How to Store Jerky So It Lasts: Sealed, Opened and on the Road
Sealed, a bag of jerky is shelf-stable and wants nothing more than a cool, dry shelf out of the sun. Opened, the clock starts: eat it within a couple of weeks or put it in the refrigerator, which is exactly what the Trophy Series venison label says to do. Heat, humidity and sunlight are what shorten the life of a bag, not time alone.
Unopened bags
Every bag we sell is sealed by the maker; the Trophy Series exotics are vacuum packed, which is why a 3 oz bag of gator travels so well. Keep sealed bags at room temperature away from a stove, a sunny windowsill or a car in July, and go by the date printed on the bag. We ship from Albany with that in mind: in peak summer we do not ship on Fridays, so a package never sits in a hot truck over a weekend. The full policy is on the shipping and returns page.
Opened bags
The Settlers and Jerky Hut bags reseal; press the air out and close the zipper after each handful. The exotics do not reseal once the vacuum pack is cut, so fold the bag over and clip it, or decant into a jar. Either way, the Whiskey Hill label's instruction is the right one: "eat or refrigerate after opening." In the refrigerator an opened bag keeps comfortably for weeks. In a glove box in August, days. Jerky that has picked up moisture, smells off or shows any white fuzz is done; dryness is the preservative and once it is gone, so is the margin.
Freezing and bulk
Jerky freezes well in its sealed bag, so a 6-pack bought for the season can go straight into the freezer and come out one bag at a time. That is how most of our regulars handle a bundle: one bag open, the rest sealed and cold. It is also why the bigger bags are the better value rather than a storage problem, a point the big bag versus snack bag guide works through in dollars.
Quick answers
How long does jerky last after opening?
Eaten within about two weeks at room temperature in a resealed bag, or longer in the refrigerator. The Whiskey Hill labels say to eat or refrigerate after opening, and we follow that.
Does jerky need to be refrigerated?
Not while sealed. After opening, refrigeration extends it, and the exotic vacuum packs should be refrigerated once cut.
Can you freeze jerky?
Yes, in the sealed bag. Thaw at room temperature and it eats the same.
The bags in this guide
- Venison (Deer) Jerky — 3 oz bag, $25, heat 1/5 (Mild)
- Gator Jerky — 3 oz bag, $25, heat 3/5 (Medium)
- Sweet Garlic Beef Jerky — 7 oz bag, $25, heat 1/5 (Mild)
- Cowboy Hickory Smoked Beef Jerky — 8 oz bag, $25, heat 1/5 (Mild)