Posted on July 27th, 2022

If you are a beef jerky fanatic, try some of these other types of jerky and see what you think of them.

To make jerky of any kind, you must season or marinate the meat and then put it in a dehydrating machine. This is how jerky gets it chewy texture that we all know and love. Jerky makes for the perfect mid-day snack because its loaded with protein and it gives you the boost you need to go about the rest of your day. The most typical kind of jerky you will see at your local grocery store is beef jerky but there are actually several other types of animal jerky out there. If you aren't a meat-eater, there are also companys that make plant-based jerky as well.

Alligator Jerky

First up is alligator jerky! Don’t knock it till you try it. Alligator meat is known to be low in calories and high in protein. Most often, alligator jerky is made from solid strips of juicy alligator tenderloin. If you are making your own alligator jerky, lightly season the meat and then smoke it for extra flavor before dehydrating it. If you are purchasing this type of jerky from the store, there will be plenty of flavors to pick from. The best part about alligator jerky is that this type of meat is steroid and growth hormone-free so you don’t have to worry about these substances entering your own body through the meat.

Beef Jerky

Next up is the classic beef jerky. Beef jerky is probably the most popular type of jerky to make and sell. It is very versatile and there are several different flavors that beef jerky can take on. Some of the more well-known flavors of beef jerky that you see at the store are peppered, spicy, teriyaki, garlic, sweet and spicy, habanero, original, and black pepper. Quite the variety of flavors right? If you are planning to make your own beef jerky try out some different homemade spice blends when seasoning your meat.

Duck Jerky

Have you ever tried duck jerky before? This type of jerky is super tasty and the meat gives off a slightly sweet flavor. To make duck jerky, marinate your meat in a mixture of brown sugar, teriyaki soy sauce, salt, garlic, and some spices. After the meat has marinated smoke it until cured to tasty jerky perfection. Duck meat is another type of meat that is growth hormone and steroid free because most often ducks are raised and harvested from the wild. This also means that their jerky has no additives, fillers, or MSGs. So if you are tired of regular old beef jerky give duck jerky a try.

Elk Jerky

Meat that comes from elk is low in fat and high in protein and iron. Lots of people say that elk meat tastes similar to beef, yet has its own unique flavor at the same time. The best elk jerky comes from elk that are raised in a steroid-free and growth hormone-free environment. Thick pieces of meat are seasoned in a variety of flavors like original, spicy, and teriyaki and cured to perfection. If you are feeling gamey try some elk jerky and see what you think of it!

Ostrich Jerky

Ostrich meat is another type of meat that tastes similar to beef. So if you love eating beef jerky, surely you will love ostrich jerky just as much. If you have wild-raised ostriches or know how to get their meat, try making your own jerky with it. All you need to do is marinate strips of ostrich meat in soy sauce, garlic, salt, brown sugar, onion, and spices. Next, smoke your strips of meat until they are perfectly cured. If you don’t have a smoker, look for a recipe that uses a dehydrator. If you don’t plan to make your own, try purchasing some ostrich jerky from a supplier that manufactures it themselves.

Salmon Jerky

Surely you have tried salmon before. Maybe you‘ve had it grilled or maybe you’ve made salmon in the air fryer before, but have you ever had salmon made into jerky? Salmon jerky comes in multiple flavors like teriyaki, original, and peppered. To make salmon jerky, soak the strips of meat in a brine overnight and then cold smoke them. By using the method of cold smoking, moisture and flavor are locked into the meat. Even if you don’t make it yourself, you should really give salmon jerky a try.

Turkey Jerky

Enjoy delicious turkey jerky around Thanksgiving or any time of the year because it’s just that good. Turkey jerky is commonly made in original and spicy flavors. If you would like to make your own, cut up thick strips of meat and marinate them in spices of your choice. Then cure your meat with hickory smoke. The best turkey jerky will come from turkey meat that has no additives, preservatives, or fillers.

Venison Jerky

Venison, otherwise known as deer jerky is lean meat that is high in protein and B vitamins. Venison jerky is a pretty popular type of jerky to make at home. A lot of hunters will turn some of their harvested deer meat into jerky. When making your own jerky marinate your strips of meat in soy sauce, salt, brown sugar, garlic, onions, and spices of choice. The next step is to either smoke or dehydrate your strips of meat. Once this step is finished, enjoy your homemade venison jerky.

Tuna Jerky

Tuna is probably the last meat you would think of to make jerky with, but don’t be fooled, it’s delicious! The best tuna jerky comes from high-quality Yellowfin Tuna, but any type of tuna will work. If you are looking to make your own jerky with tuna meat, it’s pretty simple. Marinate your strips of meat in corn syrup, soy sauce, black pepper, red pepper, ginger, nutmeg, and other spices of choice. After letting them marinate smoke them until they are perfectly cured.

Snake Jerky

If you are feeling brave, give rattlesnake jerky a try. We don’t recommend making your own unless you are trained in handling living or non-living snakes and their venom. Gives this interesting type of jerky a try if you are looking for new and unexpected food to eat.

Source: The Recipe