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National Snack Stick Day

Food · September 23

A day for snack sticks, the thin, smoked meat sticks found at gas stations, deli counters and in lunch boxes across the country.

National Snack Stick Day falls on Thursday, September 23, 2027. That is 331 days away.

A snack stick is a thin length of seasoned, ground meat, usually beef or pork, that has been stuffed into a narrow casing and then smoked or dried until it holds its shape. It is related to summer sausage and jerky, but it sits somewhere between them: firmer than a sausage, softer and juicier than jerky.

The appeal is mostly practical. A snack stick fits in a pocket, needs no plate and does not ask to be heated. That is why they turn up near the register at convenience stores, in hunting packs and in the glove compartments of people who drive long distances. Many are sold in long strings or tall jars at small-town meat markets, where butchers often make their own.

Flavors run from plain smoked to garlic, black pepper, teriyaki and jalapeño, sometimes with cheese mixed right into the meat. Some have a snap when you bite them, which comes from the casing. Others are chewier all the way through.

People mark the day simply, by eating one, or by comparing a few. A local butcher's version next to a packaged one makes for an easy taste test. Hunters sometimes turn venison into snack sticks, which gives the meat a longer life in the pantry than fresh cuts.

A good snack stick pairs well with sharp cheddar, crackers and a pickle on the side.

Ways to celebrate

• Try a snack stick from a local butcher or meat market.
• Line up three flavors and compare them side by side.
• Build a small snack plate with sticks, cheese and crackers.
• Share a stick with a coworker who skipped lunch.

Dates

All national days on September 23

Also on September 23

• National Great American Pot Pie Day
• National Checkers Day
• First Day of Fall
• Go With Your Gut Day

Categories: Food days