Homemade beef jerky is very delicious, and it can take a lot of work to get your beef jerky made.
You don’t want to lose any of this jerky to spoiling, but this can actually happen since homemade jerky doesn’t have preservatives in it like store-bought jerky.
If you are worried about losing part of your jerky to spoiling, you need to consider vacuum sealing it.
Vacuum sealing beef jerky is actually the ideal way to store this kind of food product. This helps to keep the jerky fresh, but it can also make it much easier to travel with your jerky.
If you choose to store your jerky in small batches in vacuum sealed bags, you will have jerky on hand for hikes, camping, and other kinds of adventures with ease.
Use the right thickness bags to ensure that your jerky will not be exposed to moisture as you are taking it with you on adventures.
If you are ready to learn some more about vacuum sealing homemade beef jerky, you need to keep reading!
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How Long Will Jerky Keep When Stored This Way?
When homemade jerky is vacuum sealed, it can last for a year at least. The jerky that you have stored with traditional storage methods will be good for about three months tops.
This is a huge improvement in the storage time, and you will end up with jerky that is not dried out or flavorless when you unpackage it either.
Jerky can still be eaten when it is dry or not quite as flavorful as it was when it was first made, but why make it less enjoyable.
Vacuum sealing offers you the chance to store your jerky without having to worry about losses in flavor and texture and with complete confidence that it will not have gone bad while it has been in storage.
This is really the most ideal way to take care of your hard work in making the jerky, so there is no reason not to use vacuum sealing for your jerky storage.
How to store Jerky Using a Vacuum Sealer
Storing jerky with a vacuum sealer is very easy. The first thing that you need to do is wash your hands. While jerky is inclined to keep well long-term as it is, there is no reason to introduce bacteria into the storage bag.
The bacteria on your hands can break down anything that is inside the storage bag, even if you vacuum seal it properly.
This is one of the main reasons that people are not able to get the maximum storage time from their jerky, and you will want to avoid this outcome.
Once your hands are clean, you will need to work on a flat surface to store your jerky so that it does not move around on you as you are sealing the bags. Make sure, as mentioned above, that you consider storing your jerky in small portions.
This will make using your jerky much easier down the road, and you will get a better seal on the bags as well.
Make sure that you line up the jerky fairly evenly on the vacuum sealing surface before you seal the bags. The smoother the layer of jerky, the better the seal on the bag.
Make sure as well that you are using bags that are thick enough to be handled without tearing. You will probably want to take your jerky with you as you hike, backpack, or camp, so a sturdy vacuum sealing bag is a must.
Jerky will typically also be stored or kept at room temperature, so you will want to be sure that the bags are not so thin and flexible that they tear open as they are being moved around or carried.
Don’t store your jerky in the fridge, as this encourages mold and can change the texture of the jerky in a less-than-positive way.
You will want to consider keeping your jerky in a cool and dark place like a pantry or a storage shelf. Dried meat will not spoil like raw meat, but heat and moisture can still impact your jerky and make it mold.
This is much less likely when the jerky is vacuum sealed, but you will still likely lose flavor and texture if you place your vacuum sealed meat in a warm and wet location.
If your jerky has been properly prepared and safely cooked, you will be able to store your jerky safely at room temperature for the long haul.
Adding vacuum sealed bags to the storage routine will make sure that you can have jerky on hand for months after you have completed the process of making your jerky.
This is one of the key benefits of taking the time to make jerky, so you should maximize the benefit of your efforts with vacuum sealing in place of other less secure storage methods.
Vacuum Sealing Jerky is a Great Idea
Homemade jerky is one of the best items that you can choose for vacuum sealed storage, and you will be so glad that you can count on having jerky to eat over the next year.
Make sure that you mark the date that you sealed the jerky on each bag so that you do not overlook older bags that should be consumed first.
Storing your jerky in small portions can make it easy to have jerky on hand for all kinds of outings and you will prevent waste of your jerky when you store it in small amounts as well.
Make sure that you have cooked your jerky properly so that it does not spoil in vacuum sealed bags, and then store it in a cool and dark place.
You should not refrigerate your jerky either to prevent moisture from damaging the meat.
This is one of the easiest foods to keep fresh for the long term, and using a vacuum sealer to store your jerky can make it possible to have jerky on hand that is fresh and tasty even a year later.
I am Brianna, a self-published author with a passion for sharing my knowledge and expertise on various topics with people looking to find the perfect items for their needs. I love ensuring that the right informative content is available to people looking for the right information. I am an avid horseback rider and reader when I am not writing.
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