Jerky spice mixes turn this tantalizing treat into a gourmand’s gastronomical delight. And whether you put together your own or buy them ready-made, jerky spice mixes are what turns the corner in the quality and taste found in the “best of the best.”
Some of the ingredients found in typical jerky spice mixes include garlic powder, onion powder, soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce, ground chili peppers, cayenne pepper, black pepper, brown sugar, honey … even maple syrup! Recipes vary according to and limited only by the imaginations of creative cooks.
The major difference between homemade jerky spice mixes and commercial ones lie in the former’s lack of artificial preservatives, though many commercial jerky producers now tout the fact that ingredients they use are all-natural. Things to look out for when buying commercially prepared jerky if you don’t want all the preservatives and “extras” include sodium nitrite, artificial flavorings, and artificial coloring.
Some jerky connoisseurs insist on leaving out refined sugar, which includes brown sugar in their jerky spice mixes. Jerky made like this entails the use of alternative, natural sweeteners such as maple syrup, fruit juice, and honey. Other jerky lovers simply leave out any sweetener at all and instead rely on other spices along with the smoky flavoring of wood-scented cooking methods to give their jerky its special taste.
Buying ready-to-use jerky spice mixes instead of making them yourself comes a lot easier today than in the past, especially with the advent of the Internet. No longer does one have to drive anywhere to hunt down special jerky spice mixes. A bevy of companies proliferate nowadays, advertising on Web sites catering to jerky cooks around the world – and especially in the United States, where jerky reigns as a favorite snack.
So thanks to the World Wide Web, jerky spice mixes rule! And it’s up to only you to put them together yourself or buy them ready-made. What are you waiting for, you jerky lover, you? Get to clicking and have your own store of jerky spice mixes at the ready for the next time you start “jonesin’ for makin’ jerky!”