Dried meat: what´s the difference between Beef Jerky and Biltong ?

Dried meat : protein food for athletes, tasty food for snackers !

Known as "Beef Jerky" in the USA or "Biltong" in South Africa, dried meat recipes are numerous and tasty. There must be one in our range for you that will meet your taste expectations and buds whether you are an athlete looking for post-workout recovery food (or for future long lasting exercise) or a great eater of sausage at happy hours.

First of all, what is dried meat ?

Drying is an ancient tradition and method of meat preservation that has been used everywhere in the world. The meat is cut into thin strips (before or after the drying process), marinated then dried under certain temperatures (fridge, cellar, sun rays, dryer) ; this stage can last several weeks. Any type of meat can be dried, the best known being beef jerky, but you can also find dried turkey, deer, mutton, and even ostrich jerky !

What are the benefits of eating dried meat ?

Jerky bags have a 6-month shelf life (up to two years) after date of production. You are supposed to eat up your jerky within three days of bag opening, but it’s usually gone after just one day :-) From a nutritional standpoint, it’s a product high in protein (half to three-quarter of the pouch weight) and low in fat. This is a « one-off » snack in the sense that meat lovers can walk around, stylishly breaking the cold chain with a sirloin steak in their backpack. Dried meats can be consumed in addition to other snacks and bars and are a great savory alternative.

International brand names, a broad choice of recipes

Freezedried & Co has selected various recipes on its website store. Several criteria are to be taken into consideration when choosing dried meat. For example, for some people thick strips can result hard to chew whereas for others they contribute to appease hunger pangs. The various seasonings also offer to modern « Cro-Magnons » multiple taste adventures. In short, before finding the right jerky recipe made for you, you should try and taste among various brands and know the difference between Beef Jerky, Biltong and Pemmican.

Beef Jerky, an American tradition

Beef Jerky refer to various recipes of dried beef meat. Bullseye Meats* offer a top selling recipe called Classic. This is a pure delight for thick-strip lovers. The Estonian brand takes another look at the wild west with the name of its recipes and the design of its packaging : Original (spicier than Classic), Smoked (smoky flavor), Teriyaki (smoky and spicy flavor).

GMO free, gluten free, Adventure Menu**’s Beef Jerky is tender. You can select turkey (Turkey Jerky) or beef (bull-beef sirloin steak). The Czech brand is known by outdoor shoppers for its sterilized precooked meals. Now, its natural meats will also be included on your menu for happy-hour events or sporting activities.

Well known to customers who shop regularly on Lyophilise & Co, Real*** is another brand that has successfully introduced a line of protein snacks. The Norwegian brand has launched a new range of snacks on the go, ideal for outdoor activities (biking, sailing, hiking…). Obviously called On the Go, the range also includes chocolate bars. But let’s get back to the two Real Beef Snack recipes. The cut shredded meat is seasoned either with chili and garlic or with salt and pepper. And both recipes are to die for !

What’s the difference between Beef Jerky and Biltong ?

Originally from South Africa, Biltong is usually more tender than Beef Jerky. Unlike dried meat from the Americas, this meat is marinated and cut into thin slices after drying. The result ? The texture is more tender and meat cuts are smaller. Discover another French brand Feed&Go on our website freezedriedandco.com.

To sum up :

Jerky is an original snack that can satisfy people following a specific diet as much as athletes fueling up, or meat connoisseurs enjoying cold meat or dried sausage who feel like tasting something different or exploring exotic lands through taste.

What about you ? Have you already eaten some dried meat ? What are your favorite jerky recipes ?

* 25 to 27.5 g of protein in a 50g bag
** protein/weight ratio (16 to 19.2 g in a 25g bag).
*** 25 g bag includes at leat 13g of protein – Shelf life : almost 3 years from date of production