Beef Jerky Blog

New Year’s Resolution – Healthy Fruitango Beef Sticks

Jerky Blog / beef, beef jerky, beef sticks, healthy new year /

January 15, 2018

by Steven Johnson

Hard to believe that we are already half way through January of 2018 … we figured that was enough time to sort out the serious resolutioneers from the masses. If you are one of those people who has taken your resolution seriously and stayed committed, congratulations! If improving nutrition in general was part of your plan, we have a product that we believe you may be interested in learning about.

Nutrition is complex and our society – in general – has been built on “more, more, more” especially when it comes to fuel for the body – super size, king size, more protein, more fiber, more Omega 3’s, more probiotics … truth is, more isn’t always better. Here at Lucky Beef Jerky, we much prefer good old fashioned “balance”. A lot of athletes are looking for “the most protein” or “the most carbohydrates” and there are supplement products on the market tailored to help them achieve those goals … but that’s not us either. We set out to create the ultimate snack for average active people – like us. Our ultimate goal was “balance” on all levels. We used natural ingredients to create a well balanced blend of protein, fat, natural sugars, sodium and fiber that leaves a person energized and not bogged down. Our Fruitango beef sticks are all about balance … and keeping sodium levels as low as possible.

Creating A Healthy Snack

We took the most natural approach possible and merged it with one of the most popular snack food items in our line – Premium Beef Sticks. Shelf stable beef sticks are traditionally made of lean beef, salt, sugar, seasonings and an acidic element. Traditional beef stick sodium levels are seldom below 350mg/serving and can range up to almost 1000mg/serving. (that’s A LOT) The salt and sugar help to “tie up” active water (aW) which is what reacts with the atmosphere and microbes to break down the food product. The salt also helps to extract the protein strands of the beef to give the beef stick a nice, firm bite. The acidic element, generally a small amount of citric or lactic acid, to create a low enough pH to thwart the growth of microorganisms. When we set out to develop Fruitango, we took a step back and asked ourselves how we could accomplish the same thing, but use far less salt and sugar. Fruitango sodium levels are 200mg/serving, which is as low as we could make them and still have a shelf stable product. The key to making lower sodium levels work: dehydrated fruit. By blending approximately 20% dehydrated fruit and 80% beef we were able to use the naturally occurring sugars in the fruit and it’s naturally low acidity to tie up active water and reduce pH. That combined with a very small amount of raw sugar and salt to help bind the proteins in the beef, and a dash of lactic & citric acid to deliver a consistent low pH allowed us to make a very non-traditional beef stick that is 100% shelf stable. The added benefits to Fruitango are the fact that all the sugars are naturally occurring in the fruit that we use, and the fruit also adds a fiber element to the product, which is something that other beef sticks cannot offer. We make Fruitango by hand, in small batches no more than 200 lbs at a time. We see and control the ingredients that we put into every batch, we make Fruitango with our own kids in mind.

Eating Healthy

Fruitango is not for everybody. Fruitango is one of the most “polarizing” products in our line; people seem to either love it or don’t care for it at all. Kids and “health nut, hiker types” are usually Fruitango’s biggest fans and appreciate the flavor and nutritional balance. People who enjoy traditional beef sticks and sausage find the texture different enough and the lack of salt to be “too different” from what they are used to and generally don’t care for it. The large amount of fruit that is combined with the beef makes the texture quite a bit different than a traditional beef stick and the flavors are not overpowering – they’re not supposed to be. The lack of the usual “saltiness” is the most profound difference when it comes to flavor. The most common reaction we hear from fans of Fruitango is that they feel energized when they eat it, not bogged down or like they ate a brick, which can be the feeling after eating a sugary snack like a candy bar or other traditional mass produced, “high in salt, high in sugar” snack. Fruitango isn’t your grandfather’s beef stick, but if you’re looking for honestly healthy “on the go” fuel for your body, Fruitango is worth a very hard look.

