Is Jimmy John’s Salami Really Pork? Getting to the Meat of The Matter

Jimmy John’s is known for their quick submarine sandwiches made with fresh ingredients. One of their most popular subs is the Smoked Ham Club, which features smoked ham, provolone cheese, lettuce, tomato, mayo, and Jimmy’s famous sandwich bread. However, some customers have questions about the Salami sub and whether the salami is actually pork or not. As a Jimmy John’s fan, I decided to dig into this meaty question and get to the bottom of what’s between those slices.

Salami at Jimmy John’s – The Basics

For those not familiar with Jimmy John’s menu they offer two salami submarine sandwiches

• The Pepe® – Salami, provolone, capicola, lettuce, tomato, onion, mayo, and Italian dressing. Jimmy’s favorite sandwich!

• The Totally Tuna – Fresh housemade tuna mixed with celery, onions and mayo. Topped with cucumber, lettuce, and tomato.

The Pepe features Genoa salami, a type of Italian dry-cured sausage made of pork. Salami, like pepperoni, is a cured sausage that originated in Italy. Traditional salami is made from pork, beef, or a blend of the two. Most delis and sandwich shops use pork salami.

So the Pepe sandwich clearly contains salami made from pork, right? Not so fast! Let’s look closer at Jimmy John’s ingredients.

Checking Jimmy John’s Ingredients

I checked the ingredients list on the Jimmy John’s website for the Pepe salami sub, and here’s what they have listed:

• Salami
• Provolone Cheese
• Capicola Ham
• Lettuce
• Tomatoes
• Onions
• Jimmy Mustard
• Olive Oil Blend (Soybean Oil, Extra Virgin Olive Oil)
• Red Wine Vinegar
• Italian Spice Blend

Hmm, the ingredients just say “salami” without specifying pork or beef. The other deli meats listed include the species, like “Capicola Ham.” Why not say “Pork Salami”? Strange.

I did more digging on the Jimmy John’s FAQ page, and found this:

“Jimmy John’s salami is made from a blend of premium quality beef and pork.”

Aha! The salami is not 100% pork, but a blend of beef and pork. Many modern salami recipes do include both beef and pork in the mixture. This explains why they don’t list “pork” in the ingredients.

Why the Beef and Pork Salami Blend?

Using both beef and pork to make salami offers some advantages:

• Leaner texture – The addition of beef provides a leaner texture without sacrificing moistness. Pork alone can be overly fatty.

• Flavor complexity – Blending the two meats gives a more complex, rich flavor profile. The pork provides the characteristic tang while the beef adds meaty depth.

• Cost savings – Beef is cheaper than pork. Using some beef in the blend lowers costs for the manufacturer.

So the salami at Jimmy John’s contains a pork and beef mix to give their sandwiches better taste, texture and cost savings versus straight pork salami.

How Much of Each Meat is in Jimmy John’s Salami?

The exact ratio of beef to pork in the Jimmy John’s salami is proprietary information. different brands will use their own recipes. However, typical ranges are:

• Pork – 40-80% of the mixture. Pork gives the most authentic salami flavor.

• Beef – 20-60% of the blend. Enough to add texture without overwhelming the pork taste.

• Seasonings – Up to 5% percent. Ingredients like salt, spices, garlic, etc.

I contacted Jimmy John’s to ask about their ratio out of curiosity but they politely declined to share that proprietary detail. But we can assume there is a decent amount of pork for traditional salami flavor along with some beef for cost and texture reasons.

Checking the Ingredients Yourself

If you want to verify the beef and pork blend for yourself at Jimmy John’s, simply check the ingredients on the packaging when you receive your sandwich.

Here’s a quick guide on deciphering the salami ingredients:

• Pork and beef – Indicates a blend of the two meats. This is what Jimmy John’s has stated they use.

• Pork – Lists pork specifically as the only meat ingredient. You’ll see this at delis that use only pork for their salami.

• Beef – Specifies beef as the sole meat. Much less common for salami, but some exist.

• Cured meat – A generic ingredient without naming the species indicates other meat like turkey, chicken, etc.

So inspect your sandwich to see if they followed their blend claim! Please let the staff know if you spot anything amiss.

The Verdict on Jimmy John’s Salami

After researching Jimmy John’s ingredients and typical salami recipes, all signs point to their salami containing a mixture of both beef and pork, not straight pork. This blend likely provides texture, flavor, and cost advantages over pure pork salami.

It’s understandable why some may assume the salami is pure pork, since beef and pork blends are less common. But with delicious subs like the Pepe, it’s no surprise Jimmy John’s chooses a special recipe. Whatever the exact ratio, their salami makes for tasty sandwiches with the highest quality meats.

The next time you visit Jimmy John’s and order the Pepe or other salami-stacked sub, you can dig in knowing there is likely a savory split of pork and beef inside. While the blend is not advertised, it allows customers to enjoy top-notch salami flavor at reasonable prices. Plus you can always customize your sandwich and ask for an extra load of their premium meats. No matter what, Jimmy John’s salami hits the spot!