Papa Dan’s Jerky, founded in 1988 by David Batistelli and his father, is a family-run brand. The company is dedicated to producing high-quality jerky using fresh, premium cuts of meat, all crafted in Southern California. Papa Dan’s Jerky offers diverse jerky cuts, including thick cut, traditional thin, and bite-sized nuggets, catering to various texture preferences. Their product line features a variety of meats such as beef, buffalo, venison, turkey, and even tuna, providing a broad selection for jerky enthusiasts.
With over 21 distinct flavors, Papa Dan’s Jerky delivers a mix of bold and classic tastes, including their best-selling “Ring of Fire,” the tangy “Teriyaki Hot Lime,” and the smoky “Whiskey BBQ.” The brand also offers Carolina Reaper and Ghost Pepper varieties for those who enjoy intense heat. Committed to quality and customer satisfaction, Papa Dan’s Jerky treats its customers like family and ensures that each product meets high standards. This Papa Dan’s Jerky brand is distributed under the name of Batistelli Foods, located in Fullerton, California. The jerky is manufactured by Settler’s Jerky, located in Walnut, California.
The next review on Papa Dan’s Jerky will focus on a 4 ounce/113 gram bag of Prime Rib flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a market in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a thoughtful Christmas gift.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Soy Sauce (Water, Wheat, Soybeans, Salt, Sodium Benzoate less than 1/10 of 1% as a preservative), Worcestershire Sauce (Water, Molasses, Salt, High Fructose Corn Syrup, Acetic Acid, Caramel Color, Hydrolyzed Soy Protein [Soy], Gluten Free Slower [Millet Flour, Potato Starch, Tapioca Starch, Rice Flour Whole Grain Sorghum, Xanthan Gum], Natural Flavor, Guar Gum, Benzoate of Soda), Builion with Bone Broth, Yeast Extract, Salt, Cane Sugar, Maltodextrin (from Corn), Barley Malt Extract (Gluten), Onion Powder, Potato Flour, Garlic Powder, Spice Extractives, Natural Flavor), Sugar, Liquid Smoke, Garlic, Onion, Cayenne Pepper, Sodium Nitrite. 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 used here contains an average brand of soy sauce, a poor brand of Worcestershire Sauce, healthy builion, and liquid smoke.
Some healthy ingredients added are onion, cayenne pepper, and garlic.
Super unhealthy high fructose corn syrup is used in the Worcestershire sauce to lose a rating.
The sugar level is a little high at 4 grams of sugar per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 3 grams of sugar or less. The salt level is quite high at 740mg 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 outright as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added as the highly processed, cheap flavor enhancer hydrolyzed soy protein is used to lose another rating.
Bad (3/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
PAPA DAN’S JERKY – PRIME RIB BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell very little, possibly light natural beef. The jerky is basically one large piece, accompanied by a small piece, both sliced to a medium thickness, and it is somewhat rigid and dry, very close to what our forefathers intended.
When I bite into the jerky I taste strong salt, a good thing, mild sweetness, also a good thing, strong pepper, medium garlic, possibly light onion, and natural beef. I do actually taste a prime rib flavour, this jerky is exceptionally tasty. I detect a juice, and a bit of a kick, not quite sure what juice I am tasting, but the juice tastes like a cross between lemon juice and vinegar.
This flavor is unique, it tastes not quite like anything else I have ever reviewed, in a good way, plus I am detecting a significant “Wow!!” factor, therefore, I am very comfortable awarding a 10/10 for this particular flavor. Gentlemen?
Here is what Mark had to say about this Prime Rib beef jerky flavor from Papa Dan’s Jerky: “Thanks Paul for the favorable taste review. I do not agree that this flavor is unique, as we have reviewed this flavor before. The texture is fantastic, being dry but still fairly easy to chew. As Paul mentioned, the saltiness is at a strong level, arguably too strong, as Paul is a salt fiend.”
“The overall taste profile is very well balanced, albeit the salt does stand out. There is no hint of the natural beef flavor tasting processed whatsoever. There is some ‘wow’ factor present, but I wouldn’t say it’s significant. This jerky is very good and a pleasure to devour, but I cannot say there was any hint of Prime Rib. With Paul at a 10 and myself at a 9, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 4 ounce/113 gram bag of jerky sold for $13.00, which equates to $3.25 an ounce. That rates as an average price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This silver plastic resealable bag has a label affixed to the front and nothing on the back. The Papa Dan’s Jerky logo is a man with jerky in his hands sitting on what appears to be a buffalo with wings.
There are no slogans displayed on this bag. Some facts printed are “Premium” and “Liquid Smoke Flavoring Added”.
The only missing bag category is a blurb about this jerky or flavor and soy/wheat allergen alerts.
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