Jerky#Ch'arki

Jerky is lean trimmed meat strips which are dehydrated to prevent spoilage and seasoned to varying degrees. Normally, this drying includes the addition of salt to prevent microbial growth through osmosis. The word "jerky" derives from the Quechua word ch'arki which means "dried, salted meat".{{cite book|first=Teofilo Laime|last=Ajacopa|title=Diccionario bilingüe Iskay simipi yuyayk'ancha Quechua – Castellano Castellano – Quechua|trans-title=Bilingual dictionary Quechua-Spanish Spanish – Quechua|edition=2|language=es,qu|location=La Paz|year=2007|publisher=none|url=https://futatraw.ourproject.org/descargas/DicQuechuaBolivia.pdf|access-date=7 September 2024}}{{cite news|title =Globe trotting: Ecuador|url=http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/lang/archives/2006/07/15/2003318976|access-date=6 February 2015|newspaper=Taipei Times|date= 15 July 2006}}{{cite news|title= Feet in the Trough: Cured Meat |url= http://www.economist.com/world/displaystory.cfm?story_id=8345876 | newspaper= The Economist |date= 2006-12-19|access-date= 2007-12-19}}

Modern manufactured jerky is often marinated, prepared with a seasoned spice rub or liquid, or smoked with low heat (usually under {{cvt|70|C|F|-1|disp=or}}). Store-bought jerky commonly includes sweeteners such as brown sugar.

Jerky is ready to eat, needs no additional preparation, and can be stored for months without refrigeration. A proper protein-to-moisture content is required in the final cured product to ensure maximum shelf-life.

Many products that are sold as jerky consist of highly processed, chopped, and formed meat rather than traditional sliced whole-muscle meat.{{Citation needed|date=August 2020}} These products may contain more fat, but moisture content, as in the whole-muscle product, must meet a 0.75 to 1 moisture-to protein ratio in the US.USDA Food Standards and Labeling Policy Book, p. 83.{{Full citation needed|date=August 2020}}

Jerky-like products can be found around the world, such as biltong in South Africa, pastirma in Turkey, ch'arki (Quechua for dried, salted meat whose hispanicized spellings include charque, charqui or charquí) in South America and cecina in Spain. The main processing districts of beef jerky in China are Inner Mongolia, Xinjiang and Yunnan. Beef jerky from Inner Mongolia is the most popular product in all of China and is classified into traditional and modern beef jerky by air drying outdoors (hand-made) or thermal drying (large-scale industrial production), respectively.{{Cite journal |last1=Shi |first1=Shuo |last2=Kong |first2=Baohua |last3=Wang |first3=Yan |last4=Liu |first4=Qian |last5=Xia |first5=Xiufang |date=2020-05-01 |title=Comparison of the quality of beef jerky processed by traditional and modern drying methods from different districts in Inner Mongolia |url=https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0309174019307272 |journal=Meat Science |volume=163 |pages=108080 |doi=10.1016/j.meatsci.2020.108080 |pmid=32062525 |issn=0309-1740|url-access=subscription }}{{Cite web |last=Anders |first=Tara |date=2021-05-13 |title=Jerky Around the World {{!}} How Jerky is Made Across the Globe {{!}} Crockett Creek |url=https://crockettcreek.com/jerky-around-the-world/ |access-date=2025-05-02 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Fun Facts about Jerky from Around the World |url=https://carnivoreclub.co/blogs/the-daily-meat/fun-facts-about-jerky-from-around-the-world |access-date=2025-05-02 |website=Carnivore Club CA |language=en}}

Preparation

File:Beef jerky being dried.jpg

File:Bak kwa.jpg jerky]]

Jerky is made from domesticated animals as well as game animals. Jerky from domesticated animals includes beef, pork, goat and mutton or lamb and game animals such as deer, kudu, springbok, kangaroo, and bison are also used.{{cite book | last = Delong | first = Deanna | title = How to Dry Foods | publisher = Penguin Group | year = 1992 | page = 79 | url = https://books.google.com/books?id=z4hJjFFSKx4C&q=jerky+intitle:How+intitle:to+intitle:Dry+intitle:Foods&pg=RA1-PA79 | isbn = 1-55788-050-6 }} Other animals such as turkey, ostrich, salmon, chicken, duck, goose, shrimps, oxen, squids, octopuses, alligator, pigeon, crocodile, tuna, emu, horse, camel, lion, bear, snake and earthworm have entered the global, national, regional or local market with varying degrees of success.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-meat-jerky-idUSKCN11F2I3|title=Slumping U.S. meat prices help feed appetite for jerky|last=Waters|first=Theopolis|work=U.S.|access-date=2018-09-18|language=en-US}}

