Patel said a common mistake is storing beef jerky in plastic bags or not fully sealing the package it came in.
"While jerky is dried and salted to preserve it, the amount of fat indicates how long it retains freshness," she said. "The leaner the meat, the shorter the shelf life."
Instead, Patel said it's ideal to store beef jerky in an airtight container. Fernandez added that jerky should go in a cool, dark place, but you shouldn't keep the snack in your fridge.