Ken Pearson founded Pearson Ranch in 1959, which is a family owned ranch raising elk, buffalo (also known as bison), and cattle. Today, Ken’s grand-nephew Marvin Cromwell and his sons Brandon and Matt run the key operations for the company. While Pearson Ranch Jerky has been in the meat snack business for over 15 years, the main focus of ranch operations shifted to meat snack products in the summer of 2011. Pearson Ranch advertises their jerky as made of only natural ingredients, contain no nitrites, have no MSG, and are gluten-free. This Pearson Ranch Jerky brand name is distributed under the name of Pearson Ranch, and it is located in Horse Springs, New Mexico.
The next review for Pearson Ranch Jerky will be on a 1 ounce/28 gram bag of their hickory flavored bison and pork meat stick. This meat stick has recently been reformulated with a tweaked ingredient list, a brand new bag design, and an improved web site. This bag was kindly submitted for review by the General Manager, Brandon Cromwell.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Buffalo (Bison), Pork, Water, Sea Salt, Citric Acid Encapsulated, Cane Sugar, Celery Powder Cultured (Celery Powder, Sea Salt), Black Pepper, Cherry Powder (Cherry Powder, Organic Cane Sugar [Evaporated Cane Juice]), Cayenne Pepper, Natural Liquid Smoke, Ground Coriander, Onion Powder, Granulated Garlic, in Beef Colored Collagen Casings.
The buffalo used is grass-fed. The pork used is guaranteed to be ethically raised, meaning no growth hormones or additional antibiotics are administered. As a result, the ingredient rating starts at a Very Good (9/10) rating.
There are multiple healthy ingredients added such as black pepper, cherry powder, onion powder, cayenne pepper, and coriander.
The sugar level is great at 0 grams of sugar rounded down per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is acceptable at 290mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does qualify to have no sodium nitrite added, or any other similar unhealthy preservatives. Instead, minimally processed sea salt is the main preservative. Commendably, this jerky qualifies to have no MSG added.
Very Good (9/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
This Pearson Ranch Jerky Hickory Buffalo & Pork “snack stick” looks and feels like any ordinary run-of-the-mill “pepperette”. Upon opening the package, it’s love at first bite. I can taste an avalanche of great flavors, some saltiness, a light smokiness, black pepper, garlic and a healthy dose of vinegar. There is also plenty of wonderful natural meat flavor in this very tasty meat snack.
Brandon Cromwell at Pearson Ranch Jerky said: “I worked very hard on developing the taste and keeping it very clean and healthy.” His efforts did bear fruits and the results are nothing short of remarkable. These meat sticks have a crisp taste and texture and the quality of the meat catapult this tasty snack leaps and bounds above other meat sticks.
Mark went into some details and said: “This 8” meat sticks looks like your standard meat stick. The texture is soft and tender, being very easy to chew. There is no greasiness present, just a clean tasting and looking meat stick.”
“I am met with a series of wonderful flavors right off the bat. Some of those flavors would include salt, garlic/onion tasting ratio, and vinegar, which is actually from the encapsulated citric acid giving that great sourness. But there are other interesting, tasty spices present that spruce up this flavor to the nth degree. Perhaps the most surprising flavor is a subtle fruit flavor that blends in terrifically.”
“There is almost no sweetness present and the combination of pork and buffalo used here is delicious. I am gobbling up this meat stick in no time, where this tastes like more for sure. I highly recommend this meat stick to anybody who enjoys the flavor of meat, where this meat stick is a special treat.”
Paul best captured our sentiment as a team and said: “Color me dubiously impressed, only because it looked and felt like any other meat stick (pepperette) at first, but now I am a Pearson Ranch buffalo & pork snack stick disciple.”
This is a no-brainer, the Pearson Ranch Jerky Hickory Buffalo & Pork Meat Stick is an outstanding tasty treat and a definitive Excellent 10/10 taste rating with Paul’s customary two thumbs way up and as Buzz Lightyear in Toy Story would have it …to infinity and beyond!
This 1 ounce/28 gram meat stick sells online for $2.19, which rates as a cheap price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This plastic bag has everything imprinted on the front, and nothing on the back. Recently, the Pearson Ranch bag designs were changed, advertised as “Character Jerky Bags”. There is an interesting looking picture of a muscular buffalo with sunglasses on, spotting tattoos on its arm, and wearing a Pearson Ranch tank top.
There are no slogans printed on this bag. Some facts printed on this bag are “No Nitrates or Nitrates Added”, “Gluten Free”, “Made in USA”, and “No MSG”.
All bag categories are covered with this bag. The hashtag #urwhatueat is displayed.
Excellent (10/10) – Bag Rating
Order their jerky online: www.pearsonranchjerky.com
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