A Foodie’s Guide to the Different Types of Cured Meats

Picture yourself with a glass of crisp white wine and a large wedge of Gruyere cheese melting over a cracker. You close your eyes and inhale, imagining what rich and complex flavors await you in this morsel.

If you’re a food lover, you know that curing meats is one of the most delightful forms of gastronomy—some people like bacon, others like sausages, and others like both. But most people will agree that all the excellent types of cured meats are even better.

So which ones can you enjoy for breakfast, a snack, or dinner?

Cured meats encompass various flavors ranging from mild and creamy to intense. Here’s the lowdown on some types of cured meats.

Soppressata

Sopressata is an Italian cured dry sausage typical of Southern and Central Italian cuisine. It is typically made from coarsely chopped pork, salted and seasoned with basil, bay leaf, garlic, chili pepper, black pepper, and white wine. The pork is pressed and hung to cure for weeks, giving it a distinctively robust flavor and texture.

They usually serve soppressata as an appetizer or part of a platter full of other Italian cured meats. It is also a staple of Italian sandwiches, especially those in Calabria.

As with most popular cured meats, its flavor benefits from being served at room temperature, allowing all its complex flavors to come out. If you want an excellent addition to any charcuterie plate or antipasti platter, you can find soppressata here, providing a bold flavor and a beautiful presence to any dish.

Prosciutto

Prosciutto is usually made from the hind legs of pigs. It is salted, air-dried, and cured for up to 18 months. The name “prosciutto” comes from the Latin word “praesumptus,” which means “taken beforehand.”

Prosciutto is not typically smoked but can be coated in spices such as pepper, nutmeg, rosemary, and juniper berries before the curing process begins. The Italian tradition of prosciutto production is one of the oldest known to humankind, and it has been around since the days of Ancient Rome.

It has a mild, sweet taste that many use in sandwiches, salads, or dishes like carbonara and pizza. In Italy, they often serve it as part of an antipasto platter. Prosciutto is arguably one of the world’s most respected cured meats, with its use and popularity extending far beyond Italian cuisine.

Jerky

Most types of jerky are from beef, but they can also come from other meats such as turkey, fish, and elk. The beef is sliced into thin strips and then dried and cured to preserve the flavor and store it for a long time. The curing can involve different steps, such as marinating the jerky to add flavor, smoking it in a smoker over low heat, or dehydrating it in a food dehydrator.

You can eat jerky as is, added as a topping to salads or sandwiches, to soups, or crumbled over dishes as a garnish. It is a convenient and tasty snack that you can store for a long time without refrigeration.

Types of Cured Meats: Elevate Your Meal

Cured meats offer variety, convenience, and unique flavors you won’t find in any other cuisine. With a food lover’s guide to all the beautiful types of cured meats, you can choose one that suits your taste.

Give one or all a try and take your dishes to the next level of flavor! You won’t regret it!

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