Can You Eat Pepperoni Raw? #1 Best Answer

Not all types of meat can be eaten raw, including those that undergo treatment to ensure no harmful bacteria are present.

Most meat contains harmful bacteria such as Listeria, E. coli, Campylobacter, and Salmonella, which lead to food poisoning.

Some of the meats to eat raw without consequences include dry-cured ones. Other meats that could be taken raw but cautiously are sashimi and sushi.

Can You Eat Pepperoni Raw?

Like all cured salamis, it’s safe to eat pepperoni raw. That’s because the fermenting and curing technique used on pepperoni is excellent preservation that prevents bacterial growth. The method has been applied to meat for years, and there are no health risks to those who consume it uncooked. However, it is advisable to be sure that pepperoni has been well prepared and is safe for consumption.

How Can I Prepare A Pepperoni for Safe Storage?

While I can buy ready-made pepperoni from the local stores, I sometimes like preparing one myself. The recipe is easy and simple.

Besides, you can find the ingredients locally and at an affordable price. Here are the ingredients and the procedure I follow, and I recommend you do the same.

Ingredients

• 3 pounds of beef shank
• 7 pounds of butt pork with the inclusion of fats
• 1 tbs of sugar
• 5 tbs of salt
• A tbs of crushed anise seed
• 2 tbs of cayenne pepper
• 3 tbs of sweet paprika
• A cup of red wine
• A teaspoon of saltpeter
• A teaspoon of finely minced garlic
• A 4ft sausage casing
• A tbs of white vinegar
• ½ teaspoon of ascorbic acid

Procedure

• Step 1: Grind the beef and the pork meats separately.
• Step 2: Put the meats together in a large bowl, and later add sugar, paprika, cayenne, garlic, salt, saltpeter, anise seed, ascorbic acid, and red wine.
• Step 3: Mix the ingredients thoroughly until you know it’s properly mixed.
• Step 4: On a large pan, spread the mixture and loosely cover it using waxed paper. Place it in the refrigerator and cure it for 24 hours.
• Step 5: On the second day, prepare your casing by thoroughly cleaning them and cutting them into 4 feet.
• Step 6: Place the casings in a bowl filled with cold water and leave it for 30 minutes. Ensure there are no breakings on the case as you do it. That is possible by tying a knot on one end and putting water in it to see where it leaks.
• Step 7: Put the casing once again in a bowl containing water. Add white vinegar in a ratio of one tablespoon to a cup of water. That’s necessary to soften the casing.
• Step 8: Stuff the meat mixture and keep twisting every 10 inches.
• Step 9: Use cotton twine to make two separate knots at every link. That is, from one sausage to another.
• Step 10: Using the same cotton twine, tie the center of each four feet sausage and hang them to dry at a temperature of between 50 and 55. Also, ensure a humidity of 75% to 80%. Leave it for eight to nine weeks.

Can I Cook and Eat A Pepperoni?

Although pepperoni can be eaten raw, cooking it wouldn’t cause any harm. One of the things I love about pepperoni is that it can be eaten raw or cooked and remain likable.

Whether I eat pepperoni raw or cooked, the taste is always great. However, I like it cooked more than when uncooked.

How Does a Raw Pepperoni Taste?

A raw pepperoni comes with a host of pleasant tastes from the numerous ingredients used in its preparation. A raw pepperoni will have a fantastic flavor that is spicy, salty, and tangy.

Besides, you will also find its texture to be distinctly chewy. While this taste is amazing, I love it even better when cooked. When cooked, the flavor is better noticed in the mouth and can last longer.

How Can I Tell My Raw Pepperoni is Spoilt?

When it comes to meat products, there are several ways that you could tell they have gone bad, and pepperoni is not an exception.

Spoilt meat can be dangerous as it may cause food poisoning with adverse effects such as diarrhea, vomiting and nausea, cramps, aches and headaches, fatigue, and body weakness.

In extreme cases, it could lead to death. Thus, one should see a doctor immediately. If you notice your pepperoni to be spoilt, the best option is to discard it.

Here are some tips on how I can tell my pepperoni has gone bad.

• Color change: A good-quality pepperoni has a color range between dark red and pink. However, if you notice the color change to brownish or greyish, then the meat has already begun to rot. Thus, it should be discarded.
• Awful odor: In good condition, the pepperoni smell is tangy. However, when spoilt, the scent will be putrid, indicating some rotting has already begun.
• Texture: If a touch feels sticky, it means some harmful bacteria have already begun acting on your pepperoni, and it is time to throw it away.

What Conclusion Do I Have?

There is no harm in consuming raw pepperoni. However, it’s essential to be cautious because if wrongly prepared, raw pepperoni may cause serious health issues to an individual.

Again, be careful to check whether your pepperoni has begun to spoil. Otherwise, it could lead to severe illnesses.

Conclusion to Can You Eat Pepperoni Raw?

Pepperoni can be eaten raw. However, it is important to note that it must have been cured and fermented to ensure all the disease-causing bacteria are eliminated.

Otherwise, eating it raw before then is like consuming any uncooked meat and could lead to food poisoning.

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