The pros: Trader Joe's Uncured Salame di Parma Mild Salami is a nice and unusual shaped Salami. If you are concerned about the humane raising of animals, then you'll want to read on.
The cons:Â Nothing really stood out to distinguish this from any other salami I've tried. This is also a bit more expensive as well at nearly $20 per pound.
The verdict: Â 
With summer upon us there are the inevitable BBQs and gatherings. One of the go to items that we have at any get together is an antipasto platter.
It seems like there is something about meats, cheeses, and olives that is a perfect before meal snack for guests.
If I'm making an antipasto platter, then there are certain go to items that I know that I'll buy and they will disappear. If they don't, at least I won't be upset about being stuck with some leftovers. And yes, you can make a really beautiful one like this one.
So prosciutto usually makes the list of meats that makes my board. And Prosciutto di Parma seems to be just a bit different and on my taste buds a step above the rest (although Trader Joe's Prosciutto wasn't bad to reach for either). But Salame (which is singular, while Salami is plural) tends to make the plate too.
So when I saw this, I had high expectations. These slices of salami are nice and thin with the occasional bite of black pepper. The taste of celery is pronounced with other spices playing a minor role. But was it worth the premium price of nearly $20 per pound? For me, it did not stand out other than shape.
The shape of this salami is unusual. Instead of the traditional round shape, this is shaped like a bubble letter shaped M. Makes it easier for rolling up as this slice is a touch longer than most.
But there maybe another standout aspect to this product that has no bearing on taste. Trader Joe's published an article that I had not noticed previously about the conditions of their pork product. This comes a crate free supplier. So if you are concerned about where your food comes from, it was an interesting read (and concerns perhaps some of us were not aware of).
For $4.99 for four ounces, this is a small package. In terms of taste it did not stand out in the same way that prosciutto di parma does. However, if humane is more important to you then this is worth considering.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The package of Trader Joe's Uncured Salame di Parma Mild Salami:
The nutritional information, the ingredients:
Would I buy this again? Trader Joe's Uncured Salame di Parma Mild Salami is a take it or leave it item for me. There was nothing truly stand out here and if I can get it cheaper somewhere else I will.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Dag says
In general I really like Trader Joe's uncured meats but I usually go for the spicier varieties. I really strive to not buy any type of meat cured with nitrates or nitrites. In my regular grocery stores or gourmet stores those items usually cost about the same if not quite a bit more. I have tried the mild and it's just too mild for me. Like you I noticed a pronounced taste of celery which is unusual for this type of product. I only bought this particular one once before and I also won't be buying it again.
becomebetty says
Same here. It wasn't worth the premium price for me on this one. Which meats have you tried that you really enjoy?
Alek says
Interesting things I found out on the pack; it came all the way from Italy and it has cinnamon and cloves which is unusual in a salami.
becomebetty says
Hey Alek! I'm always amazed at how far away some of the food is from and how they keep prices in check. To be honest, I really couldn't taste any cinnamon or clove in this product. And yes, I agree those are some odd ingredients. Thanks for noticing that detail!
Andi says
I discovered the uncured salami at Trader Joe's a few months ago. It looked like the cured Citterio brand of salami my dad use to bring home from an Italian store so I bought it and love it. I can't taste the cinnamon, clove or celery juice, just plain good ole salami. I miss ground black pepper in the salami so I'll mash ground peppercorns into the salami, freeze it and take out a couple of slices when I'm craving salami. The salami doesn't freeze but I guess preserves it.
becomebetty says
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your thoughts on this!