Quechua charqui. Variations spread across the Americas and beyond through ranching and preservation traditions, later adapted with smoking, spice rubs, and modern dehydrators.