Dry Meat Online: Where to Buy Jerky, Biltong & Cured Meats on the Web
Looking for quality jerky, biltong, or cured meats without leaving your couch? You’re not alone. The US jerky market hit $4.1 billion in 2025, with e-commerce capturing nearly 45% of those sales. Whether you want a convenient high-protein snack or premium charcuterie shipped to your door, this guide breaks down exactly where to find dry meat online and how to shop smart.
Quick Guide: Best Places to Buy Dry Meat Online
Let’s cut straight to what you came for: where to actually buy dry meat online right now.
Here are the main categories of online sellers worth exploring, along with their trade-offs:
- Large Marketplaces (Amazon, Walmart.com)
- Pros: Huge selection (500+ jerky flavors on Amazon alone), fast shipping, easy returns, customer reviews
- Cons: Quality varies wildly between brands, harder to verify sourcing, some budget options loaded with sugar
- Best for: Trying multiple brands at once or stocking up on trusted favorites
- Specialty Jerky Stores (Jerky.com, similar aggregators)
- Pros: Curated selection from 200+ artisan brands, detailed flavor profiles, subscription options
- Cons: Higher prices per ounce, shipping costs add up for small orders
- Best for: Discovering craft jerky makers and finding unique flavor combinations
- Biltong-Focused Shops
- Pros: Authentic South African preparation, typically lower sugar than American jerky, higher protein retention
- Cons: Smaller selection, fewer seasonal sales, niche audience means less price competition
- Best for: Low-carb dieters who prefer a chewier texture and natural taste
- Heritage Butcher Sites (D’Artagnan, Niman Ranch)
- Pros: Premium quality, transparent sourcing from animals raised on pastures, heritage techniques
- Cons: Higher cart sale price, often requires refrigeration upon arrival, ships with cold packs
- Best for: Gourmet cured meats like prosciutto, bresaola, and artisan salami
- Direct-From-Rancher Sites
- Pros: Know exactly where your meats come from, often raised without hormones, small batches
- Cons: Limited product variety, slower shipping from rural locations, seasonal availability
- Best for: Buyers who prioritize farm transparency and want to support independent producers
- Exotic Meat Specialists (Exotic Meat Market, similar)
- Pros: Unique options like kangaroo, alligator, bison, and venison jerky
- Cons: Premium prices ($15-20 for 4-8 oz), limited reviews for obscure products
- Best for: Adventurous eaters and hunters looking to try game meats year-round
When evaluating any seller, prioritize shops with clear ingredient lists, visible customer reviews from the past 12-18 months, and responsive customer service. A quick scroll through recent feedback often reveals shipping issues or quality problems faster than anything else.
Types of Dry Meat You Can Order Online
When people search for “dry meat” online, they’re usually looking for one of five main categories. Understanding the differences helps you find exactly what you want—and avoid ordering something that doesn’t match your expectations.
The most widely available option. Jerky is sliced thin (typically ¼ inch), marinated in seasonings, and dehydrated at 140-150°F until shelf-stable. You’ll find it everywhere from Amazon to gas station websites, usually sold in 2-12 oz pouches. Popular brands like Jack Link’s deliver about 10g protein per 1 oz serving, though sodium and sugar levels vary significantly by flavor.
Biltong
South African-style air-dried beef that’s thicker than jerky and cured with vinegar rather than heat-dried. The result is a chewier texture with higher protein retention—roughly 50g per 100g of dry weight. Biltong typically contains less sugar (and therefore fewer carbs) than American jerky, making it popular with keto and paleo crowds. Expect to find it in 4-16 oz bags from niche e-commerce shops.
Cured Whole-Muscle Meats
Think prosciutto, coppa, bresaola, and lonza. These are larger cuts of pork or beef that are dry-cured with salt over weeks or months, then sliced thin for serving. Online, you’ll find them sold as:
- Deli-sliced vacuum packs (3-8 oz)
- Small whole pieces for slicing at home
- Premium gift boxes with multiple varieties
Heritage food sites and Italian specialty stores are your best bet for quality options.
