How to Recognize Quality Sausages
If you are going to spend a serious amount of money on tasty meat, you need to be sure that you are getting a really good product. To understand the difference between junk meat and treasure, Epicurious brought in meat expert Elias Cairo of Olympia Provisions, who blindly sampled the whole variety or meat at different prices.
Cairo not only chose the more luxurious option every time, but also explained why its choice was worth the extra money. Watch the entire video for everything from hot dogs to prosciutto ham, but here are some things to look out for when making this quirky bowl of animal protein:
- Color: A jerky ham like prosciutto should be dark in color and have a lot of tasty fat on it. In salami, the adorable little bits of lard should be bright white, as yellowing can indicate oxidation or rancidity.
- Shape : Perfectly shaped, plump loaves of meat are likely to have a uniform look with fillers, so look for thicker specimens.
- Smell: A good piece of deli meats should have a varied flavor with ingredients that you can identify with your nose. (Think garlic, cinnamon, and even truffles or juniper berries, not vague “harshness”.)
Also, don’t be afraid to ask to try products. If you’re at a truly respectable deli counter, the meat seller will be more than happy to let you taste a bite, especially if they expect you to shell out your hard-earned cash.