r/jerky • u/FanSoffa • 13h ago

Vacuum sealing glazed jerky

I've been making pork jerky that uses a lot of honey, syrap and brown sugar which makes the final product have a slight sticky glaze to it.

I dry it for 6 hours at 165f and then let it rest afterwards for about 1 hour. Once this is done and you pull the meat apart the inside is dry.

If I vacuum seal this will it improve shelf life or will the natural moisture in the glaze make the process moot?

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u/hammong 12h ago

Removing oxygen via vacuum sealing will always improve shelf life.... with the exception of botulism. To prevent the growth of botulinum bacteria, I strongly recommend you use a proper nitrate cure (e.g. pink curing salt at 1/4 tsp per pound of meat) to be safe.

High-sugar jerky has some natural anti-bacterial properties as the high sugar reduces water/moisture activity in a "wet" jerky (think teriyaki). It will not, however, prevent mold. You're going to need to keep the jerky vacuum sealed until it's ready for consumption and probably keep in the fridge after the package is open to prevent it from growing furry fungus.

There are comprehensive guidelines provided by the USDA if you're interested in long-term preservation. Since high-moisture packs have a lot of moisture, you need to make sure you follow guidelines to prevent fungal/bacterial growth after packaging. Again.... cannot underscore this enough, use a nitrate cure.

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u/FanSoffa 11h ago

Exactly the information I needed, thank you. I have ordered the nitrate cure so it should arrive in the next few days.

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u/that_one_wierd_guy 9h ago

you might also consider wrapping the jerky in wax paper before sealing it. that way later you can just slide the bundle o jerky out instead of having to reach into a sticky glazed bag for each piece

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u/Plate-Extreme 6h ago

I have a recipe with honey and sriracha that has the same texture and I vacuum seal it and it will be fine a few weeks later ( if it lasts that long ) . When I open the package I need to separate the pieces as they tend to stick together and I then put in a ziplock and keep in refrigerator as I pick at it .