# Why no roast pork in American delis? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 12, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754 "2013-11-12T21:50:15Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 9:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/1 "2013-11-12T21:50:15Z")
Of course, I generalize. I’m sure there’s a deli out there somewhere that has roast pork. But in this area, if you go to the deli counter at any local supermarket, you’ll find roast turkey, roast chicken, roast beef, and numerous varieties of ham, but no roast pork. Indeed, looking at the Boar’s Head [product list](http://boarshead.com/products/) confirms that the most prominent deli meat producer doesn’t even make it. Closest thing they have is porketta. I love a good Cuban sandwich, but I can only make them when I have roast pork leftovers because it seems the only way to get roast pork is to make your own. What’s the deal? Not enough demand? Too difficult to make a good product with a decent shelf life? Why no roast pork in the deli? ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 10:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/2 "2013-11-12T22:00:11Z")
My market, a St. Louis chain, has it on occasion. But it’s not a standard item in their deli case. I also like Cuban sandwiches. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GaryM](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/garym/32/241_2.png) [@GaryM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GaryM)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 10:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/3 "2013-11-12T22:07:06Z")
I see they have an uncured ham, maybe that would work? ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/4 "2013-11-12T22:21:49Z")
It seems that it’s a meat that never got adapted into lunchmeat status. I wonder if the texture of roast pork doesn’t lend itself to being sliced thinly? ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/5 "2013-11-12T22:26:46Z")
How much effect do we think the Jewish delis of the the world have had on delis in general? Do the delis you’ve looked in have a reasonable selection of other pork products? I’m assuming you’re not looking for roast pork in a kosher deli… ---
**Author:** ![Athena](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/35a633/32.png) [@Athena](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Athena)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/6 "2013-11-12T22:28:47Z")
We have roast pork here. It’s not super common, but I’m pretty sure at least once grocery store carries it regularly. It’s not the pressed, formed stuff, either; it looks like an actually pork roast they cut up. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 11:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/7 "2013-11-12T23:14:09Z")
The pork I see in the deli department of grocery stores is pretty much confined to prepared ribs or a pork loin that’s been roasted and cut into half-inch slices. I don’t think I’ve ever seen pork lunchmeat other than ham. ---
**Author:** ![PatriotGrrrl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9dc877/32.png) [@PatriotGrrrl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PatriotGrrrl)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/8 "2013-11-12T23:30:06Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > How much effect do we think the Jewish delis of the the world have had on delis in general? Do the delis you’ve looked in have a reasonable selection of other pork products? I’m assuming you’re not looking for roast pork in a kosher deli… Every non-Kosher deli I have been in had several types of ham, as well as having cheese in the same area as the meat. ---
**Author:** ![Kyrie\_Eleison](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kyrie_eleison/32/7682_2.png) [@Kyrie\_Eleison](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kyrie_Eleison)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 11:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/9 "2013-11-12T23:46:33Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I see they have an uncured ham, maybe that would work? I’ll give it a try. I’ve never noticed that at the counter around here, but I’ve never explicitly asked for it either. Maybe it’s there, but just not advertised on the pricing list, or maybe I never noticed it. Now I can start looking and asking for it. Thanks for the suggestion. Part of the reason I started this thread was that I was hoping someone would tell me, “Of course they have roast pork. It’s just called blah-de-blah. Get that; it’s just like homemade roast pork.” ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [November 12, 2013, 11:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/10 "2013-11-12T23:52:16Z")
Publix carries it here, as Cuban sandwiches are fairly popular. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/11 "2013-11-13T00:30:51Z")
Try a Latino market if you have one near. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/12 "2013-11-13T00:52:22Z")
A Polish/Eastern European deli will also be a good bet. ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/13 "2013-11-13T01:17:34Z")
> [@GaryM](#): > > I see they have an uncured ham, maybe that would work? Schnucks or Dierbergs?? Go Blues… ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 4:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/14 "2013-11-13T04:53:48Z")
> [@Ethilrist](#): > > How much effect do we think the Jewish delis of the the world have had on delis in general? Do the delis you’ve looked in have a reasonable selection of other pork products? I’m assuming you’re not looking for roast pork in a kosher deli… That was my immediate reaction. I wonder if it’s a regional thing; i.e., Jewish deli traditions are weaker outside of the Northeast. ---
**Author:** ![Jeff\_Lichtman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jeff_lichtman/32/1531_2.png) [@Jeff\_Lichtman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jeff_Lichtman)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 7:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/15 "2013-11-13T07:12:59Z")
“Uncured” ham is the same thing as cured ham. If you look closely at the package, it says it contains no added nitrates except for that from celery juice (or celery powder). Celery has sodium nitrate in it, and they use this as a “natural” curing agent. In other words, they’re trying to slip one past you. “Uncured” ham looks, tastes and smells like cured ham because that’s what it is. Boar’s Head porketta is close to what you’re looking for. Columbus also makes a roasted pork loin. ---
**Author:** ![RetroVertigo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b38774/32.png) [@RetroVertigo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RetroVertigo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 8:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/16 "2013-11-13T08:14:47Z")
> [@ThisSpaceForRent](#): > > Schnucks or Dierbergs?? > > Go Blues… Dierbergs? Does he come off that snooty? 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 9:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/17 "2013-11-13T09:05:07Z")
I think it’s just that American tend to be very conservative in their meat choices. We tend to only want a very short list of meat items and avoid anything that isn’t on the list. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/18 "2013-11-13T12:15:10Z")
They might call it “fresh ham”. ---
**Author:** ![SanVito](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sanvito/32/2805_2.png) [@SanVito](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SanVito)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/19 "2013-11-13T12:27:11Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > It seems that it’s a meat that never got adapted into lunchmeat status. I wonder if the texture of roast pork doesn’t lend itself to being sliced thinly? Nah, it’s very common here in the UK ([supermarket sample](http://www.sainsburys.co.uk/groceries/frameset/redirect.jsp;GROSESSIONID=SDvT0CTLL1QbpHFrCYMJGtW0wTQrF9CHnryM0mFRkYJlc2RvhJ1r!2102069887?bmForm=deep_link_groceries_search_javascript&bmFormID=1384345518685&bmUID=1384345518685&screenWidth=2560)). It sounds like a US thing. Is it true you guys also don’t eat much lamb? ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [November 13, 2013, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754/20 "2013-11-13T12:33:50Z")
> [@SanVito](#): > > It sounds like a US thing. Is it true you guys also don’t eat much lamb? Yes. We pretty eat only four meats: chicken, beef, pork, and turkey. The average American eats about 110 pounds of meat in a year and less than eight ounces of it is lamb (and that’s an average - the reality is most Americans don’t eat any lamb). To put it in perspective, the average American annual consumption of lamb is lower than the average Israeli annual consumption of pork. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-no-roast-pork-in-american-delis/673754.md?page=2)