Dry Sausages
Salami, chorizo, pepperoni sticks, and similar products fall into this category. Some are fully shelf-stable; others require refrigeration. Artisan butchers and European specialty stores offer the best selection online, from mild Genoa salami to spicy Spanish chorizo. Snack sticks—essentially mini salamis—are also widely available and perfect for on-the-go eating.
Exotic and Game Dry Meats
For those wanting something beyond beef and pork, specialty US producers ship nationwide with options like:
- Elk jerky
- Venison sticks
- Buffalo (bison) jerky
- Turkey and chicken jerky
- Wild boar salami
These typically cost more ($15-25 for 4-8 oz) but offer unique flavor profiles and often come from sustainably sourced animals.
How to Choose a Trustworthy Online Dry Meat Seller
Not every website selling jerky or cured meats is worth your money. This section helps you spot reliable sellers and avoid wasting time on low-quality or questionable products.
Key Trust Indicators to Check
- Clear business address (US or EU) listed on the website, not just a PO box
- Detailed product pages with ingredient lists, nutrition facts, and production information
- Recent customer reviews (within the last 6-12 months) with photos when possible
- Transparent contact information including email, phone, and response time estimates
- Professional website design—typos and broken links are red flags
Production and Freshness Details
Before adding anything to your cart, look for:
- Production or “best by” dates visible in product photos or descriptions
- Information about whether products are made in small batches or mass-produced
- Clear statements about where the meat is sourced (country of origin, specific farms)
- Explanations of the drying or curing process used
Sites that explain their process—whether it’s traditional air-drying or modern dehydration—typically produce higher quality products.
Storage and Handling Information
Trustworthy sellers tell you exactly how to handle their products:
- Whether to refrigerate immediately or store in a pantry
- Expected shelf life before and after opening
- Any special handling instructions for sliced vs. whole pieces
Security and Payment
- Look for HTTPS in the URL (the padlock icon)
- Stick to well-known payment processors like Stripe, PayPal, or major credit cards
- Check for a clear privacy policy and return/refund information
Start Small
When trying a new seller for the first time, order a sampler pack or single item rather than committing to bulk quantities. This lets you evaluate:
- Flavor and texture quality
- Shipping speed and packaging
- Accuracy of the product description
- Customer service responsiveness if issues arise
Finding Dry Meat That Matches Your Diet & Preferences
Dry meat can fit almost any diet—keto, paleo, high-protein, low-sugar—if you know what to look for on product pages. Here’s how to filter for exactly what you need:
For Low-Carb and Keto Diets
- Search for “no added sugar,” “low sugar,” or “unsweetened” in product titles or filters
- Check nutrition labels: traditional jerky can have 7-10g sugar per serving from marinades
- Biltong is often a better choice—most varieties contain under 2g sugar per serving
- Avoid teriyaki and honey-glazed flavors, which typically have the highest sugar content
For Sodium-Conscious Buyers
- Typical jerky contains 500-1000mg sodium per 1 oz serving (roughly 25% of daily value)
- Biltong tends to run lower, around 300mg per serving
- Look for “low sodium” options if monitoring blood pressure
- Whole-muscle cured meats like prosciutto are naturally high in salt—account for this in your daily intake
For Minimally Processed Preferences
- Short ingredient lists (under 10 items) usually indicate cleaner products
- Look for recognizable ingredients: beef, salt, pepper, garlic, vinegar
- Avoid artificial colors, preservatives, and MSG unless you don’t mind them
- “Grass-fed” and “pasture-raised” labels indicate higher quality sourcing (expect a 20% price premium)
Common Allergens to Watch For
- Soy sauce in marinades (contains both soy and wheat/gluten)
- Gluten in certain seasonings and coatings
- Dairy in some snack sticks and processed meat products
- Mustard, celery, and other less common allergens in spice blends
Most e-commerce sites let you filter by “gluten-free,” “soy-free,” or “dairy-free”—use these filters to narrow your options quickly.
Build Your Favorites List
Once you find brands matching your dietary preferences, bookmark them or create an account to save favorites. This saves time on future orders and ensures you don’t have to re-check every label each time you want to subscribe or reorder.
