PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak – Original Beef Steak Slices

The next review on PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak will be on a 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag of their original slices style beef steaks. This product was graciously submitted by the Marketing Manager Samantha Alderfer.

The PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak brand name is manufactured and distributed by Knauss Foods, LLC., who are located in Quakertown, Pennsylvania. Knauss Foods, LLC. was founded in 1902, and the PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak brand name was launched in March 2012. Their specialty is “dried beef”, where with the help of some company acquisitions, they are a leading manufacturer in “dried beef” sales. While the most basic definition of beef jerky is “dried beef”, Knauss Foods slow cooks their beef steaks for seven days with this PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak product line.

Ingredient Review

Ingredients: Beef, Water, Brown Sugar, Organic Tamari Soy Sauce (Organic Soy Beans, Organic Maltodextrin, Salt), Potassium Chloride, Vinegar, Pepper, Beef Stock, Cherry Powder, Evaporated Cane Syrup, Natural Smoke Flavor.    Allergen Warnings: Soy

The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.

The liquid marinade consists of water, organic tamari soy sauce, and healthy vinegar. It is great to see that organic tamari soy sauce is used, where organic ingredients are almost always healthier, plus the soy sauce is gluten free.

Cherry powder is the most interesting ingredient used, which is loaded with Vitamin C, and rich in calcium. Interestingly, beef stock is used, which can be extremely healthy. The beef fat and bones are boiled in water, releasing many minerals, and are quite high in calcium.

The sugar level is respectable at only 3 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level used is rather high at 500mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. However, much of that is negated because healthy potassium chloride is used as a table salt substitute.

It is true that this dried beef contains no sodium nitrite, or other similar unhealthy preservatives. Cleverly, PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak uses the naturally occurring potassium chloride, which is a much healthier alternative to table salt. Also true to their word, and kudos to PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak, these beef steaks have no MSG added.

Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating

Taste Review

These strips are medium in size, more or less square shaped, and fairly uniform in size. As advertised, these beef steaks certainly do have a thin texture. The surface is very smooth. These beef steaks absolutely qualify to have a soft and tender texture. There are some visible signs of fat that add to the overall natural beef flavor. Handling these beef steaks leaves no oily residue on your fingers.

The first taste detected is the natural meat flavor. There is a medium soy taste, and these steak strips are not sweet tasting at all. That makes for a good contrast to the soy, smoked, and natural meat flavors.

The smell of vinegar on these steak slices is apparent. These steak strips are moderately salty at best, and lightly peppered. A small amount of the cherry powder is detected. Overall, a tasty combination of flavors for an original flavor that leaves you wanting more.

This 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag sells online for $5.00, but you have to purchase a minimum of three bags for $15.00. That would equate to $1.53 an ounce, which rates as a cheap price. As an added bonus, there is free shipping offered until February 28/2015, making these steak strips very affordable. We wholeheartedly recommend these steak strips as worth your money.

Very Good (9/10) – Taste Rating

Bag Review

This is an attractive, resealable, professional looking bag. Everything is imprinted directly on the bag, both the front and back.

The PJ’s logo could possibly pass as a red crown that a king may wear, with “High Quality Beef Steak” stated inside the logo itself.

Some facts stated on this bag are “Good Source of Protein”, “Natural Smoke Flavor Added”, “98% Fat Free”, “Authentic Cuts of Real Beef”, “All Natural*”, “*No Artificial Ingredients”, “*No Preservatives Added”, “*Minimally Processed”, “Gluten Free”, “No MSG”, and “No Added Nitrites or Nitrates”.

Every single bag category is covered here. To the credit of PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak, they offer a toll free phone number for customer inquiries, and also provide their business hours. Admirably, there is a 100% Satisfaction Guarantee policy offered.

Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating

Order their product online: www.pjsbeefsteak.com