Most fat must be trimmed from the meat prior to drying, as fat increases the chances of spoilage (modern vacuum packing and chemical preservatives have served to help prevent these risks). The meat must be dried quickly to limit bacterial growth during the critical period when the meat is not yet dry. To dry quickly without high temperature, which would cook the meat, the meat must be sliced or pressed thin.{{Cite book |last=Bell |first=Mary T. |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tmOCDwAAQBAJ&dq=Jerky&pg=PT293 |title=Jerky: The Complete Guide to Making It |date=2016-11-01 |publisher=Simon and Schuster |isbn=978-1-5107-1183-9 |language=en}}

Salt is the most commonly added ingredient and is used to improve flavor, enhance the storage life and remove moisture from the product. Spices such as black pepper or garlic are other common ingredients. Ingredients such as soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, sugar, teriyaki or barbecue spice can be added to change the flavor and are usually employed in homemade beef jerky recipes.{{Cite web |date=2017-08-06 |title=Jerky Making: Producing a Traditional Food With Modern Processes {{!}} NDSU Agriculture |url=https://www.ndsu.edu/agriculture/extension/publications/jerky-making-producing-traditional-food-modern-processes |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=www.ndsu.edu |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Segal |first=Jennifer |date=2021-01-21 |title=The Best Homemade Beef Jerky Recipe |url=https://www.onceuponachef.com/recipes/the-best-homemade-beef-jerky-recipe.html |access-date=2025-04-29 |website=Once Upon a Chef |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Doc's Best Beef Jerky |url=https://www.allrecipes.com/recipe/142948/docs-best-beef-jerky/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Allrecipes |language=en}}{{Cite web |title=Beef Jerky Recipe {{!}} Cook the Book |url=https://www.seriouseats.com/beef-jerky-recipe |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Serious Eats |language=en}}

In industrial settings, large low-temperature drying ovens with many heater elements and fans use exhaust ports to remove moisture-laden air. The combination of fast-moving air and low heat dries the meat to the desired moisture content within a few hours. The raw, marinated jerky strips are placed on racks of nylon-coated metal screens sprayed with light vegetable oil to allow the meat to be removed easily. The screen trays are placed closely in layers on rolling carts and then put in the drying oven.{{Cite web |title=How Is Beef Jerky Made Commercially? {{!}} The Jerky Universe |url=https://beefjerky.com/blogs/news/how-is-beef-jerky-made-commercially |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=BeefJerky.com |language=en}}

A plethora of suitable dehydrators for use at home with the aim of producing homemade jerky, are widely available. These dehydrators work by passing heated air over the meat to remove moisture in order to dry it. The air evaporates moisture in the meat drying it out.{{Cite web |date=2016-06-14 |title=The Best Dehydrators for Making Beef Jerky [2025] |url=https://www.jerkyholic.com/best-dehydrator-making-beef-jerky/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Jerkyholic |language=en-US}}

Chemical preservatives, such as sodium nitrite, are often used to prepare jerky with the historical salted drying procedure. Smoking is the most traditional method, as it preserves, flavors, and dries the meat simultaneously. Salting is the most common method used today, as it provides seasoning to improve the flavor as well as preserve the meat. While some methods involve applying the seasonings with a marinade, adding moisture to the meat can increase the drying time.{{Cite web |last1=Kolb |first1=Lorre |last2=Communications |first2=Extension |last3=Engagement |first3=Stakeholder |title=What's the deal with Nitrates and Nitrites used in meat products? |url=https://livestock.extension.wisc.edu/articles/whats-the-deal-with-nitrates-and-nitrates-used-in-meat-products/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Livestock |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Jerky and Food Safety |url=https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/meat-fish/jerky |website=www.fsis.usda.gov}}

