Love it or hate it, bologna has traditionally been a lunch meat favorite. Not only is it an integral part of longtime lunch staples like bologna sandwiches, but it also has interesting regional uses in American cuisine, like in its starring role in Oklahoma’s barbecued prime rib. However, despite how popular and widespread bologna is in American culture, most people don’t know that there’s actually a grass-fed bologna option out there.
Essentially, grass-fed bologna is a higher-end bologna. Grass-fed bologna is made from better-sourced, higher-quality meat, which results in a bologna with less antibiotics and hormones overall. Its nutritional content is different from regular bologna, and is also slightly healthier for you, although not by much. Grass-fed bologna is also made differently, causing it to have a different appearance.
Grass-fed bologna has basically the same uses as regular bologna, though. It can just as easily be used in sandwiches, or be great on charcuterie boards due its nicer taste caused by the lack of additive ingredients. Plus, it has some of the health benefits of grass-fed meat too, like higher omega-3 content.
The key differences
The most noticeable difference right away between grass-fed and regular bologna is the appearance. Regular bologna is completely homogenous in color, typically a solid light pink color. Grass-fed bologna has white speckles and spots from fat in the meat, and has a darker color, typically more brown or red than regular bologna. Its appearance aligns more with mortadella than regular bologna. Both types of bologna are usually sliced thinly though.
Regular bologna can be made from a wide variety of meat, including pork and beef trimmings like organs or skeletal muscles that are not typically used in other products. Grass-fed bologna is often made entirely of grass-fed beef. Generally speaking, grass-fed bologna has fewer ingredients. This usually means fewer or no additives, including nitrites, which are a health concern for many when it comes to regular bologna.
Last but not least, grass-fed bologna has way more health benefits than regular bologna. Many avoid regular bologna due to concerns regarding nitrites, which may be linked to certain cancers and decreased lung function, and trans fats, which can lead to a risk of diabetes and artery diseases. On the other hand, grass-fed beef can contain more antioxidants, healthy fats, and omega-3, so these are some of the potential benefits of grass-fed bologna. Granted, grass-fed bologna still has a high amount of sodium so it shouldn’t be consumed in large quantities on a regular basis, but it is a better choice for those looking for a less-processed lunch meat option.
