Getty Images / chas53

Major supermarkets usually have a few different meat sections.

In the center of the store, youll find canned meat near the tuna and jerky with the snacks.

Then over in the deli, theres a whole other category of slices that are traditionally viewed assandwichfixings.

deli sandwich

Credit:Getty Images / chas53

Its about much more than the fact that they’re sliced.

What Is Deli Meat?

Deli meats definition is quite flexible.

Depending on the recipe, deli meats may also haveadded sugars.

Smoked ham ingredient lists might include brown sugar, while honey roasted turkey features (you guessed it!)

This too is brand- and recipe-dependent, however many deli meats are preserved with chemical compounds callednitrates and nitrites.

Lastly, we cant overlook the recent news aboutlisteria.

Pasteurization and heat kill listeria, which is why outbreaks are rare.

(TheCDCconfirms that the last listeria outbreak of this size occurred in 2011 after contaminated cantaloupe made the rounds.

To keep up with safety alerts and recalls, sign up for updates from the FDAhere.

Think of deli meat as an every-so-often option, such as a serving once per week, Largeman-Roth adds.

One serving of deli meat is 2 ounces, which translates to about 3 to 4 thin slices.

As for how to use deli meat, our experts recommend: