Founded in 1969, Stafford Meat Company is a family-owned, well-regarded brand known for its high-quality jerky and meat products. Stafford Meat Company has established itself as a trusted name in the jerky industry with a solid commitment to traditional methods and superior ingredients. The company prides itself on using premium cuts of meat, ensuring that each piece of jerky is flavorful and of the highest quality.
Their meticulous process involves marinating the meat with a blend of spices and seasonings, followed by slow cooking to achieve the perfect texture and flavor. This careful attention to detail results in a product that stands out in the crowded jerky market. With a reputation for excellence and a loyal customer base, Stafford Meat Company continues to be a top choice for those seeking premium jerky and meat products. This Stafford Meat Company jerky brand is distributed under the same name as Stafford Meat Company, located in Rio Linda, California.
The first review on Stafford Meat Company will focus on a 7 ounce/198.4 gram bag of Original flavored beef jerky. This bag was purchased at a gas station in Pollock Pines, California.
Ingredient Review
Ingredients: Beef, Water, Cure with Maple Sugar (Salt, Cane & Maple Sugars, Dextrose, Sodium Nitrite [0.75%]), Dextrose, Spices, Garlic, Monosodium Glutamate, Sodium Nitrite.
This beef is ethically raised, meaning it is guaranteed to be free of growth hormones and additional antibiotics. The cattle are guaranteed to have some free range access to roam about and graze on grass the way nature intended. As a result, the highest ingredient rating that can be awarded is a Very Good (9/10) rating.
The liquid marinade is comprised of just plain old water.
The only healthy ingredients added are garlic and spices.
The sugar level is great at 1 gram of sugar per 28 grams of jerky. The salt level is a little high at 380mg of salt per 28 grams of jerky to lose a rating. Our preference is 350mg of salt or less per 28 grams of jerky.
This jerky does not qualify to have no sodium nitrite as sodium nitrite is used outright as a preservative to lose a rating. This jerky does not qualify to have no MSG added as monosodium glutamate is used outright to lose another rating.
Alright (6/10) – Ingredient Rating
Taste Review
STAFFORD MEAT COMPANY – ORIGINAL BEEF JERKY
Written by guest jerky reviewer Paul Rekker
When I open the bag I smell nothing. The jerky strips are small in size, and they are sliced rather thin. The jerky is dry and chewy, just as our forefathers intended. There is no oily residue left on your fingers.
When I bite into the jerky I am in jerky heaven. The jerky has the exact correct amount of salt, sugar, garlic, and pepper, with a hint of onion in the background. This is definitely an original flavor, and it is a top notch flavor. Between the texture and the taste, it is a mammoth grand slam right out of the stadium.
I am duly impressed. As a matter of fact, I am devouring this jerky at an alarming rate. Kudos to SMC, they have outdone themselves with this particular flavor. It’s a no-brainer 10/10, this jerky checks all the boxes. I am hooked. Two thumbs way up!!👍👍 Gentlemen?
Written by guest jerky reviewer Stéphane Leclerc
The SMC Beef Jerky Original is simple and packed with flavor. The flavor profile is nice and simple, the jerky is reasonably salty and the cracked black pepper shines in every bites. I tasted slight garlic and this jerky is on par with a great Original flavor. The texture is dry and leathery without being too tough. The texture is pleasant, easy to chew and it has a beautiful richness.
I really enjoyed every bit of this jerky and I highly recommend it. I haven’t found anything negative with this fine meaty treat, it’s a well deserved 10/10 Taste Rating.
Here is what Mark had to say about this Original beef jerky flavor from Stafford Meat Company: “Thanks Paul and Stéphane
for the honest taste reviews. I was quite convinced going into this taste review that Paul would love this flavor. Paul described this flavor as having the exact correct amount of spices. While I am sure many would disagree with this take, I thought it tasted too salty. That was not overly noticeable after the first strip, but after consuming multiple strips, the taste of salt overwhelmed my mouth. While again, this is a personal preference, I would have loved to see the onion and garlic more prominent tasting.”
“Thankfully, the sweetness present was minimal, which allowed a great deal of natural beef flavor to shine through, just as it should be for an original flavor. In fact, the natural beef flavor is a step above the average jerky maker. The texture is old school, being dry and tough to chew. While I too very much enjoyed this flavor, it was addictive enough until the salt became too overwhelming, requiring a break from chewing. With Paul and Stéphane at 10 ratings and myself at a 9 rating, an Excellent (10/10) taste rating will be awarded.”
This 7 ounce/198.4 gram bag of jerky sells for $16.99, which equates to $2.43 an ounce. That rates as a cheap price.
Excellent (10/10) – Taste Rating
Bag Review
This clear, resealable bag has labels affixed to the front and back. The Stafford Meat Snacks logo displays the letters SMC.
One slogan printed on this bag could be “Old West Dry”. The only fact printed is “Made in USA”.
The only bag category missing is a blurb about Stafford Meat Company or this flavor.
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