A little reason to celebrate
National Jerky Day
Food · June 12
A look at jerky, the lean dried meat snack, how it is made and seasoned, and simple ways to enjoy it, including a safe approach to making it at home.
National Jerky Day falls on Saturday, June 12, 2027. That is 228 days away.
Jerky is lean meat cut into strips, seasoned, and dried until most of its moisture is gone. What remains is chewy, concentrated and easy to carry. Beef is the most familiar kind, though turkey, pork and other meats turn up on store shelves too.
The texture varies more than people expect. Some jerky is thin and brittle enough to snap. Some is thick and takes real effort, like a long conversation with a stubborn strip of leather that happens to taste of pepper and smoke. Marinades often lean on salt, soy sauce, garlic, black pepper and a little sugar, and the drying draws those flavors deep into the meat.
Most people mark the day by opening a bag and comparing styles: sweet against spicy, whole muscle strips against the chopped and formed kind. Jerky also travels well, which is why it shows up in backpacks, glove boxes and lunch bags.
Making it at home is possible, but the drying step needs care. Low heat alone can leave meat in a range where bacteria survive. Food safety guidance is to heat beef to 160°F and poultry to 165°F, measured with a thermometer, before or during drying, then finish drying until the strips are firm. Many home cooks steam or roast the marinated strips to that temperature first, then move them to a dehydrator.
Trimming the fat matters too. Fat does not dry the way lean meat does, and it can turn rancid, so cooks pick lean cuts and slice away the edges before marinating.
Ways to celebrate
- Try two jerky flavors side by side and pick a favorite.
- Pack a few strips of jerky for a walk or hike.
- Look for a jerky made from a meat you have not tried.
- Share a bag of jerky with coworkers or friends.
- Read a tested home recipe that heats the meat to a safe temperature.
Dates
| Year | Date |
|---|---|
| 2026 | Friday, June 12 |
| 2027 | Saturday, June 12 |
| 2028 | Monday, June 12 |
| 2029 | Tuesday, June 12 |
| 2030 | Wednesday, June 12 |
Also on June 12
- National Peanut Butter Cookie Day
- National Rosé Day
- National Great Dane Day
- World Gin Day
- National Red Rose Day
Categories: Food days