Soft Beef Jerky: What Makes Some Jerky More Tender Than Others?
Prefer Your Beef Jerky with a Softer Chew?
Beef jerky has a reputation for being tough.
For some people, that's part of the appeal. For others, spending five minutes fighting with one strip of beef isn't exactly their idea of a good snack.
But beef jerky doesn't have to be rock hard.
The texture of jerky can vary enormously depending on the cut of beef, thickness, preparation, marinade and drying process.
At Nungra Nibbles, creating a softer, easier-to-chew beef jerky was actually one of the reasons we started experimenting with making jerky in the first place.
After more than two years of development and 50+ trials, we landed on the softer chew and bold flavours that became the Nungra Nibbles jerky range.
So what actually makes some beef jerky softer than others?
Let's get into it.
What Is Soft Beef Jerky?
Soft beef jerky is still dried beef jerky, but it retains a more tender, flexible texture than very dry traditional styles.
It should still have a satisfying chew—you just shouldn't feel like you're testing your jaw strength every time you open a bag.
There's no single definition of "soft jerky", because texture can vary between brands and styles.
You'll find everything from very dry, firm strips through to softer and more tender jerky.
For us, the sweet spot is somewhere in between:
Proper beef texture + satisfying chew + easy enough to actually enjoy.
Why Is Some Beef Jerky So Tough?
There isn't one single reason.
Jerky texture is influenced by several things working together.
1. The Cut of Beef
It all starts with the meat.
Different cuts have different muscle structures, fat levels and grain, which can affect how the finished jerky feels when you bite into it.
How the meat is trimmed and prepared matters too.
Quality jerky starts well before the drying process.
2. How the Beef Is Sliced
Thickness makes a difference.
Very thin pieces can dry rapidly and become crisp or firm, while thicker pieces can produce a substantially different chew.
The direction the beef is sliced relative to the grain can also influence how easily it pulls apart when eaten.
Consistency is important.
If one piece is considerably thinner than another, they'll behave differently during drying—even when they're in the same batch.
3. The Marinade
Jerky isn't simply beef thrown into a dehydrator.
Marinades provide flavour, but the ingredients used and the amount of time the meat spends marinating can also influence the finished product.
This is where a lot of the personality of jerky comes from.
Sweet, salty, savoury, smoky, tangy and chilli flavours can all start developing well before the beef begins drying.
At Nungra Nibbles, this is one of the reasons product development took so many trials.
Changing one part of a recipe can affect much more than just flavour.
4. The Drying Process
This is a big one.
Jerky needs to be dried appropriately for safety and stability, but more drying isn't automatically better jerky.
Time, temperature, airflow, humidity, meat thickness and the characteristics of the recipe all influence the final product.
Too much moisture removal can produce jerky that's much firmer than intended.
Not enough creates an entirely different set of problems.
Producing a consistent texture means controlling the process rather than simply drying the beef until it looks done.
Does Weather Affect Beef Jerky?
It can.
Commercial production environments are controlled, but ambient conditions such as temperature and humidity can influence drying behaviour.
Anyone who's spent time making dried meat knows that a humid Queensland summer and a dry winter day aren't exactly the same environment.
That's one of the reasons repeatable production processes, monitoring and consistency matter.
For a brand like ours that specifically wants a softer chew, maintaining that balance is particularly important.
Is Soft Beef Jerky Still Real Jerky?
Absolutely.
Soft doesn't mean mushy, wet or processed into something that no longer resembles beef.
Good soft jerky should still have recognisable meat fibres and a satisfying chew.
It's simply a different texture preference.
Some people love traditional, very dry jerky.
Others prefer something tender enough to bite through easily.
Neither is inherently "better".
We just know which one we'd rather nibble on.
Soft Jerky vs Dry Jerky
Here's a simple way of thinking about it:
| Softer Jerky | Drier Jerky | |
|---|---|---|
| Texture | Tender and flexible | Firmer |
| Chew | Easier to bite | Longer/tougher chew |
| Moisture | Generally more retained | Generally less retained |
| Experience | Soft, meaty chew | Traditional dry chew |
| Preference | Great for people wanting easier chewing | Great for people who love firm jerky |
There's a market for both.
Nungra Nibbles sits deliberately toward the softer, easier-to-chew side.
Why We Made Nungra Nibbles Jerky Softer
This part of the story goes right back to why we started.
We loved jerky—but we weren't always fans of jerky that felt like hard work to eat.
