Can You Mail Beef Jerky?

August 10, 2022

Whether it's homemade or store-bought, local or exotic jerky, everyone loves this tasty snack. And one of the best things about beef jerky is sharing it with folks you love.

However, sharing your favorite savory snack can be challenging if the distance is too great. So the question stands: Can you mail beef jerky?

Homemade, commercial, domestic, international, destination — many factors come into play. No matter where your loved ones live, read on to learn more about mailing beef jerky.

Can You Mail Beef Jerky in the United States?

Thankfully, yes — you can mail beef jerky in the U.S. Otherwise, we’d be in a pickle.

The United States Postal Service (USPS) will ship any kind of food, as long as it complies with United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) regulations (say that three times fast). Per the USDA, dried beef or poultry — such as beef jerky and turkey jerky — is completely safe to mail.

Because the beef jerky-making process involves removing moisture from meat, jerky rarely hosts bacteria. This bacteria resistance makes beef jerky fine to go through shipping without compromising its taste, overall freshness or safety.

How to Send Homemade Beef Jerky in the United States

Mailing beef jerky in the U.S. is easy with the right packaging. Proper packaging is essential to make sure the person cracking open the bag savors jerky’s special freshness and flavor burst.

Beef jerky has a relatively long shelf life, but you'll want it to arrive at its destination as quickly as possible for peak piquance. For this reason, shipping with USPS Priority Mail Express is one of the best methods for mailing beef jerky.

You have a few options when it comes to packaging homemade jerky for shipment. Above all, it’s important to remove as much air as possible from the package to guarantee freshness.

If you have a vacuum sealer, use it to create an airtight seal around the jerky. If you don't have a vacuum sealer, press as much air as you can out of the bag of jerky. Using a resealable, zip-close plastic bag is a smart idea.

Once the jerky is properly packaged, all you have to do is place it in a box or envelope (USPS Flat Rate mailers work well) and ship it to its lucky recipient.

Can You Ship Beef Jerky Overseas?

If you have a loved one living overseas and want to share your passion for beef jerky with them, you’re probably wondering whether you can ship jerky abroad.

Generally, it’s both safe and legal to ship beef jerky overseas. However, this often depends on the country you’re shipping to. Check out the FAQ section below to find out about shipping to certain countries.

Mailing Beef Jerky to Military Personnel

Shipping food (including jerky) to military personnel overseas works pretty much the same way as shipping domestically.

The USPS is the only mail service allowed to send packages to stationed troops, which means international shipping rates don’t apply to your package. When sending jerky to military personnel, use a USPS Priority APO, FPO or DPO box.

First, make sure the jerky’s appropriately packaged (see above). Next, attach a large label addressed to the service member. Then, label the box with the words “Fragile” and “Perishable Food” in three places:

Above the address
Below the postage stamp
On the back or bottom of the package

Packages sent to service members can take one week or more to arrive, depending on where the mail’s headed. If you plan to send beef jerky as a holiday gift, we recommend shipping the package no later than December 7 to guarantee timely arrival.

Beef Jerky Shipping FAQs

When shipping beef jerky overseas, regulations vary according to the country. Here’s additional information about shipping beef jerky to particular countries.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to Japan?

Unfortunately, you can’t. Japan prohibits shipping dried meat products of any kind.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to Germany?

This one’s another no. German customs laws prohibit all meat products — smoked, cured or vacuum-packed — from arriving in the mail.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to Australia?

Yes, you can mail beef jerky to Australia. However, you can’t mail pork-based jerky.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to Canada?

You can’t mail homemade beef jerky to Canada. However, you can ship commercial beef jerky in a sealed container.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to the U.K.?

You can usually ship beef jerky to the U.K., as long as the jerky’s properly packaged and sealed. That means it shouldn’t spoil before it reaches its destination.

But this one’s a bit tricky. Shipping food products from countries outside the European Union (EU) has regulations that could apply to beef jerky.

Can I Send Beef Jerky to Kuwait?

You can ship beef jerky via USPS to a service member stationed in Kuwait. Otherwise, you’ll need to follow Kuwait’s extensive import and export guidelines.