Pineapple Fuze (aka: Pineapple/Red Pepper) – Our “spiciest” Fruitango flavor is sweet followed by a little heat. It’s not so hot that you’ll need to find a glass of water, but it’s far from a boring flavor profile. Its ingredient break down looks like this: 90% lean beef (77%), dehydrated pineapple (19%), Water (processing agent, vaporizes in the cooking process), Raw sugar (2%), Sea Salt (1.5%), Dried, Crushed Red Pepper (1%), and Lactic/Citric acid blend (<1%) for pH adjustment.

Mango Krush (aka: Mango/Jalapeno) – While it sounds like it might be spicy, it’s a pussycat when it comes to heat – the jalapeño is all about adding flavor the natural way. We use just enough jalapeño to balance out the smooth sweetness from the mango. This is the favorite flavor of a local pre-school class, so we know it’s not too hot. The ingredient breakdown: 90% lean beef (77%), dehydrated mango (19%), Water (processing agent that vaporizes in the cooking process), Raw Sugar (2%), Sea Salt (1.5%), dried, diced jalapeño peppers (1%) and Lactic/Citric acid blend (<1%) for pH adjustment.

American Pie (aka: Apple/Cinnamon) – Totally not a flavor combination that people expect when they think beef, but it is straight up addictive! The flavors are subtle but very distinctive and are perfect for every palate. The texture is a little more dry than the other flavors mainly due to the dehydrated apple’s ability to soak up moisture like a sponge. The ingredient breakdown: 90% lean beef (77%), dehydrated apples (19%), Water (processing agent that vaporizes in the cooking process), Raw Sugar (2%), Sea Salt (1.5%), ground cinnamon (1%), and Lactic/Citric acid blend (<1%) for pH adjustment.

Cranberry Zing (aka: Cranberry/Chipotle) – This flavor is far and away the most sophisticated in the Fruitango line up. It’s just as at home with a glass of Cabernet as it is with a bottle of water – it is a super-versatile flavor. While this flavor seems to be more popular with moms than kids, it is a well balanced flavor that has a great deal of character. The tartness of the cranberry is balanced by the smokiness of the chipotle pepper and the small amount of added salt and raw sugar help to bring everything together. The ingredient breakdown: 90% lean beef (77%), dehydrated cranberries (19%), Water (processing agent that vaporizes in the cooking process), Raw Sugar (2%), Sea Salt (1.5%), Dried, Crushed Chipotle Pepper (1%) and Lactic/Citric acid blend (<1%) for pH adjustment.

To help get Fruitango launched, we are offering up 20% off so folks who are curious can give it a try and those who love it can stock up and save a little money! Just use the code 2018resolution at check out and we’ll get it sent out today!

The Perfect Stocking/Face Stuffer

Jerky Blog / beef jerky, stocking stuffer /

November 29, 2017

all natural beef jerky

Unlike many conventional meat products, beef jerky can be enjoyed almost anywhere without fear people looking at you funny or being judgmental.

by Steve Johnson

So you’ve got “that someone” who is impossible to buy for….you’ve tried it all when it comes to something new and fresh for the stocking stuffers….scratch tickets, mini bottles of pricey Scotch, gift cards, pocket knives… even an electric toothbrush. Nothing makes them smile. Sometimes it takes something a little over the top to make people like that grin uncontrollably…like cramming their stocking full of meat…Premium, All Natural, Antibiotic free, Hormone Free, Shelf Stable Angus MEAT. Ladies…if your guy doesn’t like meat, odds are you’ve got a defective model and you can probably find a new one at most any local watering hole any given evening. There is a pretty good chance you’ll get a nice gift if you trade up this close to Christmas, so it might be the right time for a change up, especially if your current model is not a meat eater…

Lucky Beef Jerky is the perfect stocking stuffer solution for anyone and everyone. Unlike many conventional meat products, beef jerky can be enjoyed almost anywhere without fear people looking at you funny or being judgmental. Judgmental people suck. Ever try eating a medium/rare New York Strip on the subway?? We thought so. Nobody will bat an eye at a bag of jerky tho… keeping a ribeye in your gym bag for post workout protein loading is savage for sure, but it isn’t a great idea…botulism and other food borne illness can cause serious problems if fresh meat isn’t kept frozen or refrigerated….but jerky is cooked and can be stored virtually anywhere without fear of spoiling and with almost 25 grams of protein per 3oz bag…its one of the best post workout foods on the planet. Lucky Beef Jerky also has less sodium than many other jerky products, but it’s far from “low sodium” – but if you’re sweating and working hard…you need sodium. But, if you’re looking for All Natural beef sticks with lower sodium, check out our Fruitango sticks. We make them with 20% dehydrated fruit and 80% lean beef. The taste and texture aren’t like a conventional beef stick, but you’ll feel energized after eating them.

