The next review on PJ’s All Natural Beef Steak will be on a 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag of their original Tenders Style beef steaks. This bag was kindly 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. Knauss Foods slow cooks these beef steaks for seven days, which gives these steak tenders a soft and tender texture.
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.
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. Cherry powder is the most interesting ingredient used, which is loaded with Vitamin C, and rich 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 naturally occurring potassium chloride is primarily 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 steak tenders are small in size, and are mostly sliced to a medium thickness. In some cases these tenders are thinly sliced, or even thick. The steak tenders does qualify to have a soft and tender texture. There are some minor visible signs of fat that adds to the natural beef flavor. Handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavor detected is a saltiness at a medium level. Then plenty of natural beef flavor starts to set in. There is not much sweetness with this flavor, which tends to enhance the natural beef flavor.
A mild soy taste is apparent, and occasionally you can detect a faint peppered taste. All along, there is a moderate smoked taste in the background. Overall, this is a tasty snack.
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 June 30/2015, making these steak strips very affordable. These steak strips are ideal for people who enjoy the taste of beef with little sweetness, and a soft and tender texture.
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
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