Keto Beef Jerky: How to Tell If the Bag Is Really Low Carb

Keto beef jerky is jerky made without sugar in the marinade, so the carbs on the nutrition panel stay close to zero. Most jerky on the shelf is not keto, because sugar, honey or teriyaki sits high on the ingredient list. The panel and the ingredients tell you in about ten seconds.

• Why most beef jerky is not keto
• How to check a bag of keto beef jerky
• Flavors that usually carry sugar
• Biltong as the keto beef jerky alternative
• Questions people ask

Why most beef jerky is not keto

Beef has almost no carbohydrate. The carbs in jerky come from the marinade: sugar, brown sugar, honey, pineapple juice, soy sauce and teriyaki. Jerky is cooked with heat after a soak in that marinade, so whatever is in the liquid ends up in the meat. Read more in biltong vs jerky.

How to check a bag of keto beef jerky

1. Total carbohydrate per serving. This is the number that matters for keto. Check the serving size next to it, since some bags list a very small serving.
2. Added sugars line. US panels show added sugars separately. Zero here is what you want.
3. The ingredient list. Look for dextrose, cane sugar, honey, molasses, corn syrup and maltodextrin. A product can list a sweetener and still round to zero per serving. What zero sugar means on a label explains the rounding rule.
4. Servings per bag. Nobody eats one serving. Multiply.

Flavors that usually carry sugar

Teriyaki, sweet and hot, honey, maple, barbecue and Korean-style jerky are sweetened by definition. Original and peppered flavors are the better bets, and even those need a look. The word keto on the front is marketing. The panel on the back is the fact.

Biltong as the keto beef jerky alternative

Biltong is cured in vinegar and salt and air-dried instead of cooked, and the traditional recipe has no sugar step at all. That is why people who search for keto beef jerky often end up with biltong. Recipes still vary by brand, so read the bag the same way. Ours, The Classic, lists beef, salt, pepper, coriander, Worcestershire sauce and white vinegar, with the nutrition panel on the bag. The broader picture is in is biltong keto? and how many carbs are in biltong?

Keto beef jerky: questions people ask

Is beef jerky keto?
Beef jerky is keto only when it is made without sugar. Most commercial jerky is marinated in sugar or soy-based sauces, so check the total carbohydrate and added sugars on the panel.

What should I look for in keto beef jerky?
Look for zero added sugars, a low total carbohydrate per serving, and an ingredient list without dextrose, honey, molasses or maltodextrin.

Is biltong a good substitute for keto beef jerky?
Biltong is a common substitute because the traditional cure uses vinegar, salt and spices with no sugar. Check each brand's label, since some flavored biltong adds sweeteners.

See The Classic, our air-dried beef biltong · Zero sugar beef jerky · Keto road trip snacks