Stand Up Pouches for Product Packaging

Are Oxygen Absorbents a Must for Jerky?

Written by David Marinac | Oct 28, 2013 12:34:00 AM

Oxygen absorbents increase the shelf-life of jerky. They keep it fresh and safe to consume for a long period. If you want your beef jerky to stay fresh and tasty for a long time, it’s a good idea to get oxygen absorbers. And we can help you get the best ones!

Jerky is nutrient rich dehydrated meat. It is made by drying the meat in a food dehydrator or in a warm oven. Once the meat has been dried, jerky becomes shelf stable - it can be stored safely without refrigeration. In the dried state, jerky has three mortal enemies - sunlight, water, and oxygen.

Stand up pouch bags with special barrier films can provide protection against the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays. StandUpPouches.net’s flexible food packaging creates an effective barrier against atmospheric moisture and vapors. This leaves oxygen the sole enemy to deal with.

Oxygen absorbers are essentially iron powder mixed with salts. The powder and the salts are sealed in a permeable bag. The bag is then put in a stand up pouch along with the jerky, where it absorbs the oxygen in the pouch through a series of chemical reactions. The near elimination of oxygen in pouch bags cuts the lifeline of aerobic bacteria which would have otherwise spoiled the jerky.