- Pepperoni is typically made of pork and beef, but they can contain a variety of meats.
- Read the pepperoni package's list of ingredients to learn the exact meat your pepperoni contains.
Whether you're making a sandwich, grabbing a snack, ordering a pizza or putting together a meal, it's important to understand what type of meat you're putting in your body. Products like pepperoni, salami, sausage or bologna aren't always completely clear on what meats they contain.
You may be looking to avoid certain meats due to your religion, any allergies or simply personal preference. Regardless of the reason, you can learn what meat these products are made of and how to identify what each product individually contains.
What is pepperoni made of? How do salami, sausage and bologna differ?
What is pepperoni made of?
Pepperoni is typically made of pork and beef, according to The Spruce Eats. Home Kitchen Talk sayswhile pepperoni is often made of “both ground pork and ground beef,” customers are able to purchase substitutes like turkey pepperoni or beef pepperoniwhichdo not contain pork.
To be sure of your specificpepperoni’s ingredients, it’s recommended that you read the list of ingredients on the back of the packaging.
Pepperoni of all varieties is available in many grocery stores and supermarkets, such as Raley’s, Target or Walmart.
Can I have pepperoni while pregnant?
You can eat pepperoni while pregnant, but the pepperoni should be cooked, rather than cold and uncooked, according to Healthline. Uncooked pepperonis can contain "bacteria and parasites" that is dangerous to a pregnant person's weakened immune system.
Pepperoni is also sometimes avoided by pregnant people due to the preservatives they possess.
Cooked pepperoni, be it microwaved, fried or baked, is safe in smaller amounts, but avoiding uncooked pepperoni is for the best.
Healthiest deli meats:Try these options for your next sandwich
Can cats have pepperoni?
Pepperoni is safe for cats if they only eat a little, but too much is unhealthy for them, Pet Advisers says. A cat's diet should primarily consist of meat as they are carnivores. Pepperoni does, however, have high levels of "fat, protein, spices, and preservatives" which are unhealthy for cats.
Your catcan get an upset stomach orgastrointestinal issues like pain, nausea, bloating and diarrhea from pepperoni.
Can dogs have pepperoni?
Dogs should not eat pepperoni because of its highly processed nature and inclusion of ingredients like salt, cayenne andpaprika, AZ Animals says. Similarly to cats, dogs will be okay if they only eat a little pepperoni, but "frequent consumption" or larger amounts can be unhealthy and dangerous to your pup.
What is salami made of?
Salami is traditionally made of pork, but customers can find salami made of all different kinds of meat, like “beef, venison, lamb, or even duck,” says Home Kitchen Talk. Reading the salami package’s ingredients will clarify exactly what your salami contains and the meat it is made of.
What is sausage made of?
Similar to salami, sausage is “frequently” made of beef or pork, according to Britannica. It can, however, be made of and include other meats like chicken and seafood, says The Spruce Eats. Read the listed ingredients to learn what meat your purchased sausage is made of.
What is bologna made of?
S. Clyde Weaver, which has stores and marketsin Pennsylvania specializing in meats and cheeses, says on its websitethe meat used in bologna is ground meat of any sort, such as “pork, beef, chicken and/or turkey.” Different qualities of bologna may contain different qualitiesof meats.The ingredient list will clarify the exact meat(s) in your bologna.
What are hot dogs made of?:Maybe beef, pork, chicken or ... other stuff
Just Curious for more? We've got you covered
USA TODAY is exploring the questions you and others ask every day. From "What is the healthiest fast food?" to "Is there water on the moon?" to "Can dogs get hiccups?", we're striving to find answers to the most common questions you ask every day. Head to our Just Curious section to see what else we can answer for you.