So instead of accepting that jerky had to be extremely tough, we started experimenting.
And experimenting.
And experimenting some more.
Over more than two years and 50+ trials, we worked on recipes, flavours and processes to create the type of jerky we wanted to eat ourselves.
The result became Nungra Nibbles:
100% Australian grass-fed beef, bold flavours and a softer chew.
And what started as experimenting with jerky eventually turned into a family-owned snack business based in Canungra, Queensland.
Soft Doesn't Have to Mean Boring
Texture is only half the story.
There's not much point creating beautifully tender jerky if it doesn't taste like anything.
That's why our range has grown to include flavours right across the spectrum.
Keep It Mild
Try:
Hickory Brown Sugar
Sweet, smoky and one of our most recognised flavours.
Sesame BBQ
Savoury BBQ flavour with sesame.
Teriyaki
A classic sweet-and-savoury combination.
Want Something Tangy?
Try:
Jalapeño & Lime
Fresh lime character with jalapeño heat.
Lemon Lime Pepper
Citrus and pepper without chasing extreme chilli.
Bring the Heat
Try:
Honey Habanero
Sweetness followed by a proper habanero kick.
Honey Soy Chilli
Sweet, savoury and spicy.
Intense Soy Chilli
A bigger chilli hit for people wanting more heat.
Triple Chilli Inferno
For those who looked at the other hot flavours and thought, "Yeah, but what have you got that's hotter?"
Award-Winning Soft Australian Beef Jerky
We're obviously proud of our jerky.
But it's even better when independent judges like it too.
Nungra Nibbles flavours have received recognition across Australian food and chilli competitions, including:
Honey Habanero — Gold, AMIC 2026
Hickory Brown Sugar — Gold, AMIC 2026
Jalapeño & Lime — Gold, AMIC 2026
Garlic Pepper — Silver, AMIC 2026
Honey Soy Chilli — 1st Place Hot, Mr Chilli Awards 2025
Intense Soy Chilli — 2nd Place Hot, Mr Chilli Awards 2025
Honey Habanero — 3rd Place Hot, Mr Chilli Awards 2025
Jalapeño & Lime — 3rd Place Medium, Mr Chilli Awards 2025
Hickory Brown Sugar — Bronze, Sydney Royal 2025
Sesame BBQ — Bronze, Sydney Royal 2026
So if you're looking for soft Australian beef jerky, you've got a few independently recognised flavours to start with.
How Should Soft Beef Jerky Be Stored?
Always follow the storage directions printed on the product packaging.
Keep unopened jerky appropriately stored and pay attention to the best-before information on the bag.
Once you've opened a pack, reseal it properly and follow the label directions for storage and consumption.
Because softer jerky can retain more moisture than very dry styles, don't assume the storage advice for one jerky brand automatically applies to another.
Follow the manufacturer's instructions for the product you're actually eating.
Where Can I Buy Soft Beef Jerky in Australia?
Nungra Nibbles beef jerky is available through our online store for Australia-wide delivery and through a growing network of independent stockists.
We're a family-owned Australian business based in Canungra in Queensland's Scenic Rim, with our jerky manufactured in South-East Queensland using 100% Australian grass-fed beef.
If you've spent years assuming all beef jerky has to be tough, we'd love to change your mind.
Explore our Australian Beef Jerky range and find your flavour.
Soft Beef Jerky FAQs
Is beef jerky supposed to be hard?
Not necessarily. Jerky comes in many different textures. Some traditional styles are deliberately very dry and firm, while other jerky is made with a softer, more flexible chew.
What makes beef jerky tender?
The cut of beef, slicing method, thickness, marinade and drying process can all influence tenderness. There isn't one ingredient or technique responsible for the finished texture.
Is soft beef jerky better than hard jerky?
That's personal preference. Some people love a long, firm chew while others prefer jerky that's easier to bite. Nungra Nibbles was deliberately developed toward the softer side.
Is Nungra Nibbles beef jerky Australian?
Yes. Nungra Nibbles is a family-owned Australian business based in Canungra, Queensland. Our jerky is manufactured in South-East Queensland using 100% Australian grass-fed beef.
What Nungra Nibbles jerky should I try first?
For something sweet and smoky, try Hickory Brown Sugar. If you like chilli, Honey Habanero or Jalapeño & Lime are great award-winning options. Or explore the full range and choose according to your preferred heat level.