Beef jerky has become an increasingly popular snack in recent years Walk down the snack aisle at any grocery store and you’ll see countless varieties from different brands, One of the most well-known beef jerky brands is Pacific Gold, Their jerky can be found in many major retailers But is it a healthy option compared to other jerkies? Let’s take a close look at Pacific Gold beef jerky and see how it stacks up nutrition-wise,
An Overview of Beef Jerky Nutrition
Before looking specifically at Pacific Gold, it helps to understand the overall nutrition profile of beef jerky. Jerky is made by taking lean cuts of beef, trimming the fat, and then drying the meat to remove moisture This concentrating process results in a high-protein, low-fat snack
Some of the main nutrients in beef jerky include:
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Protein An ounce of jerky contains 8-15 grams of protein typically This makes it an excellent source of satiating protein.
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Iron: Jerky provides 10-15% of the RDI of iron per ounce. This makes it a smart choice for those at risk of iron deficiency.
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Zinc: With 3-5 mg of zinc per ounce, jerky can help you meet your daily zinc needs. Zinc supports immunity and wound healing.
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Sodium: Most jerky contains 400-600 mg of sodium per ounce. This can be a concern for those limiting salt intake.
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Fat: With just 1-3 grams of fat per ounce, jerky is a lean source of protein.
So in terms of macronutrients, beef jerky offers protein, iron, zinc, and other nutrients. The main nutritional downside is the high sodium content.
Nutrition Facts for Pacific Gold Beef Jerky
Now let’s see how Pacific Gold beef jerky compares to these averages.
Pacific Gold jerky contains 9 grams of protein per 1 ounce serving. This fits right into the normal range for beef jerky.
It provides 3 mg of zinc and over 10% of the daily value for iron. So it’s a good source of these minerals as well.
In terms of sodium, Pacific Gold contains 400 mg per ounce. This is on the lower side compared to other brands, which often contain 500-600 mg per ounce.
Finally, a serving of Pacific Gold beef jerky has just 1.5 grams of fat. So it’s a lean source of protein.
Based on these nutrition facts, Pacific Gold jerky is very comparable to other popular brands of beef jerky. It offers protein, zinc, iron, and other nutrients with slightly less sodium than average.
Evaluating the Ingredients in Pacific Gold Jerky
When evaluating the healthiness of any food, it’s important to look past the nutrition facts and into the ingredients list. This will tell you more about how processed a food is and if there are any questionable additives.
The main ingredients in Pacific Gold beef jerky include:
- Beef
- Water
- Soy sauce (wheat, soybeans, salt)
- Honey
- Salt
- Spices
- Natural flavors
- Cultured celery extract
This is a fairly straightforward and recognizable list of spices and flavorings. Two small concerns are the soy sauce, which will boost the sodium content, and the “natural flavors” since this is a vague term.
But overall, the ingredients align with what you’d expect to find in a classic beef jerky without too many chemical-sounding additives. Pacific Gold does also offer some jerky flavors made without soy sauce for those avoiding soy.
How Pacific Gold Jerky Is Made
Understanding how a jerky is made can offer more clues into how healthy it is. Here is an overview of how Pacific Gold makes their jerky:
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It starts with USDA Choice or Select Grade beef cuts. They trim off excess fat.
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The meat is seasoned with a marinade of spices, soy sauce, honey, and other flavorings.
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The meat then goes into a smoker to be smoked at low temperatures. This imparts flavor.
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Finally, the jerky enters dry ovens to reduce moisture and concentrate the meat.
This is a fairly traditional process for making beef jerky. The smoking step adds nice flavor without charring the meat like grilling would. And the low oven drying prevents burning while intensifying the jerky’s chewiness. There are no shortcuts like extrusion of a meat slurry.
Should You Choose Pacific Gold Beef Jerky?
For those who enjoy jerky in moderation as part of a healthy diet, Pacific Gold offers a quality choice. It has a nice texture and comes in flavors like teriyaki, red pepper, and more. Just be mindful of portion sizes due to the sodium content. One or two ounces make a good serving.
Of course, for those with high blood pressure or other conditions requiring sodium limitation, beef jerky may not be the best choice in general. Homemade low-sodium jerky or other high-protein snacks like Greek yogurt and nuts may be healthier alternatives.
But overall, Pacific Gold provides a reasonably healthy option in the jerky market with quality ingredients and a time-tested smoking process. If you like beef jerky, it’s definitely one to consider trying. Just keep your intake moderate and watch your total sodium consumption from all sources. Within these boundaries, Pacific Gold can be part of a balanced diet.
The recipe that launched the brand, our Pacific Gold Original Beef Jerky is gluten-free, has no preservatives, and features premium steak with an irresistible smoky flavor.
Beef stock, natural smoke flavor, brown sugar, water, sea salt, vinegar, black pepper, apple juice concentrate, cultured celery powder, and onion powder are some of the simple ingredients that go into this dish.
Costco Sale Item Review Pacific Gold Original Real Wood Smoked Beef Jerky Taste Test
Is Pacific Gold jerky good for You?
Neither jerky nor meat sticks are exactly good for you, but jerky is the more healthful protein pick-me-up. Among the very tasty choices, Pacific Gold is the best value. For more snack reviews, visit our Food & Drink Guide . See the Ratings charts as they originally appeared in the March 2013 issue of Consumer Reports Magazine.
Is Pacific Gold beef jerky gluten-free?
The recipe that launched the brand, our Pacific Gold Original Beef Jerky is gluten-free, has no preservatives, and features premium steak with an irresistible smoky flavor.
Is beef jerky healthy?
Beef jerky’s nutritional profile fits this description. But this snack is also heavy on some not-so-helpful minerals, which is not ideal when it comes to certain health conditions and risks. A big plus for beef jerky is that it’s full of protein, with a 1-ounce serving of jerky fulfilling almost 10% of most healthy adults’ daily protein benchmark.
Where can I buy Pacific Gold Original Beef Jerky?
Howdy! Today we’re openning up a bag of Pacific Gold Original Beef Jerky, picked up at the local Costco here in Frisco, Texas. One of the Oberto Sausage Company brands, Pacific Gold is a mainstay at Costco.