Packaging

File:Raw jerky in dehydrator.jpg

After the jerky is dried to the proper moisture content to prevent spoilage, it is cooled and then packaged in (often resealable) plastic bags, either nitrogen gas flushed or vacuumed packed. The sealed packages usually contain small pouches of oxygen absorber to avoid fat oxidation. These small packets are filled with iron particles, which react with oxygen, removing the oxygen from the sealed jerky package and from an opened and resealed unfinished packet.{{Cite web |title=What Are The Different Types of Jerky Packaging - Pouch.me |url=https://pouch.me/what-are-the-different-types-of-jerky-packaging/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=What Is the Best Packaging for Jerky? - Pouch.me |url=https://pouch.me/what-is-the-best-packaging-for-jerky/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}} Because of the necessary low fat and moisture content, jerky is high in protein. For example, a 30 g (about 1 oz) portion of lean meat contains about 7 g of protein. By removing 15 g of water from the meat, the protein ratio is doubled to nearly 15 g of protein per 30 g portion. In some low moisture varieties, a 30 g serving will contain 21 g of protein, and only one g of fat. The price per unit weight of this type of jerky is higher than less-dried forms, as it takes 90 g of 99% lean meat to generate 30 g of jerky. Unpackaged fresh jerky made from sliced, whole-muscle meat has been available in specialty stores in such places as Hong Kong at least since the 1970s. The products are purchased in kilograms, and customers choose from 10 to 20 types of meat used to make the product.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} Some are sold in strands instead of slices. Compared to the sealed packaged versions, unpackaged jerky has a relatively short shelf life. This type of jerky has also become very popular in convenience stores in the United States, where it is usually sold in clear plastic containers under the name "slab" jerky.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}

Regulation

Most nations have regulations pertaining to the production of dried meat products. There are strict requirements to ensure safe and ethical production of jerky products. Factories are required to have inspectors and sanitation plans. The Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) promote policies and establish measures and procedures to regulate dried meat products internationally.{{Cite web |title=FAO and WHO Codex Alimentarius or Food Code|url=https://www.fao.org/fao-who-codexalimentarius/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.fao.org}}

= European Union =

The European Union (EU) prohibit the importation of meat products, including jerky, without additional and extensive customs documentation, and further inspections.For example, The UK Department for Food and Agriculture banned all meat imports for personal consumption from the USA. Their data can be searched:[http://importdetails.defra.gov.uk/Default.aspx?Location=None&Module=IDDSearch Defra search] European Union regulations on jerky, specifically biltong/jerky, focus on ensuring animal health and food safety. Imports are only allowed from countries or regions authorized for such imports, and these products must undergo specific treatments before entering the EU. Decision 2007/777/EC outlines the specific authorization requirements and treatments.{{Cite web |title=REGULATIONS - EUR-Lex.europa.eu. - European Union |url=https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/PDF/?uri=CELEX:32020R0386 |website=EUR-Lex.europa.eu}}

= United States =

In the United States, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) is responsible for that oversight. To comply with USDA regulations, poultry jerky must be heated to an internal temperature of {{cvt|160|F|C|order=flip}} for uncured poultry or {{cvt|155|F|C|order=flip}} for cured poultry to be considered safe.{{Citation |title=FSIS Compliance Guideline for Meat and Poultry Jerky Produced by Small and Very Small Establishments |date=August 2014 |pages=24 |url=https://www.fsis.usda.gov/sites/default/files/import/Compliance-Guideline-Jerky-2014.pdf |url-status= |publisher=Food Safety and Inspection Service, U.S. Department of Agriculture}}

Nutrition

A typical 30 g portion of fresh jerky contains 10–15 g of protein, 1 g of fat, and 0–3 g of carbohydrates, although some beef jerky can have a protein content above 65%.{{cite web|url=http://www.meatsnacker.co.uk/collections/high-protein-meat-snacks/products/billy-franks-beef-jerky-roast-beef-mustard-40g|title=Billy Franks Beef Jerky - Roast Beef and Mustard (40g)|website=MeatSnacker|access-date=30 March 2015|archive-date=12 September 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170912102036/https://www.meatsnacker.co.uk/collections/high-protein-meat-snacks/products/billy-franks-beef-jerky-roast-beef-mustard-40g|url-status=dead}} Since traditional jerky recipes use a basic salt cure, sodium can be a concern for some people. A 30 g serving of jerky could contain more than 600 mg of sodium, which would be about 30% of the recommended USRDA.{{Cite web |title=HISTORY OF JERKY |url=http://www.foodpreserving.org/2014/11/history-of-jerky.html |access-date=2025-04-30}}

