The 10 Best Meat Sticks: How to Eat Them?

What Is a Meat Stick?

A meat stick is a piece of seasoned and ground meat stuffed into a casing, then cooked, dried, and packed. Different types of meat can be used for meat sticks like beef, pork, turkey, chicken, or even exotic meats like elk, bison, and venison.

Meat sticks are a ready-to-use option that can provide satiety due to their high protein content, which takes longer to digest than carbohydrates.

Meat steaks are available in many flavors, like salty and spicy, and have a variety of sizes, like 17 mm, 19 mm, and 21 mm for every taste.

Adding meat sticks to your meal plan as a snack can provide more benefits than just a sense of fullness since it’s a rich source of protein with low carbohydrates and sugar, which is also non-perishable and needs no preparation and refrigeration.

The Benefits of Meat Sticks

• Protein-Rich: Meat sticks are a rich source of protein, containing 5-10 grams of protein per serving. Protein is essential for building and repairing muscles as well as promoting feelings of fullness and satiety [1].
• Low-Carbohydrate and Low-Sugar: With only 0-4 grams of carbohydrates per serving, meat sticks are ideal snacks for those following low-carb diets like Keto or Carnivore Diet. Their minimal carbohydrate content helps prevent blood sugar spikes, which makes meat sticks a better choice than many sugary snacks [2].
• Non-Perishable: Meat sticks are non-perishable and can be safely stored at room temperature, so refrigeration is not required, and they can be used at work, school, traveling, or camping.
• ‍Ready to Eat: Meat sticks require no preparation, and you can simply take one and start eating when you feel hungry.

These benefits come from the ingredients in meat sticks, i.e., meat, salt, and flavorings, and the method of preparation used to make them.

Learn More: Carnivore vs Keto: Result, Meal Plan and Food List

Meat Sticks Ingredients

• Meat: It’s the main ingredient in meat sticks. Beef and pork are the most commonly used meats, but turkey, chicken, and exotic meats like venison can also be used.
• Salt: It plays an important role in curing and preserving the meat in meat sticks. Both regular salt (sodium chloride) and curing salts like sodium nitrite can be used to enhance the flavor of meat sticks.
• Spices and Seasoning: Various spices and seasonings are added to meat sticks to provide unique flavors. Common spices include black pepper, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, cayenne pepper, and chili powder.
• Curing Agents: Meat sticks often contain curing agents like sodium nitrite or potassium nitrate to extend shelf life and prevent bacterial growth. These ingredients also help develop color and flavor.
• Binders: Ingredients like soy protein, wheat protein, or corn syrup are sometimes added as binders to help the meat maintain its shape during the drying process.
• Casing: Meat sticks are stuffed into casings made from natural materials like collagen and cellulose or synthetic materials like plastic. The casing helps the meat stick maintain its cylindrical shape.

So, meat sticks are made with simple ingredients like beef, spices, and seasoning. This combination not only creates a delicious snack but also makes meat sticks a versatile option for different sandwiches and dishes.

How to Eat Meat Sticks?

Here are 5 ways to eat beef sticks:

• Straight Out of The Package: It’s the most common way to enjoy beef sticks. Simply, just open the package and enjoy the dried meat!
• Sliced or Chopped: Use a sharp knife to slice or chop the beef sticks into smaller pieces or rounds, making them easier to eat and add to other dishes like salads, soups, or trail mixes.
• In a Sandwich or Wrap: Dice or slice beef sticks and add them to sandwiches, wraps, or tortilla roll-ups with other fillings like cheese, lettuce, and condiments.
• In a Dish: While beef sticks are already cooked and cured, you can chop them up and add them to dishes like fried rice, pasta, and scrambles for added protein and flavor.
• With Dips or Spreads: Beef sticks pair with dips, like mustard, cheese dips, ranch, or even peanut butter or cream cheese.

Learn More: What Is The Best Knife for Cutting Meat? 10 Best Meat Carving Knives

The kind of meat used in making the above foods makes a great difference in the taste of the final meat sticks. Although choosing the best meat is a matter of taste, it’s better to select the type of meat with zero or low carbohydrates.

The Best Cuts of Meat for Beef Sticks

The best meat sticks can obtained from pieces of lean beef, like rounds, sirloin, or lean ground beef. Cuts that don’t have too much fat, like top round or eye of round, are better options because they provide a firmer texture and dry better.

Also, many people love the rich taste of fatty meats, so you can blend a small amount of fattier, marbled beef cuts with lean cuts. The fat enhances flavor and helps keep the meat tender during the drying process.

Additionally, if you’re on a low-carb diet like Carnivore or Keto, the best Keto meat sticks for you are the ones with zero or low-carb content, especially 100% grass-fed beef that provides essential minerals like vitamins and calcium.

