People get a little confused about salt pork, it’s preserved but does it go bad? It’s a salt-cured piece of meat, but there are variations of course in how its made. Certain commercial types aren’t made to last (more on this below). I’ve made my own at home and its dead simple to actually produce, all it takes is some …
Cured Meats Similar to Prosciutto I Love (Cured & Classics)
Depending on where you live in the world, you may or may not be used to the fine delicacy of cured meats like prosciutto or other dry-cured meat. But, if you are fortunate enough to have tried some before, then you may be looking to expand your repertoire and add in a few new types that you are unfamiliar with. …
How To Make Salami (Intro & Overview)
I really wanted to do a full post on how to make salami, a complete introduction, a rundown of the equipment, and dry curing techniques. Salami has a ton of interpretations and variations, and by no means do I consider myself an expert of all the styles across the world (European, Asian, Modern). But after making and savoring dry-cured meats …
Is Himalayan Pink Salt Good for Curing Meat?
I have used Himalayan pink salt for meat curing, but it seems there’s a bit of confusion about whether it’s a good thing and also actually what it is. This isn’t going to be very scientific (but will have links) but I have done a little bit of research before I have used it in the past for curing various …
What is Salami Wrapped In? (What is the White Stuff)
There are many different casings that can be used for wrapping salami. Since I make salami at home I got interested in all the different types available. Different types of salami wrappings or casings as they are known – are used for different purposes, especially in commercial salami production. There are 1,000’s of variations of salami across the world. And …
What is & How to Use Pink Curing Salt or Prague Powder
There are a whole bunch of ways that you can use pink curing salt or Prague powder (and there are a bunch of other names for it). I want to give you a rundown on how I use pink-curing salt and some other important details about this ingredient. Pink curing salt is in many popular foods produced at home or …
Why is Salami Sour? (Kind of Tangy)
The sour flavor that is quite common in salami most people are pretty familiar with, I will share what I know about where it comes from. I make salami at home, and it is in the simple process normally requiring a fermentation stage and it drying stage. Having met a bunch of small and large salami producers – I’ve got …
What is Salami Made of? (Commercial & Artisan)
Salami can be made of quality ingredients or additives to drive its profitability of it and make it a high-volume product. Making salami at home as well as buying it commercially, I want to contrast the ingredients and flavors. Readings textbooks about salami making and meat science have opened my eyes to some of the processes that are used in …
Does Salami Have Carbohydrates in it? (Yes & No)
Whether salami has carbohydrates in it or not isn’t a straightforward yes or no answer. This comes from someone who makes salami at home but has also an understanding of the commercial salami and how it is produced. Some of the commercial & home salami textbooks I’ve read have highlighted additional ingredients that have certain effects and properties on the …
Charcuterie & Cured Meat – Is it Gluten-Free?
When it comes to charcuterie in all its forms and cured meats most of it I’ve come across is generally gluten-free, however that’s with writing bit more detail about this. Since many people aren’t aware of the ‘fillers’ that are used in quite a lot of charcuterie products sometimes for good effect. But sometimes it does help ‘fill’ the product …
How to Preserve Meat (With Salt, Smoke, Fat)
In a way, this entire website is about preserving meat with salt and smoke, but the focus of this write up will be an overview of all the ways I’ve used and come across over the years. The magic of salt is really the cornerstone of most of the methods you’ll find below, but they do vary quite a bit …
Is Ham a Cured Meat? (How is it Made)
This question completely depends on what country is answering this question. The mysteries of ham and whether it is cured meat will be covered in this post. Quick answer and a breakdown since ham varies a lot from place to place. Most people always say ham is smoked, and it is sometimes. But I’ll tell you what, in the big …
What is Epic and Delicious Salami for Pizza? (& Bits About Salami)
Picking the best salami for pizza, of course, comes down to your personal preference. But I can give a few quick ideas around what works best for most people after making and buying a truck ton of pizza! Being a complete salami fanatic who buys and makes salami, I can give more depth to the topic. This site is all …
Can I Prepare a Charcuterie Board Ahead of Time?
Sometimes I want to prepare a charcuterie board beforehand so that it takes the stress out of it, rather than a last-minute rush of activity. I thought I’d share a few tips about how I go about preparing and some tips and tricks in the presentation as well that I have picked up along the way. Of course, this resource …
Why is Charcuterie so Expensive to Buy?
Charcuterie is expense, well the stuff you buy is. It’s now got a wide definition covering anything from cured meats to rillettes and bacon. For over 25 years I have been making and buying charcuterie, dry-cured meats and salumi from all over the world – and I’m still reluctant at times to ‘invest the money. I’ve been lucky enough to …
Does Charcuterie Have to be on a Board? (Some Thoughts)
When your putting together a charcuterie board, it’s really down to how you want to present it, whether you use a wooden board or something else. Of course when your online, all these charcuterie pictures are on wooden boards but their are a lot of alternatives out there. Some even have interesting properties like slate, So I hope to give …
What Equipment Do I Need to Make Delicious Bacon?
There are so many options when it comes to equipment for making your own delicious bacon. When I first started planning this write up, it got a bit scary writing down all the different equipment that you could use, there are SO many options! But hopefully, it helps whether you are smoking/cooking the bacon then cutting into nice thick chunks. …
Can Prosciutto Be Eaten Raw? (Different Types)
Prosciutto and whether it can be eaten raw is up to you. But there are many hundreds of varieties. Mainly just two types dominate the world, ‘Crudo‘ & ‘Cotto‘. Now, most prosciutto is Crudo Prosciutto, however, I would call them ‘dried’ not raw. Prosciutto is kind of like the King of Kings when it comes to cured meats. My passion …
Things I Use for Dry Curing
This type of equipment is if you already have a DIY curing chamber or an area where you do the drying. If you are in the realm of building something, check out this post. This list is all about the equipment I think makes it easier and the things I love to use. It is not exhaustive, but just some …
Does Salt Pork Need to be Refrigerated? (and Other Tips)
Refrigerating salt pork depends on the salt pork you have, it’s sometimes hard to figure out how it was made so I will dive into what I have learned about that too. I mean the safest bet you can have for whether or not you should keep it in the fridge, of course, is to look at the expiry or …