Beef Jerky - Calgarypuck Forums - The Unofficial Calgary Flames Fan Community

Hack&Lube · 09-20-2005, 12:25 PM

Beef jerky is basically my favorite food of all time but I never know where to look to buy this stuff aside from the usual processed and bagged variety you find in Wal-Mart, Costco, Supermarkets, etc. And it's always a very expensive food.

I remember I was in BC years ago and the IGA there had beef jerky from the deli counter and it was amazingly good and fresh.

I also loved a Chinese style ultra-thin beef jerky by a company called Jimmy's which is sadly out of business.

I've also eaten McCormick's Good as Gold a few times but it's pretty expensive at $5 a small bag at most places that carry it...although I hear that if you show up to his Calgary residence at Halloween, he gives out meat snacks like jerky.

Any recommendations of where I can find a good, cheap, large quantity of beef jerky to tide me over the cold winter? I generally prefer heavily peppered salted ones and not the sweet BBW or Teriyaki kinds.

spydermal · 09-20-2005, 12:30 PM

Man I love beef jerky. I havent had it in a long while, becuase like you said its the price. Out of all meat products, beef jerky is what my vegatarian friend misses.

Clarkey · 09-20-2005, 12:56 PM

Like you, I am a beef jerky connossieur.

I'm always seeking out new jerky.

Costco has the Grimm's packs for about $10 which is average. They also have those steak nuggets which are really good but the msg or whatever it is will make you feel like shinguard after. Oberto is ok too.

There are 2 kinds of Longview beef jerky. To get the real deal good stuff you have to drive to Longview. The owners had a falling out or something and they split the company in two. The one guy can only sell his Longview beef jerky from Longview and the other stuff has the major distribution deal. Go to longview and pick up a couple $20 packs which should tide you over for a while.

There is a meat shop in High River (Foothills Meats I believe) that has good jerky for a good price.

Some of the local butcher shops make their own, which is often pretty good, but can be expensive. The grocery store deli stuff is the same as the Grimm's they sell at Costco I think, it's not bad.

I don't like that ground up 'hamburger' jerkey a la Big Chief. It has to be real strips of meat.

I've made my own as well, in the oven. It's good stuff but makes a mess of the oven and I usually eat it in a few days so that's like eating a big roast by myself.

Take a drive out to Longview to pick some up, it's God's country out there, you'll enjoy the scenery.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 09-20-2005, 01:21 PM

Just make your own.
Don't use a dehydrator or your oven, you can pick up a small smoker for less than $100 and you can make jerky all year round, plus you can make it to your taste.

Also, if you know anyone who hunts you can make deer jerky (which I think is way better than beef). Other things to try would be pork and turkey jerky. That's the beauty, if you make it yourself you can get whatever you want.

kdogg · 09-20-2005, 01:57 PM

I always thought the Beef Jerkey sold at the Stampede grounds in the Roundup Center was AMAZING. Too bad its not available year round.
________
CutieHeidi

FireFly · 09-20-2005, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bring_Back_Shantz@Sep 20 2005, 01:21 PM
Also, if you know anyone who hunts you can make deer jerky (which I think is way better than beef).

God, yes! Deer sausage as well! Mmmmm... gonna have to hound my brother in law now....

Bring_Back_Shantz · 09-20-2005, 04:15 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by FireFly@Sep 20 2005, 03:35 PM
God, yes! Deer sausage as well! Mmmmm... gonna have to hound my brother in law now....

Oh, Oh,
I think I love you now!!!

It's pretty rare that you can find a chick that will actually eat anything that bears any resembence to Bambi. But it's a well known fact that the cuter an animal is, the tastier it is, so deer = tasty.

Shawnski · 09-20-2005, 05:44 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Bring_Back_Shantz@Sep 20 2005, 01:21 PM
Don't use a dehydrator

Actually, I find that a dehydrador makes extremely good jerky, and pretty quick too. I use various marinades to alter the taste. You do not need a smoker.

Basic recipe is to get some flank steak, lie it flat on a cooking sheet and put it in the freezer just to firm it up, not freeze it. Take it out and slice it with a meat slicer (using a higher angle to get larger width pieces.) Quarter inch thick slices are tops, try for about 3/16ths.

