The jerky-making process involves cutting away fat, adding salts and spices (for preservation and flavor) and then drying the meat fairly quickly, to prevent bacteria growth. There are records of ancient people in Asia and South America drying meat in this way, because it would last longer and was very portable nutritious food for travelers.
With that said, it begs the question, “Does jerky have a long shelf life?” Yes and no. Unopened Savage Jerky has about a one-year shelf life from the date it’s made. Once it’s open we recommend eating it within a week. That doesn’t mean jerky goes bad after a year (unopened) or a week (opened). It simply means it’s “best by” those dates. When jerky passes the best-by date, the flavors start to break down and it loses what makes Savage Jerky special.
When you look at expiration dates on any kind of food, you’ll typically see them referred as:
- Best by, also referred to as “best if used by” date
- Sell by, meaning if it isn’t sold by this date, the retailer should dispose of it
- Use by, meaning if the consumer hasn’t used it, they should dispose of it
- Freeze by, sometimes combined to read “use or freeze by”
The USDA estimates that Americans waste more food because of misunderstood expiration dates. Many foods are safe to eat once the expiration date passes, but they recommend if the food smells spoiled or looks discolored, throw it out. You can learn more about this from the USDA’s Food Safety and Inspection Service consumer information website.
Let’s get back to talking jerky.
Shelf Life of Beef Jerky
Beef jerky is a type of protein-rich food that's made from special cuts of meat that have been air-dried in a dehydrator and then stored. The dehydration process toughens the meat and even makes it a little brittle. Our recipes have been formulated with delicious rubs and spices (all of which you can read about in our product details), and our proprietary dehydration process produces a tender cut of jerky.
Check out our collection of beef jerky, ranging in spiciness from a mild lime and garlic mojo to nastily hot Carolina Reaper.
Savage’s beef jerky is made from all natural ingredients and has a one-year shelf life from the date of manufacture, but it is still edible beyond the year. After about a year, the flavors start to fade, but the jerky itself is still good.
Shelf Life of Other Types of Jerky
How long can you store other types of jerky? There is no single answer to this question, since the length of time that different types of jerky will last will vary depending on the recipe and how it is stored. Our jerky contains no preservatives and no nitrates or nitrites, and that applies to our bacon jerky as well.
Savage’s bacon jerky also has about a one-year shelf life from the date it was made, but it may still be edible beyond that. However, to be honest, we’ve yet to meet anyone who’s been able to leave our jerky snacks sitting on a shelf that long. They’re just too good to sit on a shelf.
Best Way to Store Jerky
You can store your jerky products in the refrigerator once the package has been opened, but we don’t recommend it. The refrigeration process will degrade the products, which affects not only the texture but also the flavors. We don’t recommend freezing Savage Jerky (or any jerky, including homemade), as that, too, will break down the texture and flavor of your jerky.
By the way, if you want to try your hand at making your own beef jerky, you might be interested in our Savage Jerky spice rub. It’s what we use on our own jerky, and it contains sea salt, garlic, paprika, chipotle pepper, cayenne pepper, habanero pepper, cumin, turmeric, and a squeeze of dehydrated lime juice.
Store jerky in a cool, dry place where it can stay fresh. If you’re one of those rare birds who can open a package and just take a nibble, make sure you express all the air from the bag before you reseal it tightly.
How Long Does Savage Jerky Last?
For Savage Jerky products, our use by dates are typically one year from the manufacturing date or one week from the date you open the package. Beef and bacon jerky, whether homemade or manufactured, taste better when they’re consumed sooner rather than later. The longer they sit, the more they break down and lose flavor. One-month jerky tastes better than two-month jerky; two-month better than three-month, and so on and so on.
FAQs About Jerky Storage
Can beef jerky get moldy?
Mold on any kind of homemade jerky can happen if you don’t trim the meat properly. Mold thrives in dampness and humidity, so, yes, if you store food in a damp place, it is more susceptible to mold formation. The FDA says that only a handful of molds are dangerous, but they all taste nasty and if you eat mold, it could cause an upset stomach.
Can beef jerky expire?
Sure. Anything can expire. But what does “expiration” mean? It means the time for the food’s peak flavor has passed. It may still be safe to eat; however, the expiration date suggests that it may not taste as good as a fresher version.
Can beef jerky go bad in heat?
If you leave your beef jerky in the car in the heat, it will still very likely be safe to eat. Remember, ancient people made jerky for long travels, both in extreme heat and cold. The heat may, however, affect the texture or tenderness of the jerky.
Does beef jerky need to be refrigerated?
No, unless the manufacturer says so, beef and other jerky products do not need to be refrigerated. Savage Jerky does not recommend refrigerating or freezing our products.
How long does beef jerky last after being opened?
We recommend that you eat the jerky within a week of opening the package.
How can you tell if beef jerky has gone bad?
Give it the sniff test. If it smells foul, it’s bad. Look for abnormal colors or growths. Anything suspicious should be thrown away.
How do you best preserve jerky?
Once you open a package of Savage Jerky beef or bacon jerky, if you don’t intend to eat it all in one sitting, simply reseal the package, making sure it is airtight. No need to refrigerate it.