Slim Jim is a famous brand of meat snacks in the United States that has been around since the 1920s. Their jerky is typically dried and cured to achieve a chewy texture, making it an ideal on-the-go snack for busy individuals or outdoor enthusiasts. The company is known for its signature beef sticks and thin, dried sausages made from beef, chicken, turkey, and pork. With its convenient packaging and bold flavors, Slim Jim jerky has become famous for consumers looking for a tasty and satisfying snack anytime, anywhere.
The company offers a variety of meat snacks in addition to its classic beef sticks, including teriyaki, smoked, and spicy flavors. Slim Jim products are widely available in convenience stores, gas stations, and supermarkets across the United States and are popular among consumers looking for a quick, protein-packed snack. Slim Jim is manufactured by Conagra Brands and is located in Chicago, Illinois.
The next review on Slim Jim will focus on their Maple bacon jerky. This flavor is described as breakfast in a bag. This 2.75 ounce/77 gram bag was purchased at a gas station in South Bend, Indiana.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Cured With Water, Sugar, Salt, Natural Smoke Flavor, Maple Flavor (Natural and Artificial Flavors, Lactic Acid), Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrite.
The pork used is guaranteed to be raised ethically with no antibiotics and no added hormones. This pork is not guaranteed to have at least partial free range access to roam about outside. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of only plain old water.
The only healthy ingredient listed is natural maple flavor, whatever that means. Natural flavors is a listed ingredient, which may or may not include healthy ingredients.
Artificial maple flavor is used to lose a rating.
The sugar level is acceptable at 4 grams per 28 grams of bacon jerky for a sweet based flavor, as we have here. The salt level is very high at 680mg of salt per 28 grams of bacon jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350g of salt or less per 28 grams of bacon jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite added as sodium nitrite is used outright to lose a rating. Admirably, this jerky does qualify to have no MSG added.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
SLIM JIM – MAPLE BACON JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag, I smell very little—nothing I can put my finger on. The pieces are small to medium in size, and they have the same thickness and basic texture as regular bacon. They also appear very similar to bacon in shape and hue. Some oily residue is left on your fingers when handling this jerky.
When I bite into the jerky it takes a few seconds for the salt flavor to kick in, but when it does kick in, it’s pretty noticeable. There is also some sweet, but well within reason. It tastes quite similar to your regular bacon. It is like I am eating a more rigid version of bacon.
I am picking up a sweeter flavor in the piece I am currently consuming. It depends on which piece you are eating. The first piece I ate was more salty and less sweet, and the second piece was more sweet and less salty. I’m guessing this jerky is not very consistent. I’m picking up on the maple, but it is not intense.
Overall, I am enjoying this jerky flavor, but it lacks a “Wow!” factor. IMHO, this jerky deserves an 8/10.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Maple bacon jerky from Slim Jim: “Thanks Paul for the candid taste review. I agree with everything stated. The distinctive taste of maple is woefully lacking. These strips of bacon barely resemble jerky and have zero ‘wow’ factor. The saltiness is acceptable for bacon and the sweetness does not go overboard. Other than sweetness and saltiness, there is not much else going on with this bacon jerky. With Paul at an 8 rating and myself at a 7 rating, a Good (8/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 2.75 ounce/77 gram bag costs $9.99, which works out to $3.63 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Bag Review
This resealable plastic bag has everything imprinted directly onto it, with no labels affixed. The background looks like fire. A high-resolution picture of bacon strips is displayed on the front.
There are no slogans printed. Some facts printed on this bag are “Grip ‘N Rip”, “10g Protein”, “Made From 100% Bacon”, “Natural Smoke Flavor Added”, “130 Calories”, “2.5g Sat. Fat”, “680mg Sodium”, and “4g Total Sugars”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about this jerky or flavor. To the credit of Conagra Brands, a toll-free number is provided for customer inquiries. A QR code is displayed for more food information. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook handles are provided.
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