Jerky isn’t just for muscle heads and skinny-jean wearing hipsters. Jerky is a food that’s as old as time and it’s still around because it is a legitimately great way to store a food for an extended period of time. Jerky makes an EXCELLENT lunch on the go or emergency food for the “winter pack” in the trunk of the car and is probably already in all of the pepper’s “go bags”…but if you’re a prepper and you don’t have jerky in your go bag….shame on you. Jerky is also perfect for men (and women) who like to hunt for more meat. Protein takes energy to digest and it generates a lot of energy in the process – jerky keeps you going and the prep work is done. Stick to the ribs meals are good, but jerky is performance fuel and will keep you going whatever challenge you are conquering.

Lucky Beef Jerky is made from All Natural (Antibiotic free, Hormone free) cattle that are raised in Nebraska. These cattle are raised from birth to be the best beef on the market. We just take things a couple steps further than most producers and turn our beef into steaks and jerky. We do this because we sincerely believe that we’re able to do it better than the folks who are mass producing the stuff you find in convenience stores and such.

America’s Leading All Natural Beef Jerky Producers

Jerky Blog / natural beef jerky, USDA Choice Natural Angus Beef /

November 28, 2017

Lucky Beef Jerky understands that taste and quality are essential. Saying that our jerky is the best is no cheap marketing ploy, but a well-established fact that we stand behind.

For generations our family-owned business has lived and breathed the raising of hearty, healthy, delicious natural beef. As an extension of Nebraska Star Beef, we use only USDA Choice Natural Angus Beef. Few companies can boast about the quality ingredients in their beef jerky recipes, nor do they follow our all natural process in producing beef jerky. Since our meat is 100% all natural you can enjoy our products with your family, without fear of it ever containing antibiotics or growth hormones. We believe that everything from how our cattle are fed to how our products are stored play a role in making the best gourmet jerky available at very affordable prices for today’s consumers.

Beef Jerky Recipe

DIY Jerky / beef jerky recipe, diy jerky, homemade beef jerky, making beef jerky /

July 9, 2015

Our passion for good ol’ homemade beef jerky is what drove us to forming Lucky Beef Jerky. We understand the DIY spirit and in light of that we would like to share one of our beef jerky recipes.

For this recipe we will be making Slab Jerky, aka muscle jerky, which is the traditional style of jerky that’s been made for eons. It’s very simple to make.

Slice the meat as consistently as possible. Knife works fine, or you can use an actual meat slicer. Lean meat works better than fatty meat, fat can go rancid. Trim as much fat and connective tissue as possible before slicing.

Using the our Jerky Seasoning & Cure kit, blend 1 packet of seasoning and 1 packet of cure into a cup or two of cold water and add to 5lbs of meat. Allow the mixture to marinate for a couple days. If you want to add any additional seasoning, this is the time to do it. Adding a little brown sugar to the mix will help keep the jerky moist.

After the meat and marinade have spent a couple days in the refrigerator – between 35 and 39 degrees F – the cure will keep the meat from spoiling. Now it’s time to lay the jerky out on oven racks for drying. Make sure and put some foil down below the meat, as it’s likely to drip as its drying.

Set the oven to 200F and check the meat every half hour or so. It usually takes at least a couple hours for the meat to reach temp, but once the internal temperature is 165F, it’s ready to come out of the oven.

Now you can enjoy some of the best homemade beef jerky. Feel free to experiment and create your own beef jerky recipe. We would love to hear feedback on how you make your jerky and you might even get a free bag or two if you are Lucky.

Sodium Nitrite – is it really as bad for me??

