How long will jerky last

To make sure that the beef jerky you make lasts as long as possible it is important to store it in the right way. This can make the difference between a product that will last months and months to one the will deteriorate quickly.

Any food that is dried need to be stored in a way that it will not pick up excess moisture. The key to beef jerky lasting is to ensure the preservation method of drying is adhered to. Drying beef jerky at elevated temperatures forces moisture out of the meat. If it is then left exposed at ambient temperatures it will try to draw moisture out of the air and this effect is especially prevalent in humid areas. This is the most important for food like beef jerky that have very little moisture as they will be more prone to absorbing moisture which will spoil it.

Oxygen has a degrading effect on preserved food, this is why you will often find sachets of oxygen absorbers in commercial beef jerky. Oxygen promotes the deterioration of fats in products like beef jerky. As well as this most food spoilage bacteria and moulds that are going to ruin jerky need oxygen to survive.

If the jerky is packaged in an oxygen-free or low oxygen environment then it will inhibit the growth of these spoilage organisms and your jerky will last longer. Jerky can be kept for weeks or months because the drying and preserving process has removed the moisture that generally interacts with bacteria and fungal enzymes that causes meat to spoil.

Therefore, jerky does not need to be refrigerated and will keep for a significant period without refrigeration. It was invented or developed, for this very reason.

I realize some people will want to extend the shelf life of dried meat via refrigeration. However, keeping it in the fridge will not help as much as you might think. In reality, the key to keeping jerky fresh is to minimize the amount of oxygen in the storage container or bag, not to keep it cool.

Therefore, jerky from the store will last in the refrigerator about as long as it will in the pantry, maybe a month longer. Homemade jerky that has been vacuum packaged should last for about 3 months in the refrigerator. With an open-bag that has been resealed, homemade jerky will last refrigerated for about a month and store-bought jerky for about 4 months.

Extreme cold will help increase the shelf life of any food, and jerky is no exception. Jerky will last much longer if stored correctly in the freezer. In fact, the shelf life of jerky can be extended for up to a year when frozen. To freeze a vacuum-sealed package, simply place it in the freezer as is. Jerky that has been opened will need to be placed in an airtight container or bag to prevent it from becoming freezer burned.

I recommend using vacuum saleable bags, like these found on Amazon. I really like how they are clear and can be resealed with a ziplock. Add in a couple of oxygen absorbers and this method can do a decent job of keeping the jerky fresh, even without vacuum sealing the bags. If you find a 2-year-old pack of beef jerky in the bottom of a drawer, throwing it out is a good idea.

In short, beef jerky lasts for 2 years before going bad. Identifying expired beef jerky is pretty easy. The jerky may look darker or slightly discolored. It can also feel drier and somewhat leathery. Furthermore, it will also smell off.

In ideal conditions, beef jerky can last even longer than 2 years. When stored in the freezer, beef jerky can last almost indefinitely. Pack the vacuum-sealed, wrapped jerky into a freezer bag, making sure the bag is airtight, and place the bag in the freezer. This is particularly helpful if you are buying beef jerky in advance and want to store it safely.

If you live in a very hot climate and are worried about your jerky going bad, you can store it in the fridge or freezer. Store-bought beef jerky lasts for so long because of all the salt and artificial preservatives present in them. How long does homemade jerky last? When prepared correctly, and stored in airtight packaging away from sunlight, beef jerky will last for months in the fridge.

When kept in a pantry, the jerky will go bad after one week. However, if you store your homemade beef jerky in the freezer, it will last for up to a year. The time frames mentioned above will only work when the jerky is stored correctly. It needs to be kept in airtight conditions, if not vacuum sealed. The jerky also has to be kept away from sunlight and damp conditions.

Knowing how to store beef jerky is half the battle when trying to keep your jerky safe and edible. When beef jerky goes bad, it will look different and change color. The texture will also seem drier and will give off a weird smell. While jerky is safe to eat occasionally, or when you are on a trip outdoors. Jerky is made from dried meat, which enables it to have a long shelf life.

However, even though jerky lasts much longer than meat that doesn't get dried, beef jerky will not last forever. When properly stored in a vacuum-sealed package in a cool, dark spot, beef jerky can last up to 2 years. Freezing beef jerky might help it to last even longer. You'll know your beef jerky has gone bad when the color and smell start to change and it doesn't taste like it's supposed to.

One of the best things about beef jerky is that it is pre-cooked and ready to eat. There is no food prep involved whatsoever, which makes beef jerky is so incredibly convenient. In most cases, you don't even have to refrigerate the package after it's been opened. Dogs are carnivores, which means they love meat.