If you are in a hurry and just want to find out what the best Keto beef jerky for healthy snacking, then I’d recommend the Tillamook Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Black Pepper Flavor Jerky as the best one.
It can be difficult to find a good, healthy, and filling snack while you are living the Keto lifestyle.
While most people will stick with the same nuts and veggie sticks, beef jerky can actually be a great option.
Coming in at close to zero carbs while also being fully stocked with healthy fats and protein, this snack can be a perfect option for those following this type of diet.
And they taste pretty good as well!
Read on for the best keto beef jerky.
Here are the top Keto beef jerky we’ll be reviewing:
- People’s Choice Beef Jerky
- Stryve Protein Variety Snack Pack
- CHOMPS Grass Fed Beef Jerky Meat Snack Sticks
- Tillamook Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Black Pepper Flavor
- Mission Meats Beef Sticks
What Is Beef Jerky?
While jerky can be made from any type of meat, most often coming from chicken, pork, turkey, and beef, beef jerky is the most popular option currently available today.
In general, jerky has an extremely long shelf-life and does not require the need to refrigerate it.
It is made by marinating the meat with a curing solution that is mostly made from salt. This allows the moisture within the meat to reduce to less than half.
After this process, the meat is then left to dry out.
Because of the process in which moisture is removed, jerky meat tends to be much more flavorful than regular meat.
In addition, the snack is typically very low in calories while at the same time, high in fat and protein.
Multiple flavors are available.
What Is The Keto Diet?
The keto diet asks you to consume foods that are low in carb content yet high in fat and moderate in protein.
Taking away carbs and replacing them with fats places your body in a state known as ketosis.
This is the state your body enters when there are not enough carbs for your body to burn in order to make energy.
As a result, when on this diet your body turns to using fatty acids for energy instead, which create ketones as an alternative fuel source for your body in place of glucose.
Beef Jerky for the Keto Diet
Beef jerky is the perfect snack for those who are on the keto diet.
Because it is low in calories, it is easy for keto dieters who are staying to a strict caloric intake to keep track of.
In addition, it is high in protein and healthy fats, which are two things those on a keto diet are looking for.
Beef jerky also typically has a high count of vitamin B12 and iron while at the same time keeping the carb count low.
This means that keto dieters can maintain a state of ketosis while enjoying this tasty treat.
However, it is important to note that because a multitude of flavors are available, each time you purchase a different type you must look carefully at the label.
Some have an unusually high level of sugar, which should be avoided by anyone following the keto diet.
Added sugars will increase the amount of carbs you are consuming and could possibly kick you out of ketosis.
Always look for jerky that is low or completely void of all sugars.
Side Effects of Beef Jerky
Often times, jerky is overly full of sodium. As a result, you need to pay careful attention to to brand you are using and its sodium content.
Quite often, lower quality jerky contains additional sodium, and you could in fact undo all your hard work if you consume too much.
In addition to excess sodium, lower quality jerky can also contain high quantities of unhealthy fats such as sugar, brown sugar, or cornstarch.
As such, this type of jerky should be avoided.
On average, beef jerky contains about 2,081 mg of sodium in one 100g serving. The recommendation is to eat no more than 2,300 mg of sodium on a daily basis.
Any more could result in an increase in blood pressure, which also raises your risk of stroke, heart disease, and kidney pain.
Some jerky also contains a higher content of unhealthy fats.
Your cholesterol levels can increase when consuming more saturated fats and cholesterol than is suggested.
For a 2,000-calorie diet, no more than 10% of those calories should come from saturated fats.
This is why it is so important to look at the quality of your jerky. Make sure to choose a brand that is not only keno-friendly but also low in sodium and saturated fats.
It is important to remember that because low carb beef jerky does not have all the preservatives and artificial flavors that are featured so prominently in traditional beef jerky.
As a result, low carb beef jerky may have a slightly drier texture than the traditional type.
How to Choose a Low Carb Beef Jerky
Be sure to calculate the carb content of each package of jerky you are considering.
Different flavors can cause a rise in the number of carbs so it is important to calculate this number for each package.
Traditional beef jerky will contain an average of 9.4 grams of carbs per every three ounce serving.
In addition, you should keep an eye on the amount of sugar that is included in each package.
Sodium is also important to pay attention to. Remember, you should not be consuming more than 2,300 mg of sodium per day.
Certain brands can come very close to this number or even go over it.
The fat content should also be taken into account.
While there is jerky available that is low in fat, those who are following the keto diet will want to choose a package that is higher in fat content.
However, you should also ensure that the type of fat included is healthy.
Where Can I Purchase Low Carb Beef Jerky?
