Shopping for beef jerky online can feel like a gamble. Will it be tender? Will it be flavorful? Will it be worth the price? Knowing what to look for can help you find jerky that delivers every time and avoid the brands that are looking to trick you into buying mediocre meat with flashy marketing.
1. Check the Ingredients List
Premium jerky starts with real, simple ingredients. Look for beef jerky brands that use high-quality beef, simple seasonings, and nothing you can’t pronounce. Most brands list their ingredients on the product page—if they don’t, that’s a red flag. 🚩
2. Look for Prime Cuts of Beef
The best beef jerky uses top-quality cuts like brisket or other prime cuts. These are often mentioned in the product description and signal a product that’s worth the price. If you can’t find what cut of meat is used on the packaging, bust out your phone and check the website real quick.
If they don’t even mention the cut of meat on their website, that’s a red flag. 🚩🚩
3. Read Reviews
Customer reviews are your best friend when shopping for beef snacks online. Look for comments about flavor, texture, and overall satisfaction. Bonus points if the brand responds to reviews—this shows they care about their customers. If you don’t see any bad reviews at all, that probably means they’re editing the reviews to only show you the best ones. 🚩🚩🚩
4. Opt for Small-Batch Jerky
Small-batch production often means more attention to detail, resulting in gourmet beef jerky with superior flavor and texture. These brands take pride in crafting each batch with care, ensuring you get a quality product every time.
(Just as a quick side note, Heirloom Jerky is all small batch. 😉)
Now, larger beef jerky brands produce their jerky in bigger, automated batches. That doesn’t make it bad, but it does mean you’re losing something in quality over quantity. 🚩🚩🚩🚩
5. When in Doubt, Start with a Sampler Pack
If you’re unsure which flavor to try or what you’re going to get, go for a sampler pack. The best beef jerky brands often make it easy for you to explore their options without committing to just one flavor. If a brand doesn’t offer this, it might be a sign. 🚩🚩🚩🚩🚩
TL;DR
There are a lot of great indie beef jerky brands out there and a lot of awesome up-and-comers, too! If you’re looking to buy beef jerky that’s going to rock your knickers like Megan Fox the first time you saw her in Transformers, these tips should help set you up for success.
