Last year, during our Month of Beef, we surveyed 10 of the best beef jerkies. Some, like Slim Jim and Jack Links, are made for cheap and easy road trip snacking. But others are more like a fine wine or well-made craft brew — although typically more expensive, these artisanal jerkies contain levels of complexity not found in the average gas station variety. They’re meant to be savored, not inhaled, moving them away from “pantry staple” and toward “birthday present” on the “frequency of jerky consumption” spectrum. Think of key words like “wholesome,” “hormone-free” or “filet mignon”. But as is the case in any group testing, we missed a few solid options. Now, we want to rectify that mistake with this beefy refresher of three more great artisanal jerkies.
MORE BEEF TO CHEW ON: Learn All About the Four Main Beef Cattle Breeds | A Guide to Lesser Known Cuts of Beef | The Perfect Burger Patty
Jerk’n Pickle
For the first few bites, it’s almost crunchy, but the hardest of the three jerkies eventually melts in the mouth. Not only do the folks at Jerk’n Pickle use choice Angus, they also use vegetable juice, giving the meat a tasty broth-like flavor. For those concerned about animal rights, Jerk’n Pickle raises their cows on-pasture without antibiotics and hormones. The only downside is that it’s not made from 100 percent grass-fed beef, but if that’s your main concern, you’re probably the type to buy jerky, anyways.