Because these types of jerky cannot readily be found in the average grocery store, you will want to stick to online retailers which will have a large stock of these available.
As a plus, most of these will be available in larger quantities, allowing you to stock up quickly and save on the shipping cost.
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Best Keto Beef Jerky Reviews
People’s Choice Beef Jerky
With many different keno-friendly options available, People’s Choice is an excellent brand to gravitate toward when following the keto diet.
Their Carne Seca Limon Con Chile Jerky is a thick-cut, whole piece jerky that offers a texture that closely resembles a chewy steak.
The spicy jerky offers a kick of heat when first placed in your mouth from the blend of cracked red peppers, finishing off with a touch of lemon.
PROS
- Sugar-free
- Free of carbs
- High in protein with a total of 16 grams
- 100% gluten free
- made with all-natural ingredients
CONS
- slightly expensive
- If you are looking for a spicy jerky, this may not be the brand for you. Despite the spice it advertises, many reviewers state that there was not enough spicy flavor for them.
- Some people report this jerky being too dry and tough for them to consume.
Stryve Protein Variety Snack Pack
Made from a high-quality top round steak, the Stryve Protein beef jerky is sliced with the grain to form long slabs.
These pieces then go through the centuries-old Biltong process, which involves being rinsed in vinegar and then placed in a dry rub combination of seasonings.
The pieces are then allowed to air dry for up to two weeks while hanging in a room that has complete control over the humidity level.
At the end of the process, each piece is carefully sliced into thin pieces.
PROS
- No added sugar, allowing for 50% more protein in each stick
- Completely all-natural, with no artificial ingredients, colors, or preservatives
- No MSG, gluten, or nitrates
- It is very Keto-friendly due to its lack of carbs and sugar, low fat content, and high amount of protein
CONS
- Many reviewers do not seem to enjoy the taste of this product
- Other reviewers say it is brittle and stale
CHOMPS Grass Fed Beef Jerky Meat Snack Sticks
Made from grass-fed, free-range meat sources that have been raised without any hormones or antibiotics, the CHOMPS Grass Fed Beef Jerky Meat Snack Sticks is compliant with both the Paleo diet and Whole30, making them a great choice for those following a keto diet.
In addition, these sticks are fairly low in sugar and carb content and are also low in calorie content with around 100 calories per stick, depending on which flavor you select.
In all, each stick contains six grams of fat and nine grams of protein.
PROS
- With the exception of the cranberry flavor, these sticks have zero net carbs
- Made from free-range venison
- Non-GMO
- Great for any diet as it is low in sodium, fat, and has no hidden fillers. In addition, it has no other unwanted items such as binders, nitrates, nitrites, MSG, or artificial coloring.
CONS
- Many reviewers complain that there is no flavor to these sticks
- Some people have stated that the sticks have a strange texture that renders them inedible
Tillamook Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Black Pepper Flavor
The keto-friendly hardwood smoked jerky, Tillamook Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Black Pepper Flavor, is made from premium cuts of beef raised in the United States.
It contains absolutely no sugar and a total of 14 grams of protein.
PROS
- With all but one review being positive, most people say this jerky has a chewy texture and nice taste
- Made with no sugar
- 14 grams of protein
CONS
- None
Mission Meats Beef Sticks
Coming from a small, family-owned company, the Mission Meats Beef Sticks are made from 100% grass-fed, pasture-raised beef.
In addition, a portion from every sale is donated to a charitable social organization.
With just 80 calories and one net carb, these make a great snack for those following the keto diet.
They also do not contain sugar, dextrose fillers, nitrates, hormones, antibiotics or GMOs.
PROS
- sugar free
- 100% Non-GMO grass-fed beef
- Gluten free and MSG free
CONS
- There is the possibility of poor quality control. Many reviewers state receiving some moldy sticks mixed in with their order.
Final Thoughts
While it is true that beef jerky can make a wonderful snack for those following a keto lifestyle, you must still take caution when making your final purchase.
Be sure to be on the lookout for total carb content, as well as the amount of sugar, cholesterol and fat that is included.
You should stick with a high quality beef jerky, such as the Tillamook Zero Sugar Beef Jerky Black Pepper Flavor Jerky mentioned above.
Made from premium cuts of beef, the jerky is an excellent option for those on a keto diet as it contains absolutely no sugar, yet has 14 grams of protein.
In addition, many reviewers say it tastes good, which seems to be hard to accomplish with low carb beef jerky as it is the extra additives which typically help with the taste and texture.
In general, beef jerky is a great snacking option for you if you are on the keto diet.
Fitting into the diet in all aspects, including fat, protein, carbs, taste, and texture, when consumed in moderation this type of jerky is a great addition to your weekly snack routine.