Jerky Blog /

May 6, 2015

Sodium Nitrite is probably one of the most mis-understood ingredients in food processing today. Lucky Brand Jerky produces “All Natural” Jerky by USDA definition, with the exception of 2 sku’s – Patriot Jerky and Survivor Jerky which use traditional sodium nitrite. That said, we do use nitrites in our “All Natural” Beef Snack Sticks to allow them to be shelf stable with a fairly high ~.87 aW (water activity). Our Beef Snack Sticks utilize nitrates that are naturally occurring in Celery Juice. They are chemically the same as man made Sodium Nitrite, but they are from a plant which allows us to maintain our “All Natural” status. Please check into other manufacturers and don’t be afraid to ask this question until you have an answer to your satisfaction. Nitrites are a very, very important part of the food safety equation, but ultimately, it’s up to you the consumer what you put in your body.

Sodium Nitrite was first approved as a cure to be used in meats in 1925. Since that time it has been so successful, that many have wondered why we are even using it anymore. Sodium Nitrite is a salt and an anti-oxidant (prevents things from oxidizing) on a large scale, sodium nitrate serves a very important public health role as it blocks the growth of botulism causing bacteria and prevents food spoilage. Sodium Nitrite also aids greatly in preventing the growth of Listeria and adds a unique and very tasty flavor to the meats which it is used to cure…ham & bacon are prime examples.

Most people associate sodium nitrite with meat products, and while sodium nitrite is widely used in meat products, it can also be found in a large number of vegetables as well. In fact, almost 93% of sodium nitrite that we consume comes from leafy vegetables & tubers. Did you know that spinach contains on average 1200ppm of sodium nitrate? Radishes contain 1500 – 1800ppm and lettuce can contain from 600 – 1700ppm. For comparison bacon is injected with no more than 156ppm sodium nitrite, by USDA regulation, and the remaining sodium nitrite in the finished product is generally less than 10ppm. Vegetables contain large amounts of sodium nitrate which turns into sodium nitrite when it comes into contact with saliva in the mouth. Less than 5% of sodium nitrite intake comes from cured meats like bacon, ham, or shaved beef, pastrami, hot dogs, sausages, etc, etc.

When you hear the term, “Cured Meat” that, by definition means that the meat has been “cured” with sodium nitrite. Sodium nitrite is what gives products like cured ham it’s color and taste. Sodium Nitrate also gives products a much longer shelf life. So what about cured meats that say they don’t contain sodium nitrite? Well, back to the vegetables. Celery Juice is commonly used as a cure because it contains sodium nitrate naturally, which when used as a meat cure, delivers a color and flavor similar to traditionally cured meats. The sodium nitrate in the vegetable based compound reacts with certain bacteria in the meat to convert into sodium nitrite and cures it in a similar manner to the traditional method with very similar results and chemistry.

Does sodium nitrate cause cancer…or cause hardening of the arteries?? Numerous scientific panels have evaluated sodium nitrite safety and determined that given sodium nitrite’s track record in preventing botulism that it is not only safe, it is essential to maintaining public health. In fact, The National Toxicology Program, an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services, conducted a multi-year to evaluate sodium nitrate’s safety when used to help preserve foods. They found sodium nitrate to be completely safe at the levels which it is commonly used today. Believe it or not, sodium nitrate is actually being used to help cure vascular problems, and used in treating heart attacks and organ transplants.

While we do not use Sodium Nitrite directly in most of our products – only in Patriot Jerky, Survivor Jerky and Celery Juice Powder in our Beef Snack Sticks – we are confident that when we use sodium nitrite or it’s vegetable based equivalent, that we are making the best possible jerky products that are 100% safe, healthy and wholesome for the whole family. So what about Lucky Brand Jerky Slab Style?? Well, we’ve eliminated nitrites all together in that product and we achieve shelf stability by reducing our active water to around .80 aW then using a very high quality package to store the jerky. It is important to Lucky Brand Jerky that we produce products that give our customers a choice. Regardless of customer preference, it is our absolute mission to insure that any of these choices can be not only consumed with confidence, but enjoyed each and every time a customer opens their favorite package of Lucky Brand Jerky.