Note: For a more current taste review open up Old Trapper Beef Jerky (Review #2).
On the back of the Old Trapper jerky bag, they describe how they have over 40 years of experience making jerky. They go on to explain how the finest ingredients are used, and then smoked with real wood. In 2016, Old Trapper embarked on their most ambitious expansion yet when they broke ground on a new 80,000 square foot manufacturing facility at their headquarters in Forest Grove, Oregon.
Today, Old Trapper claims that they are the country’s second-largest beef jerky manufacturer. Their new facility is now fully operational, and they’re ready to take the next big step in a company story that began in a humble grocery store way back in 1969. This Old Trapper jerky brand name is distributed by Old Trapper Smoked Products, Inc., and it is located in Forest Grove, Oregon.
The next review for Old Trapper will focus on a 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag of their Hot & Spicy beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a convenience store in Oxnard, California, back in 2011.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Brown Sugar, Water, Salt, Flavorings, Hydrolyzed Corn Protein, Vinegar, Sodium Nitrite
The beef used is not guaranteed to be free of growth hormones or additional antibiotics. Also, the beef is not guaranteed to have partial free range access to graze on grass. As a result, the highest ingredient rating awarded is a Good (8/10) rating.
The liquid marinade consists of just plain old water.
The vague term flavorings is used, which may contain both healthy and unhealthy ingredients.
The sugar level is a little high at 6 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 4 grams of sugar or less per 28 grams of jerky for a Hot & Spicy based flavor as we have here. The salt level is high at 650mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose another rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to be sodium nitrite free, as sodium nitrite is used as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added because the cheap, highly processed flavor enhancer hydrolyzed corn protein is used to lose another rating.
Fair (4/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
OLD TRAPPER – HOT & SPICY BEEF JERKY (RECIPE #1)
Note: For a more current taste review open up Old Trapper Beef Jerky (Review #2).
These strips of jerky were small to medium and sliced to a medium thickness. The texture was dry and chewy. Handling these strips left no oily residue on your fingers.
While this was back in 2011, I do remember this flavor having some heat. At the time, I probably would have rated this flavor an 8 taste rating due to the beef having a slightly processed flavor.
This 3.25 ounce/92 gram bag of jerky costed $5.99. Back in 2011, $1.84 per ounce would have beenrated as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted directly on the bag, both on the front and back. There are no labels affixed to this bag. The logo is of a man who appears to be wearing a beaver cap. This man is referred to as the mysterious Old Trapper who lives in the forests of Western Oregon.
A slogan printed on this bag is “Naturally Smoked Since 1949”. No facts are printed other than “Made in USA”.
All bag categories are covered. There is a good blurb printed on the back of this bag about Old Trapper. As a bonus, there are USA flags on the front and back to signify made in the USA.
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