Why isn't my homemade pepperoni orange?
I bought a large pork shoulder, broke it down into manageable pieces (it's just myself and my wife), and with one piece I decided to make pepperoni. I followed what seemed to be a pretty standard recipe:
- Grind
- Add spices (fennel, red pepper, garlic) and tender quick
- Dry in fridge
- Slow-roast to 160°F
If I close my eyes, it tastes like pepperoni, but it looks nothing like it. Much more red--almost purplish red, but by no means the greasy orange slice I'd expect on a pizza. I guess it could do fine in a stromboli, but I'd like to know what I did wrong, or what I'd need to do to get what I was looking for.
Best Answer
From Wikipedia:
Sodium nitrite, used as a curing agent, is what gives pepperoni the pink part of its distinct orange-pink color, while paprika or other capsicum provides the orange part.
It cites a food science blog article as the source.
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Quick Answer about "Why isn't my homemade pepperoni orange?"
Sodium nitrite, used as a curing agent, is what gives pepperoni the pink part of its distinct orange-pink color, while paprika or other capsicum provides the orange part. It cites a food science blog article as the source.What makes pepperoni orange?
The reddish orange color of pepperoni is obtained with the help of paprika. Various varieties of paprika can be added to pepperoni. Paprika is a powder made of paprika peppers. The tangy and sharp flavor of pepperoni comes from the mustard added to it.What gives pepperoni its red color?
Pepperoni is made from a mixture of ground pork and beef mixed with spices and flavorings. Salt and sodium nitrate are then added as curing agents, which prevent the growth of unwanted microorganisms. Nitrate is also added, which gives pepperoni its color.Is pepperoni red or orange?
Pepperoni is an American variety of spicy salami made from cured pork and beef seasoned with paprika or other chili pepper. Prior to cooking, pepperoni is characteristically soft, slightly smoky, and bright red. Thinly sliced pepperoni is one of the most popular pizza toppings in American pizzerias.What seasonings are in pepperoni?
Pepperoni sausage spices The dominating spice in this sausage is paprika, which gives it a characteristic orange color. You will also find aromatic spices such as anise, allspice, fennel, nutmeg, cinnamon, cloves, mustard and black pepper among the commonly used spices in pepperoni sausage.Why Isn't The Word Rapture Found In The Bible?
Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.
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