Beef Jerky is Delicious and Healthy
Beef jerky is again rising in popularity due to the low carb fad that has
hit the nation. One of the main reasons that beef jerky is healthy is the fact
that to make the jerky last for so long the fat needs to be trimmed or the beef
will go bad unless a lot of salt and preservatives are added. As a result, the
best beef jerky typically has less than 3% fat content.
Considering that there is much more of the beef than the fat in jerky it makes
it very high in protein and without a lot of carbs. This is good news to the
legions of people that follow the Atkin's diet. Also many people that are
health conscious prefer marinating and then smoking their own meat
because it affords them the knowledge of exactly what they are consuming.
History of beef jerky
Its origins are thought to be from South America during the 1800's. The American
Indian tribe of Quechua made a product
similar to beef jerky which they called "ch'arki" or "charqui" which
means dried meat, and that's where the name jerky
came from. They used elk, deer, and buffalo meat and added salt to them before
drying out the meat or placing it over the fire. This made for the preservation
of meat that was needed when food was not as available for whatever reason.
A side note: today, other meats such as turkey, salmon, alligator, tuna, and
even ostrich are also being made into jerky.
The Spaniards also specialized in making beef jerky when they occupied parts of
South America and then introduced the popular snack worldwide. American cowboys and
the early pioneers took to it as beef jerky became a staple of their diets on
the frontier. The early explorers of the country would set up smoke huts and
then they would cut strips of meat to be smoked, dried, or put over a fire. The
real beef jerky came along when the meat was first flavored. By adding spices
the meat became more flavorful.
Today commercial beef jerky is often put in vacuum sealed packaging to pack in the
freshness so no matter how long you carry the meat for, it stays fresh.
Like their forefathers, modern-day Americans love their beef jerky!
In addition to being easily available in
the United States and Canada, beef jerky is also becoming more popular in supermarkets,
convenience stores and pubs of several European countries. One popular brand of
beef jerky is made in Uruguay in bulk, exported to the
United Kingdom, re-packaged for consumers, and then distributed throughout
Europe.
If you are looking for a healthy, tasty and convenient snack to take anywhere, this is
it. It is especially great for camping as it is compact, provides needed
nutrients, tastes great, and does not become stale. Many people that backpack
carry beef jerky just for these reasons. Besides, it is also light and easy to
carry. What more could you ask for?
With more people nowadays being careful of what they are eating and at the same
time looking for low-cost healthy foods, beef jerky is experiencing a
rebirth and even an elevation of status. It's a great and practical snack for adults as well as kids, and
you've got to admit
that eating a stick of beef jerky is healthier for you and better tasting than
a high fat treat. Since 1996 even astronauts have carried beef jerky several
times on space travel due to its light weight and high level of nutrition.
So, why not bring along some beef jerky on your next camping or hiking trip, or
even picnic? If you prefer to make your own, there are plenty of beef jerky
recipes available online. Bon appetite!
Links:
Oberto Beef
Jerky
Great Tasting BBQ Sauce
Fun Winter Camping
Salt Shaker
Cheese Pizza
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