Can you eat pancetta raw?

Rolled pancetta sliced thin is sometimes eaten like salami in Italy, but on US menus it's almost always cooked until crisp.

Is prosciutto the same as Parma ham?

Parma ham is one kind of prosciutto, made around Parma. Prosciutto just means ham in Italian, and San Daniele and others count too.

Prosciutto vs pancetta: what's the difference?

Both are Italian cured pork, but prosciutto is dry-cured ham sliced paper thin and eaten as is, while pancetta is cured pork belly that's usually cooked, like Italian bacon.

Prosciutto

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Silky, salty-sweet ham that melts on your tongue.

Pancetta

Very light

Indulgent

Subtle

Big punch

Mellow

Zingy

Rich, salty pork belly that crisps up in pasta and sauces.

The real difference

Prosciutto comes from the hind leg, salted and air-dried for a year or more, then sliced thin and served raw. Pancetta is pork belly cured with salt and spices, usually not smoked. It's diced or sliced and cooked, melting its fat into pasta, beans and sauces.

Side by side

ProsciuttoPancetta

CutHind legBelly

How it eatsRaw, sliced paper thinUsually cooked until crisp

TastesSweet, silky, gently saltySalty, porky, peppery

On a menuBoards, with melon, draped on pizzaCarbonara, amatriciana, wrapped around things

Which to order

Order prosciutto if you want something delicate and salty-sweet to eat with bread, cheese or fruit.
Order the pancetta dish if you want rich, porky bites cooked into the food.

Quick questions

Can you eat pancetta raw?: Rolled pancetta sliced thin is sometimes eaten like salami in Italy, but on US menus it's almost always cooked until crisp.
Is prosciutto the same as Parma ham?: Parma ham is one kind of prosciutto, made around Parma. Prosciutto just means ham in Italian, and San Daniele and others count too.