The next review for House of Jerky will focus on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of their black pepper flavored turkey jerky. This bag was graciously submitted for review by Lesley Wilzbacher 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. Currently there are around 25 House of Jerky stores. House of Jerky always welcome new store openings across the United States.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Turkey Breast, Soy Sauce [Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt), Water, Pineapple Juice, White Vinegar, Liquid Smoke, Garlic, Black Pepper. Allergen Warnings: Soy, Wheat
On the whole, turkey is a leaner and healthier choice of meat compared to using beef. Turkeys raised in the US are not allowed to receive growth hormones. There is no guarantee that the turkey have free range access to roam about. As a result, the highest ingredient rating possible is Very Good (9/10).
The liquid marinade is comprised of a decent soy sauce, water, healthy pineapple juice, super healthy vinegar, and liquid smoke. Pineapples contain a natural enzyme named bromelain, which acts as a natural meat tenderizer.
Some people say that black pepper is the king of spices, which offers a wide variety of health benefits. The same could be said for fresh garlic, which delivers in both taste and health benefits.
The sugar level is great at only 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is fairly high at 410mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite used as a preservative. Instead, salt is the main preservative, and vinegar to a lesser extent. Admirably, there is no MSG added.
Good (8/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
These jerky strips are medium to large in size. As turkey jerky goes, these strips are sliced thin. It has a dry texture, but it is still relatively easy to chew because the strips are so thin. There are no visible signs of fat, and handling this jerky leaves no oily residue on your fingers.
The first flavor detected is a good, moderate level of black pepper. It slowly increases as you consume more strips, and it delivers. A juiciness from the pineapple helps counteract and balance the peppered flavor.
There are mild levels of garlic and soy that blend in well. The natural turkey flavor is present, but not overwhelming with these thin strips. There is little sweetness, and the saltiness is borderline of going overboard, where salt & pepper is a great combination. All along a small douse of vinegar finishes off each bite. Overall, this black pepper flavor absolutely rates among the best of them out there for turkey jerky.
A 4 ounce/113 gram bag sells for $11.50, with free shipping. That works out to $2.88 an ounce, which rates as an expensive price. For anybody who enjoys turkey and black pepper, you cannot go wrong here.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This is a somewhat large, clear, resealable sized plastic bag. Worth noting is that this bag is vacuum sealed, the best way to keep jerky fresh. There are labels affixed to both the front and 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. Facts provided are “No Preservatives” and “Natural Smoke Flavoring Added”.
There are some bag categories missing such as a nutrition facts table, a bar code, a USDA inspected stamp, best before date, and a blurb about this jerky and flavor. There is a batch number on the back, which could translate to a best before date. To the credit of House of Jerky, a toll free phone number is provided for customer inquiries.
Order their jerky online: www.houseofjerky.net
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