Market size and popularity

= Global market =

The global jerky snacks market size was valued at $5.66 billion in 2024. It is expected to reach $8.81 billion by 2033, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.79% from 2025-2033. North America dominates the market, holding a market share of over 50.0% in 2024.{{Cite web |title=Jerky Snacks Market Size, Share, Industry Growth {{!}} 2033 |url=https://www.imarcgroup.com/jerky-snacks-market |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.imarcgroup.com |language=en}}

= US market =

In the United States, sales of jerky snacks increased significantly, rising by 10.4% in 2024 to reach $3.29 billion. This growth can be attributed to the rising popularity of salty and spicy snacks and a growing interest in snackable protein sources. As a result, dried meat snacks have emerged as the fastest-growing category within the United States snack food market.{{cite web | last=Williams | first=Jennifer | title=America's $3 Billion Habit: Meat Sticks | website=WSJ | date=2025-01-26 | url=https://www.wsj.com/arts-culture/food-cooking/americas-3-billion-habit-meat-sticks-11581529 | access-date=2025-01-27}}

Largest companies in the industry

= Europe =

The largest producer of beef jerky in Europe is The Meatsnacks Group (Valeo Foods).{{Cite web |date=2021-08-09 |title=Valeo agrees to acquire meat snacks group NWFE |url=https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2021/08/09/Valeo-agrees-to-acquire-meat-snacks-group-NWFE/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=FoodManufacture.co.uk |language=en}} They are also a major producer of biltong, another type of dried meat snack. The company has expanded its product line to include salmon jerky.{{Cite news |date=2016-05-24 |title=Beef jerky firm takes over Grantown on Spey smokehouse |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-36368234#:~:text=Europe's%20largest%20producer%20of%20beef%20jerky%20has,owned%20by%20Highlands%20and%20Islands%20Enterprise%20(HIE). |access-date=2025-05-13 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}{{Cite web |date=2018-07-25 |title=Europe’s largest producer of jerky and biltong bets big on salmon |url=https://www.salmonbusiness.com/europes-largest-producer-of-jerky-and-biltong-bets-big-on-salmon/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=SalmonBusiness |language=en-GB}}

= North America =

The largest beef jerky producer in North America is Link Snacks, Inc. (Jack Link's). It holds a significant market share in the US meat jerky production industry.{{Cite web |last=Inc |first=IBISWorld |title=Meat Jerky Production in the US - Market Research Report (2015-2030) |url=https://www.ibisworld.com/united-states/industry/meat-jerky-production/4826/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=www.ibisworld.com |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2015-11-08 |title=King of beef jerky has a knack for marketing |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/business/king-of-beef-jerky-has-a-knack-for-marketing/ |access-date=2025-05-13 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}