Marinate it in soya souce (and whatever else suites your fancy... google it). Drop it into the dehydrator trays and you have jerky the next day. The thicker the slices, the longer to get it ready for eating.

flamefan74 · 09-20-2005, 06:26 PM

I'm with Shawnski on this one. I have a dehydrator as well and you can make good jerky fairly cheap. I also like the fact that I can make a couple different flavors with the dehydrator.

Foothills Meat Processors in High River has really good jerky as well. When I went to college in Olds, they made jerky there at the butcher shop on campus. Sure, the students made it, but they followed a recipe and it was good. Could pick up a fair size bag for $5.

Clarkey · 09-20-2005, 08:31 PM

How exactly does a food dehydrator work? Is it just dry heat that is circulated through the unit to dry out the food? It just seems like it would be good breeding grounds for food poisoning.

Speaking of which, I remember seeing those Ron Popeil commercials advertising his food dehydrator, "it makes beef jerky, fish jerky, pork jerky, chicken jerky, even turkey jerky!"

Stillman16 · 09-20-2005, 11:38 PM

I agree a dehydrator can make excellent jerky. To get the smoked flavor, you can buy "liquid smoke" to add to your marinade. The trick is, make the marinade separate first (so you can taste it) then add it to your meat-you can make it as peppery, salty, and/or hot as you want-I find Montreal pepper spice adds a great flavor.

It's real easy too, you can even buy meat pre-sliced in the grocery stores-altough for more tender cuts, you'll have to slice/get it sliced yourself (i think you can get the deli counter to slice it for you).

Scrambler · 09-21-2005, 01:02 AM

If you're ever south on highway 22, stop at Longview for the best beef jerky in the World!

Hack&Lube · 09-21-2005, 01:19 AM

I've read about homemade jerky a bit before and I've tried in the oven (but failed).

With a dehyrdator, I'm mostly worried about health as most sites warn about the dehydration and lack of heat not being sufficient enough to kill bacteria in the meat. I don't want e. coli jerky.

flamefan74 · 09-21-2005, 08:31 AM

I have never had a problem with being sick on making my own jerky. Except when I ate 3 lbs of it. The book I have with my dehrydrator says to make the marinade a little salty as it is the first couple hours where bacteria can form and salt stops this. After that you are fine. The air on my machine is actually quite warm so it dries down pretty quick. Also depends on how thick you cut the meat. The thicker the cut, the longer to dry down, the longer bacteria can form.

Bring_Back_Shantz · 09-21-2005, 08:35 AM

Bah, I'm sure you can make fine jerky in a dehydrator, but a smoker is by far the better way to go. Not only can you choose what you want for marinade/rub on the jerky, but you can change up the flavour by using different wood for the smoke. It's the way to go trust me.

sketchyt · 09-21-2005, 10:31 AM

There's a really good Chinese beef jerky store in Calgary on 14 st & around 13th ave SW called Jerky King. It's right across from the A&W.

A little pricey (about $8 per 500g if I remember correctly), but it's good stuff.

Clarkey · 09-21-2005, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by sketchyt@Sep 21 2005, 04:31 PM
There's a really good Chinese beef jerky store in Calgary on 14 st & around 13th ave SW called Jerky King. It's right across from the A&W.

A little pricey (about $8 per 500g if I remember correctly), but it's good stuff.

Now there's a niche market.

Huntsy · 09-21-2005, 11:52 AM

Best Jerky I have ever eaten is at the Bergen Store in downtown Bergen Alberta, just south of Sundre. Awesome taste. It is very expensive also though.

Draug · 10-01-2005, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Clarkey@Sep 20 2005, 06:56 PM
Like you, I am a beef jerky connossieur.

There are 2 kinds of Longview beef jerky. To get the real deal good stuff you have to drive to Longview. The owners had a falling out or something and they split the company in two. The one guy can only sell his Longview beef jerky from Longview and the other stuff has the major distribution deal. Go to longview and pick up a couple $20 packs which should tide you over for a while.

Take a drive out to Longview to pick some up, it's God's country out there, you'll enjoy the scenery.

I'll be driving through Longview tomorrow.

Where exactly do I find this jerky? I would love to buy some!

shoestring · 10-01-2005, 01:49 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Draug@Oct 1 2005, 12:13 AM
I'll be driving through Longview tomorrow.

Where exactly do I find this jerky? I would love to buy some!

You won't miss it. And the bar is wonderful ,buy a pop just to take it in.