Many brands like Chomps, Country Archer, and Wenzel’s Farm are using these cuts of meat to produce meat sticks. But what are the best producers?

10 Best Meat Sticks

The best meat sticks are nutritious, low in carbohydrates, and high in protein and fat. Here’s the list of 10 best meat sticks.

• Chomps Original Sticks,
• Country Archer Original Beef Stick,
• Chomps Jalapeño Beef Stick,
• Country Archer Jalapeño Beef Stick,
• Tillamook Teriyaki Smoked Meat Sticks,
• Lorissa’s Kitchen Grass Fed Beef Sticks,
• Wenzel’s Farm Spicy Snack Stick,
• Wenzel’s Farm Beef & Bacon Snack Stick,
• Vermont Original Beef & Pork Stick, and
• Old Trapper Original Deli Style Beef Sticks

Chomps Original Sticks

These Keto-friendly and sugar-free sticks are low in sodium and carbohydrates, which makes them a good option for diets like Keto and Paleo. They're made with 100% grass-fed beef and contain no nitrates, nitrites, dairy, soy, nuts, or gluten.

Also, if want to choose the best meat sticks for protein, these sticks are one of the richest options, with 10 grams of protein per stick.

The table below shows the nutritional values of Chomps Original Sticks in 1 stick (33 g).

‍

Chomps Jalapeño Beef Stick

It contains Keto-friendly beef sticks suitable for anyone who likes a spicy taste. Jalapenos are low in calories and packed with vitamins A and C and antioxidants.

Chomps Jalapeño Beef Stick’s nutritional values in 1 stick (33 g) are provided in the table below.

Country Archer Original Beef Stick

Whether you are camping, hiking, traveling, or just need a snack, this protein source can meet your needs. It contains grass-fed beef sticks with no gluten, nitrates hormones, or antibiotics.

Here are its nutritional values in 1 oz. (28 g).

Country Archer Jalapeño Beef Stick

If you’re looking for a spicy beef stick with no preservatives and sugar, Country Archer Jalapeño Beef Stick can be one of the best options.

It’s Keto-friendly, 100% grass-fed beef, and packed with protein, vitamins A and C, and iron. Here are its nutritional values in 1 oz. (28 g).

Tillamook Teriyaki Smoked Meat Sticks

Tillamook Country Smoker is a 45-year-old company known for its high-quality and Keto-friendly meat-based products, like smoked meat sticks.

Tillamook Teriyaki Smoked Meat Sticks are made with high-quality beef and pork cuts and provide a good taste for anyone who likes smoked meat. Also, it’s seasoned with soy sauce and garlic and is a rich source of protein, calcium, and iron.

 Here are the nutritional values of Tillamook Teriyaki Smoked Meat Sticks in 1 oz. (28 g).

Lorissa’s Kitchen Grass-Fed Beef Sticks

These meat sticks are sourced from 100% grass-fed beef without any hormones, antibiotics and preservatives. They’re seasoned with high-quality spices and slowly smoked to have a smooth texture. Let’s take a look at their nutritional values in 1 stick (28 g).

Wenzel’s Farm Spicy Snack Stick

Wenzel’s Farm combines high-quality and fresh cuts of pork and beef with a blend of spices and the cayenne pepper to provide a unique flavor. Here are Wenzel’s Farm Spicy Snack Stick’s nutritional values in 1 oz. (28 g).

Wenzel’s Farm Beef & Bacon Snack Stick

If you love a juicy stick, you should try Wenzel’s Farm Beef and Bacon Snack Stick. Although the mix of bacon’s fat with the taste of beef provides a delicious taste, this beef stick may not be pleasant for those who want their stick fully dried.

Wenzel’s Farm Beef & Bacon Snack Stick’s nutritional value in 1 oz. (28 g) are provided in the following table.

Vermont Original Beef & Pork Stick

This beef stick is a fatty option with a salty taste and no artificial colors or preservatives. It’s seasoned with garlic, mustard seed, and cracked pepper, which gives it a bold and rich taste. The following table shows the nutritional values of 1 stick (28 g) of this stick.

Old Trapper Original Deli Style Beef Sticks

These sugar-free sticks are a suitable choice if you like a tender, smoky, and spicy flavor that can provide satiety at the gym or office. Each oz. (28 g) contains the following nutritional values.

Summary

One of the best snacks for a low-carb diet is meat sticks, which can be consumed as they are or added to many dishes and recipes.

Please note that if you need to lose weight,  it’s better to choose a meat stick that is low in carbohydrates and high in protein and fat, like beef rounds, sirloin, or lean ground beef.