The next review for House of Jerky will focus on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of their Cajun flavored beef jerky. This bag was graciously submitted for review by Lesley from House of Jerky.
This House of Jerky brand is distributed by House of Jerky Inc., based out of Evansville, Indiana. It all started in 1993, selling their jerky on the side of the road. In 1996, they had an idea to sell their jerky inside a store. Before the year ended, they opened a jerky store in Temecula, California, which still holds the distinction of being the very first jerky store in the world. Their popularity is really catching on, currently with around 28 House of Jerky stores. House of Jerky always welcome new store openings across the United States.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Top Round Beef, Salt, Water, Brown Sugar, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Pineapple Juice, Celery Salt (Salt, Celery), Garlic, Smoked Paprika, Cayenne Pepper, Liquid Smoke, Ground Thyme, Onion, White Pepper, Black Pepper, Red Crushed Chili Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
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 is comprised of water, a decent soy sauce, pineapple juice, and liquid smoke. Pineapples contain a natural enzyme named bromelain, which is widely used in the food industry as a natural meat tenderizer.
There are many healthy vegetables and spices used such as celery, garlic, smoked paprika, cayenne pepper, thyme, onion, white pepper, black pepper, and red crushed chili peppers.
The heat is achieved here from cayenne pepper and red crushed chili peppers. Spicy foods are healthy if eaten in moderation, which flush toxins out of the body, and help prevent heart attacks, among other things.
There is no nutrition facts table provided. As a result, the exact sugar and salt levels are unknown.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, the main preservative used is salt. Admirably, there is also no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These strips of jerky are mainly large in size, and sliced to a medium thickness. The texture is in between of being dry and tender, which is easy to chew. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky does leave an oily residue on your fingers.
The first taste detected is a moderate pineapple flavor, followed by a mild sweetness. There is a mild soy flavor, and an array of seasonings that resemble a Cajun based flavor. Garlic is among the most prominent, followed by onion and cayenne pepper.
As for the spiciness, this flavor absolutely delivers. It starts out slow, but definitely picks up as you consume more strips. On a heat scale, you could say that it rates as a 2 out of 4, or possibly a 3 out of 5 depending on your tolerance of heat. Overall, a very tasty flavor that delivers in managing to capture a Cajun based flavor.
On the House of Jerky web site, 8 ounces sells for $22.99, which includes shipping. That works out to $2.87 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. This jerky is certainly recommended as worth your money for people who enjoy a Cajun based flavor with a great level of spiciness.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a standard, clear, non-resealable sized plastic bag. Worth noting is that this bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh. There is one label affixed to the front, and nothing on the back. The House of Jerky logo is of a man tapping a triangle, signaling that it is time to eat.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. The only fact stated on the bag is “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”.
There are some bag categories missing such as a nutrition facts table, a bar code, allergen alerts, and a blurb about this jerky and flavor. To the credit of House of Jerky, a toll free phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.houseofjerky.net
Leave a Comment