As a military combat ration

Jerky, particularly beef jerky, is a common component of military combat rations, both historical and modern. It is included because it is a convenient, shelf-stable, and nutritious protein source that soldiers can easily carry and consume in the field. Jerky has been a staple in military rations for centuries due to its durability and ability to stay fresh without refrigeration. The Continental Army in the Revolutionary War era, for example, included salted meat, and jerky as part of their rations when fresh food was scarce. It is also a common component of modern military rations, such as the Meal, Ready-to-Eat (MRE). Some variations of jerky are found in rations like the "First Strike Ration," specifically designed for initial deployment periods, providing an "eat on the move" option. Jerky is lightweight, easy to store, and provides a concentrated source of protein and energy. It is also a great option for survival rations when fresh or prepared food is unavailable. While traditional beef jerky is common, military rations also include other variations, such as turkey jerky and osmotically dried meat. Some experimental rations even include caffeinated jerky.{{Cite web |date=2012-09-19 |title=Army designing tastier meats for field rations |url=https://www.army.mil/article/87474/army_designing_tastier_meats_for_field_rations |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Debutify |date=2023-07-04 |title=Bite into US Jerky History |url=https://matthatjerky.com/blogs/jerky/bite-into-us-jerky-history#:~:text=Beef%20jerky%20was%20a%20staple,make%20it%20easy%20to%20carry. |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Matt-Hat Jerky |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=2015-11-24 |title=Natick researcher develops turkey bacon, turkey jerky |url=https://www.army.mil/article/159017/natick_researcher_develops_turkey_bacon_turkey_jerky |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Dean |first=Sam |date=2011-11-01 |title=Caffeinated Beef Jerky and "Zapplesauce" in Experimental MREs |url=https://www.bonappetit.com/trends/article/caffeinated-beef-jerky-and-zapplesauce-in-experimental-mres#:~:text=Caffeinated%20Beef%20Jerky%20and%20%22Zapplesauce%22%20in%20Experimental%20MREs%20%7C%20Bon%20App%C3%A9tit. |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Bon Appétit |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |date=2012-09-17 |title='Where's the beef?' -- DoD finds answers in osmotic dehydration process |url=https://www.army.mil/article/87419/wheres_the_beef_dod_finds_answers_in_osmotic_dehydration_process |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=www.army.mil |language=en}}{{Cite news |last=Davenport |first=Christian |date=2011-10-30 |title=Caffeinated jerky and Zapplesauce: Adding kick to the military's tough-to-swallow MRE |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/caffeinated-jerky-and-zapplesauce-adding-kick-to-the-militarys-tough-to-swallow-mre/2011/10/27/gIQAtI9aTM_story.html |access-date=2025-04-30 |newspaper=The Washington Post |language=en-US |issn=0190-8286}}{{Cite web |title=Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Field Ration - Varusteleka.com |url=https://www.varusteleka.com/en/product/kuivalihakundi-beef-jerky-field-ration/79697 |access-date=2025-04-30 |website=Kuivalihakundi Beef Jerky Field Ration - Varusteleka.com |language=en}}

Ch'arki

File:Charqui.jpg

File:Olluquitos con camote.jpg with charqui]]

Ch'arki (Quechua for dried, salted meat, Hispanicized spellings charque, charqui, charquí) is a dried, salted meat product. Andean charqui, made in Peru, Bolivia, and Chile, is from alpaca, llama, or alpaca-llama cross-breeds. Peru is the world's largest producer, producing approximately 450 tons annually. Brazilian charque is made from beef.{{cite journal |last1=Salvá |first1=Bettit K. |last2=Fernández-Diez |first2=Ana |last3=Ramos |first3=Daphne D. |last4=Caro |first4=Irma |last5=Mateo |first5=Javier |title=Chemical composition of alpaca (Vicugna pacos) charqui |journal=Food Chemistry |date=January 2012 |volume=130 |issue=2 |pages=329–334 |doi=10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.07.046}}

The manufacture of charqui principally consists of salting and sun-drying. In some regions, such as in Puno, the meat is sliced before drying. In others, like Cusco, the meat is dried from whole bone-in carcass pieces, known as 'charqui completo'.

It was industrialized in charqueadas (in Brazil) or saladeros (in Argentina and Uruguay). In the United States ch'arki was Anglicised as jerky.{{Cite web|url=http://etimologias.dechile.net/?charqui|title=CHARQUI|website=Etimologías de Chile - Diccionario que explica el origen de las palabras|access-date=Aug 27, 2020}}{{cite web |first=Daniel G. |last=Pesante|url=http://academic.uprm.edu/dpesante/5355/charqui.pdf |title=Carne Seca de Res (Charqui o Jerky) |type=Archived copy |access-date=2012-03-29 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100701034008/http://academic.uprm.edu/dpesante/5355/charqui.pdf |archive-date=2010-07-01 }}

When encountered by the Spanish, the Inca Empire supplied tampu (inns) along the Inca road system with llama ch'arki for travelers. The Inca used a freeze drying process that took advantage of their cold dry mountain air and strong sun.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

References

External links

[http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3007460 Commercial Item Description (CID): Cured Meat Snacks] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081007201449/http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELDEV3007460 |date=2008-10-07 }} U.S. Dept. of Agriculture specification
[https://web.archive.org/web/20110721070152/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/factsheets/jerky_and_food_safety/index.asp U.S. Dept. of Agriculture: Jerky and food safety fact sheet]

Category:Dried meat

Category:Snack foods

Category:Convenience foods

Category:Quechua words and phrases

Category:Fur trade