Comparing Prices, Shipping, and Subscriptions
The same style of jerky can cost anywhere from $1.80 to $4.00 per ounce online depending on brand, quantity, and how you buy it. Here’s how to get the best value:
Comparing Price Per Ounce
- Always calculate price per ounce (or per pound) when comparing products
- A 2 oz snack pack at $6 ($3/oz) costs far more than a 1 lb bulk bag at $25 ($1.56/oz)
- Premium brands like People’s Choice or artisan biltong run $2.50-3.50/oz
- Budget options and bulk purchases can drop to $1.50-2.00/oz
Shipping Considerations
- Most sites offer free shipping above a threshold ($35-75 is common)
- Combining multiple items into one order almost always saves money
- Cold-packed shipments for cured meats like prosciutto add $5-15 to shipping costs
- Check delivery time estimates—jerky is shelf-stable, but you don’t want it sitting in a hot warehouse
Subscription Options
Many online dry meat sellers offer subscription programs worth considering:
- Typical frequencies: every 2, 4, or 8 weeks
- Discounts usually range from 5-15% off regular prices
- Curated subscription boxes (like JerkyGent’s monthly boxes at $25-50) offer variety with 1-2 lbs of assorted products
- Most subscriptions let you skip or cancel at any time without penalty
Before committing to a subscription, honestly assess how much jerky or cured meat you actually eat. A monthly pound of jerky sounds great until it starts piling up in your pantry.
Seasonal Sales to Watch
- Black Friday and Cyber Monday typically offer 20-30% off bundles
- Memorial Day and Labor Day sales are common for American jerky brands
- Holiday gift box promotions (November-December) often include free shipping
- Subscribe-and-save deals sometimes stack with holiday promotions for maximum savings
Storing and Enjoying Dry Meat Purchased Online
Once your order arrives, proper storage protects both flavor and food safety. Different products have different requirements, so pay attention to what you bought.
Unopened Storage Guidelines
- Sealed jerky and vacuum-packed cured meats can usually stay in a cool, dark pantry until the “best by” date
- Vacuum-packed products stored at room temperature remain stable for 12-18 months when moisture content is below 10%
- Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources (not above the stove or near windows)
- Refrigerating unopened packages extends shelf life even further but isn’t always necessary
After Opening
- Jerky: refrigerate and consume within 1-2 months (some brands specify 3-7 days for perfect texture)
- Hard salami and dry sausages: refrigerate and use within 2-3 weeks
- Sliced prosciutto and similar: refrigerate and eat within 5-7 days
- Always follow the specific storage instructions printed on the label—processes differ between producers
Practical Storage Tips
- Transfer partially used portions to airtight containers or resealable bags
- This prevents further drying out and keeps products from absorbing fridge odors
- Label containers with the date opened so you remember when to use them up
- For long-term storage, some jerky can be frozen for up to 6 months (thaw in refrigerator)
- Curious about dehydrating beef jerky and how long it should take? Check out this helpful video guide.
Serving Ideas
Dry meat isn’t just for snacking straight from the bag. Here are ways to enjoy your purchases:
- High-protein snack: Keep individual jerky portions in your bag, desk, or car for convenient energy
- Charcuterie boards: Arrange sliced salami, prosciutto, and coppa with cheese, crackers, and olives
- Cooking ingredient: Chop biltong or jerky into salads, omelets, or fried rice for added protein and flavor
- Trail mix addition: Combine small jerky pieces with nuts and dried fruit for a savory-sweet hiking snack
- Party appetizers: Wrap prosciutto around melon, figs, or breadsticks for an elegant and perfect appetizer
The beauty of ordering dry meat online is the variety you simply can’t find at local stores. With hundreds of brands, flavors, and styles available, there’s never been a better time to explore. Start with a sampler from a reputable seller, dial in your preferences, and you’ll have a reliable source of quality protein snacks for years to come.
Your next order of perfectly aged jerky or artisan-sliced salami is just a few clicks away.
