Editing Jerky (section)

==Packaging==
[[File:Raw jerky in dehydrator.jpg|thumb|left|Raw meat before dehydration into jerky]]
After the jerky is dried to the proper moisture content to prevent spoilage, it is cooled and then packaged in (often resealable) plastic bags, either nitrogen gas flushed or vacuumed packed. The sealed packages usually contain small pouches of [[oxygen absorber]] to avoid fat oxidation. These small packets are filled with iron particles, which react with oxygen, removing the oxygen from the sealed jerky package and from an opened and resealed unfinished packet.<ref>{{Cite web |title=What Are The Different Types of Jerky Packaging - Pouch.me |url=https://pouch.me/what-are-the-different-types-of-jerky-packaging/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=What Is the Best Packaging for Jerky? - Pouch.me |url=https://pouch.me/what-is-the-best-packaging-for-jerky/ |access-date=2025-04-30 |language=en-US}}</ref> Because of the necessary low fat and moisture content, jerky is high in protein. For example, a 30&nbsp;g (about 1&nbsp;oz) portion of lean meat contains about 7&nbsp;g of protein. By removing 15&nbsp;g of water from the meat, the protein ratio is doubled to nearly 15&nbsp;g of protein per 30&nbsp;g portion. In some low moisture varieties, a 30&nbsp;g serving will contain 21&nbsp;g of protein, and only one g of fat. The price per unit weight of this type of jerky is higher than less-dried forms, as it takes 90&nbsp;g of 99% lean meat to generate 30&nbsp;g of jerky. Unpackaged fresh jerky made from sliced, whole-muscle meat has been available in specialty stores in such places as [[Cuisine of Hong Kong|Hong Kong]] at least since the 1970s. The products are purchased in kilograms, and customers choose from 10 to 20 types of meat used to make the product.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}} Some are sold in strands instead of slices. Compared to the sealed packaged versions, unpackaged jerky has a relatively short shelf life. This type of jerky has also become very popular in convenience stores in the United States, where it is usually sold in clear plastic containers under the name "slab" jerky.{{Citation needed|date=May 2025}}