Yes, like all things that are meat, beef jerky does go bad. But the point is to know their expiration date and what types of manufacturing process spoil quicker than the other. The USDA in its guidelines states that a commercially packed beef jerky can be stored for about 1 to 2 years.
But remember, beef jerky, like a lot of other meats, usually has a best before date and not a use by date or an expiration date. Because of this distinction, you may safely use jerky after the best before date has lapsed.
Should beef jerky be dried or refrigerated?
In most cases, drying turned out to be the easiest option. Like any product, beef jerky is sometimes defective. Sometimes, a store will make the mistake of keeping their stock a little bit too long. The result can be jerky that is excessively dry, excessively tough, and (eventually) jerky that is rotten and covered in mold.
How to make beef jerky last longer?
To make your beef jerky last as long as possible, you need to focus on proper storage. Here are the different methods for storing beef jerky: Perhaps the best method for storing your beef jerky is in a vacuum seal bag.
Does jerky go bad?
Unopened beef jerky can last for 1-2 years in the pantry, even beyond a date stamped on the package if properly sealed. The shelf life of beef jerky depends on the best before date and how the jerky is stored.
In most cases, it will be pretty easy to tell if you have opened up a bag of rotten meat. Even without the moisture factor, rotten meat is still rotten meat, and it will still smell awful. It’s a good idea to take a good long sniff of any beef jerky that you buy before you eat. Your nose will usually let you know what’s going on.
Why was beef jerky so bad in New Mexico?
A beef jerky plant in New Mexico produced a bad batch that was tainted with Salmonella bacteria. Two people became violently ill, and this was considered to be so concerning that the government saw fit to warn all consumers in New Mexico about the problem.