Soft vs Crispy Jerky: Which One Should You Buy?
Comparison
Soft vs Crispy Jerky: Which One Should You Buy?
Chewy strips or crunchy meat chips? We break down texture, ingredients, price and convenience so you can pick the jerky that fits your snacking.
Award-winning flavors · Made fresh weekly · 10% off with PARIS10
Soft vs crispy jerky comes down to texture. Soft jerky is chewy and moist, built for long, slow bites. Crispy jerky is thin-sliced and dried until it snaps like a chip, so it tastes bold fast and crunches clean. For most savory-snack cravings, crispy wins.
Soft vs crispy jerky is the first choice you make at the snack counter, and it changes everything about how you eat. Soft jerky is a tug-and-chew experience. Crispy jerky, like our thin meat chips, crunches and melts into big beef flavor. Here is a fair look at both, including when soft is the smarter pick.
Soft vs Crispy Jerky Ingredients and How Each Is Made
Soft jerky is usually cut thicker and dried less, so it keeps more moisture and a pliable bite. Many soft styles lean on marinades and sauces to build flavor and keep that tender feel.
Our crispy jerky starts the other way. We thin-slice the beef, dry it until it is crisp like a chip, and make every batch by hand, fresh each week. The beef is not marinated, and we keep sodium lower than many brands.
Ingredient lists stay short. Our Salt and Pepper is just 100% beef, salt and black pepper. Hatch Green Chile and Lemon Pepper add sauces for extra flavor, so check each label for allergens. The recipe traces back to our founder's dad, Leroy.
Texture and Taste: Chewy vs Crunchy Jerky
Soft jerky rewards patience. You work through each piece, and the flavor builds as you chew. If you love a meaty, tender bite, that is the appeal.
Crispy jerky hits differently. It snaps, then dissolves, so the beef flavor lands right away. Think of it as a chip made from beef. Our Hatch Green Chile leads with savory teriyaki, then smoky, earthy chile, and it won 1st Place at the International Flavor Awards.
One honest note: every cow is different, so some batches run a little chewier than others. The flavor stays the same every time.
Start with these
Hatch Green Chile
Mild to medium · Contains Wheat, Soy
$25 or $22.50 with PARIS10
Salt and Pepper
No heat · No listed allergens
$25 or $22.50 with PARIS10
Lemon Pepper
No heat · Contains Wheat, Soy, Fish
$25 or $22.50 with PARIS10
Convenience: Which Jerky Travels and Stores Better?
Crispy and soft both work as grab-and-go snacks, but they behave differently in a bag, a desk drawer or a glove box.
- Mess: Crispy jerky is dry and clean to handle, with no greasy fingers or sticky bag.
- Storage: Our meat chips last about 6 months from the made date, so you can stock up without worry.
- Heat: Dry, thin slices hold up well on a warm dashboard or in a gym bag.
- Sizes: Pack the 1.5oz bag for a pocket or the 5oz bag for a desk or road trip.
Soft vs Crispy Jerky at a Glance
| Love's meat chips | Soft jerky | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Thin, crisp, chip-like crunch | Chewy, moist, tender |
| Flavor release | Bold beef flavor right away | Builds slowly as you chew |
| How it's made | Thin-sliced, dried until crisp, handmade fresh weekly | Thicker cut, dried less, often marinated |
| Shelf life | About 6 months from the made date | Varies by brand and moisture |
| Mess factor | Dry and clean to handle | Can feel sticky or greasy |
| Best for | Crunchy, savory snacking | Slow, chewy bites |
Soft vs Crispy Jerky Price and Value Per Serving
Our 1.5oz bags are $10 each, and the 5oz bags are $25, which cuts the price per ounce by about 25%. That makes the 5oz the better deal if you snack often.
Want to try before you commit? The sample pack gives you six 1.5oz bags in six flavors for $50 with free shipping. Orders over $66 ship free in the US.
When Soft Jerky Is the Better Choice
Soft jerky wins if you want a slow, chewy snack or you have trouble with hard, crunchy foods. It also suits anyone who simply prefers a tender, moist bite over a crisp one.
If that is you, soft jerky is a solid pick. But if you crave a crunchy, savory snack with big beef flavor and a clean finish, crispy is the better fit for most snack moments.
Why customers keep coming back
I absolutely love these jerky bites! They are super dry and crisp, almost like chips. I've never tried anything like this before.
Probably the best jerky out there. I have tried multiple jerky companies and so far you guys are the best. It's always fresh and crunchy!
It's the perfect quick, low-calorie protein source, and the flavors are fantastic. My favorites are the Beef, Real Salt, and Red Chili. Shipping has been fast every time.
Bought this for my sons who are always looking for healthy protein! They love it!!
Love that it is thin. Good work snack.
Hands down the best beefy jerky I've ever had!! I just ordered two more large bags and a sample pack.
Soft vs Crispy Jerky FAQ
What is the difference between soft vs crispy jerky?
Soft jerky is thicker and dried less, so it stays moist and chewy. Crispy jerky is thin-sliced and dried until it snaps like a chip. Ours is a crispy beef jerky we call meat chips, with the same beef flavor in a crunchier bite.
Is crispy jerky better than soft jerky?
It depends on your taste. Crispy jerky delivers bold flavor fast and a clean, dry crunch. Soft jerky suits people who want a slow, tender chew. If you love savory crunchy snacks, crispy is usually the better pick.
Will every bag of your jerky be perfectly crispy?
Nearly always, but every cow is different, so some batches run a little chewier. The flavor stays the same either way. We make it by hand and fresh each week, so batches can vary slightly.
How long does crispy jerky last?
Our jerky stays fresh about 6 months from the made date. It has no added preservatives beyond what is in some sauces, and the beef is not marinated. Check the made date on your bag.
Which size should I buy, 1.5oz or 5oz?
The 1.5oz bag is $10 and fits a pocket or bag. The 5oz bag is $25 and costs about 25% less per ounce, so it is better if you snack often. Orders over $66 ship free.
Does your jerky contain allergens?
Everything is made in a facility that handles dairy, peanuts, wheat, egg, soy and tree nuts. Hatch Green Chile contains wheat and soy. Lemon Pepper contains wheat, soy and fish. Salt and Pepper lists no allergens.
Try the Crunch for Yourself
Grab the six-flavor sample pack for $50 with free shipping. Our small batches sell out often, so order while it is fresh.
Use code PARIS10 for 10% off · Free US shipping over $66
