10 Turkey Deli Meat Recipes for a Quick Homemade Lunch & Dinner (2024)

FAQs

What is a good deli lunch meat? ›

The brine is injected into the meat to ensure the flavor is in every bite. Think of how you might inject a turkey you purchased at the store with a butter-based marinade to boost the flavor and juiciness of your dish. The marinated meat is run through a macerator that scores or cuts the surface of the meat.

Meanwhile, according to McLean Meats, deli meats are typically made from “mechanically deboned meat cuts that are ground into a slurry,” which is then formed and sliced, much like the video.

Some of the most common deli meats include turkey, ham, beef, chicken, salami, bologna, and pastrami, among others.

If you're looking for the healthiest lunch meat option, choose the leanest cuts of deli meat possible, such as turkey, chicken breast, lean ham or roast beef. “These types of deli meat have the least amount of fat and provide a better nutrient value compared to others,” Zumpano says.

But while turkey is among the leanest deli meats, in the big picture it may not be healthier than other types. That's because all cold cuts are processed meats, like bacon and hot dogs. Regularly eating them—even in amounts less than what you probably put in a sandwich—clearly increases the risk of cancer.

That's because the goo you see is produced when harmless lactobacillus bacteria start feasting on the sugar that some manufacturers add for flavor. However, if lactobacillus bacteria multiply to the point that a smell develops, there's a small chance that bacteria responsible for foodborne illness could multiply, too.

It's the processing method, brine (preservatives and additives) that make a typical deli roast moist, flavourful, pink, and easy to slice. In organic lunch meats the brine is mostly sea salt, water, herbs and spices but in some cases, especially bacon, celery extracts are added.

You don't get a vehicle that looks like a hot dog by being bad at making processed meat products, so it's no surprise that Oscar Mayer Deli Fresh Oven Roasted Turkey is one of the best sliced turkeys on the market. Speaking of packaging, these deli slices are extremely efficiently stored.

What is the best turkey meat? ›

Leg (Drumstick)

Step right up for the fan favorite! This dark meat cut calls for long, slow cooking, but the result is well worth the wait. Tender and flavorful, turkey legs aren't just a theme park novelty… they're a timeless classic.

As an example, two to three slices of Black Forest Ham can be upwards of 260 calories with up to 19grams of fat, 30% saturated, and up to 310mg of sodium. Three to four slices of Roast Turkey Breast deli meat can be as low as 50 calories, with 1% fat, 1% saturated and slightly less sodium.

A: A meat slicer can save you lots of money because it allows you to take fairly inexpensive cuts of meat and slice them into thin deli cuts that are often much more expensive to purchase already cut.

Making your own lunch meat can actually save you money compared to buying pre-packaged lunch meat. Especially if you purchase meat in bulk or when it's on sale. Plus, when you make your own lunch meat, you have complete control over the ingredients you use, which can also be more cost-effective.

There is a little debate about the best cut for deli roast beef. The main contenders are top sirloin, the eye of round, and top loin (also called strip loin). (Some might argue for chuck or brisket, but for plain roast beef, those aren't the right answer.

If you have the time, energy and inclination, the best possible option is DIYing your sandwich meats. “You can buy a roast, ham or chicken breast and cook it yourself, then slice it off into lunch meat size portions,” Zumpano suggests. “This helps to ensure you know what's in the meat you're eating.”