Can you make beef jerky without nitrates?

To get a similar effect without the additive, many jerky (and ham, bacon and hot dog) producers use celery powder and/or celery juice, which are naturally rich sources of nitrates (which convert to nitrites during processing).

Does beef jerky contain nitrates?

Beef Jerky and Other Processed Meats Associated with Manic Episodes. An analysis of more than 1,000 people with and without psychiatric disorders has shown that nitrates—chemicals used to cure meats such as beef jerky, salami, hot dogs and other processed meat snacks—may contribute to mania, an abnormal mood state.

What does sodium nitrate do to jerky?

The most serious additive is sodium nitrite, which is added to jerky to inhibit the growth of bacterial spores that cause botulism, a potentially deadly food borne illness. Nitrites are added to many processed meat products (think ham, bacon, and hot dogs), and also help to preserve the color of the meat.

Is it healthy to eat beef jerky?

Beef jerky is a good source of protein and high in many vitamins and minerals, including zinc, iron, vitamin B12, phosphorus, and folate. It also has a long shelf life and is portable, making it a great on-the-go option.

Do you need curing salt to make jerky?

I also recommend using curing salt when making turkey or chicken jerky due to salmonella. Better to be safe than sorry! No jerky recipe NEEDS cure as long as beef is heated to 160°F and fowl to 165°F. But it is another line of defense to kill bacteria and allows your jerky to last longer.

What can I use to cure jerky?

Nonmeat Ingredients Cure is the ingredient nitrite, which typically is added as sodium nitrite, but it also may include sodium nitrate. Nitrite is used to fix the color of the jerky. Nitrite also is a potent antioxidant, which prevents spoilage during storage, and a flavor enhancer.

What is curing salt for jerky?

Occasionally, “cure” may be added to the raw meat. Cure is the ingredient nitrite, which typically is added as sodium nitrite, but it also may include sodium nitrate. Nitrite is used to fix the color of the jerky. Nitrite also is a potent antioxidant, which prevents spoilage during storage, and a flavor enhancer.

Is homemade jerky considered processed meat?

Processed meats are any meats that aren’t fresh. This includes sausages, hot dogs, corned beef, beef jerky, canned meat, meat sauces, lunch meats and bacon.

Can you lose weight eating beef jerky?

Beef jerky is high in protein. Consuming protein is important for weight loss because it digests slower than carbohydrates, so you will feel full for a longer amount of time. Another bonus for beef jerky is that it doesn’t produce insulin, which is a hormone that signals the body to store fat.

How can you tell if beef jerky has gone bad?

The telltale sign that beef jerky has gone rancid is the smell. It will often have a spoiled, off smell. If you encounter beef jerky that has either mold or shows signs of rancidity, discard and do not eat.

What is a substitute for curing salt?

You can use celery juice or powder as a substitute for curing salt.

Are there nitrates or nitrites in beef jerky?

You might think it is easy to skirt that issue by buying one of the many jerky brands that boast “no nitrates or nitrites added.” Not so fast. Bizarre as it may sound, those claims do not actually mean there are no nitrates or nitrites in the product. They simply means the additives sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate were not used to cure the meat.

What kind of CURE do you use for beef jerky?

It is primarily used in dry-curing Use with products that do not require cooking, smoking, or refrigeration. This cure, which is sodium nitrate, acts like a time release, slowly breaking down into sodium nitrite, then into nitric oxide.

Can you eat meat with no nitrates in it?

In another study by the same researchers, rats that ate dried meat that contained nitrates displayed mania-like activity, while those given dried meat that did not contain nitrates had no abnormal behavior. You might think it is easy to skirt that issue by buying one of the many jerky brands that boast “no nitrates or nitrites added.”

What are the health benefits of beef jerky?

This type of meat has five times as many heart-healthy omega-3s and twice as much anti-inflammatory conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) than grain-fed beef. Ingredients: Jerky brands with synthetic nitrites, MSG, or other synthetic or artificial ingredients did not land a place on our list.