Old Wisconsin Turkey Sticks Review

I sampled some Old Wisconsin Turkey Sticks today to review them. Initial remarks: I like this much bigger, 1.5-ounce skinny turkey sausage. While this is a highly processed, highly seasoned product, these turkey rods effectively stop hunger pangs while bailing that hay on the farm, and they’re a wonderful evening snack to munch when it’s too early to go to bed but too late to eat anything really heavy. The turkey sticks are lighter than the Slim Jims original beef sticks, and not therefore, quite as calorie-laden. But they’re smoked flavor very much resembles Slim Jims. The skin is just smoother on these, whereas the Slim Jims have a wrinkled or parched and aged appearance.

Benefits, Pros, Advantages, and Features

These taste quite similar to Slim Jims beef snack sticks.
I’ve often thought of that Slim Jim original flavor to closely mirror pepperoni. But while these have some of that smoked essence, these turkey sticks are not at all greasy.
But their texture is somewhat more chewy than Slim Jims, especially the skin part. The turkey meat at the center of these sticks however, is noticeably less chewy. So these have a somewhat tough skin, but a very soft middle.
I tasted very little kick in these mini turkey sausages.
I experienced no turkey fragments getting stuck in my teeth as I ate one of these. Less stringy than Slim Jim-processed beef, these snack are generally less trouble to chew up and leave behind less meat between the teeth, and much less oil on the fingers.
This preserved turkey never requires refrigeration; not even after opening. So it will keep several months in your pantry before opening and perhaps a couple weeks after. The best-if-used-by date falls about a month out from the purchase date on this particular sample I’m holding in my hand. But they’ll stay fresh and pleasant-tasting for somewhat longer if kept cool.
These sticks are about one-half an ounce lighter than the Slim Jim Monster Beef Sticks, but still adequately filling just the same.
I’ve never become burned out on smokehouse meat flavor like the one here. Stow these turkey sticks for a month, then eat them again, and you will probably notice that they taste as good as when you last enjoyed one.
Kids like these snack treats as they do Slim Jims, which is pretty nice since turkey snacks like this have far less added sugar than candy bars or other sweet confections that typically draw in children.
There’s no spicy juice to ooze out when you bite certain parts of this turkey stick. While I like the taste of that ooze, I also like knowing that there’s less fat in this meat than that meat that oozes grease.
This snack not difficult to find in in bigger stores.
There are no bones or bone fragments in this turkey sausage upon which to break a tooth. Old Wisconsin does a tremendous great job of removing all that debris from the turkey.
This turkey product has a pleasant, subtle smell that mirrors the actual taste closely. So sniffing these snacks of turkey can trigger profane amounts of mouth watering. They smell good.
Lower in this product, is the sodium, at 440 milligrams per serving.
Lower calories too, at just 110 calories.
The fat is also much lower too, at just 7 grams of fat per serving, as compared to the 25 grams in the Slim Jim Monster beef sticks. Here, just two of those grams is saturated fat.
This product is well-received at parties even though it’s probably more healthy to eat.

Disadvantages, Cons, Problems, and Concerns

As noted, though the healthier turkey comprises the bulk of this snack, this is still a highly processed meat with a sizable list of undesirable food additives to me. This qualifies this product as a twice-in-a-blue-moon treat, though its delicious turkey and smoky spice flavors might entice you to eat it way more often.
A nearly $2.25 cost for an ounce and a half of seasoned turkey seems a little lofty, especially since you can get over double the weight in Reese’s Big Cup peanut butter cups for a significantly less cost.
These snacks do not snap as easily or as loudly as a Slim Jim. Indeed, in order to get the health benefits of this turkey, some taste and texture are sacrificed.

Ingredients List

Turkey, mechanically separated turkey, contains 2% or less of salt, corn syrup solids, natural spices, dextrose, lactic acid starter culture, carrageenan, sodium erythorbate (made from sugar), garlic powder, sodium nitrite, in collagen casing. Gluten free.

Nutrition Facts

Serving size: One stick (43 grams). Servings per container: 1.
Calories: 110. Calories from fat: 70.
Total fat: 7 grams, 11% DV.
Saturated fat: 2 grams, 10% DV.
Trans fat: 0 grams.
Cholest.: 35 milligrams, 12% DV.
Sodium: 440 milligrams, 18% DV.
Total carb.: 1 gram, 0% DV.
Sugars: <1 gram.
Protein: 9 grams.

Product Rating

I’d recommend these turkey sausage snacks. Though its turkey and not beef, these treats are still a very appreciable treat in their own rights. So I’d rate this snack product at 93 of 100.

Where To Buy Old Wisconsin Turkey Sticks

Look for Old Wisconsin turkey sticks in many gas stations, convenience stores, and in larger grocery stores. They come in a white and orange wrapper with the white backing and the black, red, and white text.

References

Revision History

2015-02-03: Moved this post to the Tom’s Diet Quest blog, added whitespace, adjusted ad placement, and tweaked the content.
2012-05-02: Originally published.