Want to know what is old world pepperoni? In this post we share what it is + the differences it has with regular pepperoni.
Pepperoni is a popular Italian-American dish made from cured pork and beef.
It’s usually served as an appetizer or main course, and there are all sorts of variations on the recipe.
But what is old world pepperoni, exactly? And how does it differ from other types of sausage? Let’s take a closer look!
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What is old world pepperoni
When it comes to pepperoni, Old World Pepperoni is the real deal. They’re made with spicy seasonings and bacterial cultures which give them a bolder flavor than other kinds of fresh paper-casing meats.
And their natural casing means you get curly “cups” when cooking this type off meat back at your house!
If that weren’t enough already there’s also thicker slices which definitely have more flavor and impact in the final dish better than other pepperoni types.
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What does old world pepperoni look like
Old world pepperoni looks very similar to traditional pepperoni. However it’s thicker and has a bright red, almost artificial like, color thanks to the paprika.
It has a high fat content since it’s made with pork and beef. This means it curls up in the corners when baked.
Basically, you can recognize it for it’s bright red color and thick rounds. If it’s cooked you can recognize it for the curly corners.
Why does old world pepperoni curls
Old world pepperoni curls for 3 reasons:
- It has a high fat content that renders when being baked.
- The natural casing shrinks with the heat. This results in the edges curling upwards
- The slices are thicker so the top part heats and cooks faster than the bottom which also helps with the curling and crispying.
What is the difference between pepperoni and old world pepperoni
Before we start talking about how old world pepperoni is different from new world pepperoni is important to understand that pepperoni, as a whole, is a type of sausage that was invented in America, not in Italy or Europe.
The name old world pepperoni may feel like it’s a type of European pepperoni but not like that, it just refers to how it’s made in a more natural way than its counterpart.
Traditional or regula pepperoni is made with artificial casings and usually with less spices and less quality meats.
Old world pepperoni, on the other hand, it¡s higher in quality and has more flavor thanks to the spices and the better meats but it’s not spicy, just flavorful.
Both types are safe to eat raw since they’re cooked, cured and smoked.
What really sets apart bot types is the casing. Regular pepperoni is made with artificial casings while old world pepperoni it’s made with natural ones.
Since the casing for regular pepperoni has no flavor it’s more like a bag that holds the meat inside while you can actually taste the casing of old world pepperoni since they’re all natural.
This also makes them curl when being baked so the edges get sharp and crispy while regular pepperoni just bulks up without getting too much of a curl.
Where to buy old world pepperoni
You can get old world pepperoni at most grocery stores. They’re usually in the meat department and you just have to look for them.
You can find them in speciality grocery store that offer several types of pepperoni, not just American ones.
And if you lie in a small town and can’t seem to find it in store you can also look out for it online. Most online retailers carry old world pepperoni so you can get some to take your pizzas to the next level.
Some of the most popular brands that carry old world pepperoni are:
Brigford
This brand carries it in a couple different presentations. Their old world pepperoni stick is probably the most popular one and great if you want to control the thickness of the pepperoni slices.
Just keep in mind that while their casing is edible, most people prefer to peel it out before using it.
Private selection
This is another popular brand! The private selection old world pepperoni. You can usually find it sliced and it comes in different thickness and size.
They have some larger and thinner slices that are great for sandwiches, and some other thick and smaller presentations that are delicious for pizzas.
Marco’s pizza and Buddy’s pizza have old world pepperoni on their menu, so if you want to taste it out before buying some of your own you can check out their menu and get yourself one of their hot pizzas.
Now that you know all this about old world pepperoni you can go ahead and try it with some fresh dough at home, just remember to cook it only until the whey starts bubbling so you get that crispy, curly, spiced meat that’s to die for.
And if you want to really take your pizza to the next level, make the dough at home and some fresh mozzarella cheese + homemade tomato sauce.
