To some people, pancetta and prosciutto are pretty interchangeable. In fact, some people would even throw bacon into this particular mix. To a certain extent, this does make sense. After all, you’re talking about three types of pork products that taste pretty similar to one another. They even look alike!
Nonetheless, there are some differences between pancetta and prosciutto that you are going to want to keep in mind.
What Are The Differences Between Pancetta And Prosciutto?
While some people will substitute pancetta for prosciutto, vice-versa, or even sub bacon for either one of these things, there are actually some very noticeable differences between pancetta and prosciutto. In order to appreciate these differences, you are going to want to learn more about these items.
Essentially, pancetta is the Italian version of bacon. On a certain level, it does make sense to want to swap out one for the other. The pork belly cut that is used to make bacon is also used to make pancetta. However, rather than being smoked, which is what you do with bacon, pancetta is salt-cured, with a number of additional spices added. The flavor of pancetta can best be described as very subtle. The appearance of pancetta can be anywhere from pale red to quite pink.
While both prosciutto and pancetta are both indeed pork products, that’s pretty much where the similarities end. As you will discover, prosciutto is actually a type of ham. More specifically, it is cured with salt and dried by air. You have two kinds of prosciutto that you will want to note. The first kind of prosciutto is cotto. This type is sold cooked. The second kind of prosciutto is crudo. This type is sold raw. However, due to the curing process, crudo is completely safe to eat. Generally speaking, when people refer to prosciutto, they are usually thinking of the crudo form. Prosciutto should be used shortly after purchase, as it is capable of drying out quite quickly. There should be a sweetness, a hint of earthiness to the flavor. It should also have a soft rosiness to its pinkish appearance. It is best enjoyed at room temperature.
As you can see, there are several differences between pancetta and prosciutto that you are going to want to keep in mind. Depending on what you might want to eat, or depending on what you are planning to prepare, it helps to be aware of the differences between these particular pork products.
