What’s The Deal With Old World Pepperoni Vs. The Regular Kind?

Like all things in life – people, houses, political structures, the opinions of strangers on the internet – cured sausage can come in a lot of different forms. Pepperoni is no exception. There are a couple of varieties of the pre-eminent pizza topping, and while it’s usually fairly predictable, ordering a pepperoni pizza can yield a few subtly different results, in terms of appearance, texture, and flavor. 

Videos by Sporked

This can all depend on whether the restaurant you’re ordering from uses old world pepperoni or not. But…wait…wait…what’s what? What’s old world pepperoni? Hey, don’t worry! That’s why I’m here. Old world pepperoni vs. regular pepperoni: Let’s go. 

What’s Old World Pepperoni?

It probably won’t shock you to learn that old world pepperoni is, well, pepperoni made using more traditional methods. This style of pepperoni typically has a natural, animal-based casing. This can affect its flavor, but any change there is usually fairly minimal. However, what it does impact fairly significantly is its shape: Old world pepperoni is also referred to as “cup and char” pepperoni, and it’s the type that curls up when cooked, developing darker, crispier edges. 

Because of this, cooked old world pepperoni usually has slightly more crunch to it (when cooked enough), and, if you ask me, a way more intense flavor. Old world pepperoni is also generally smaller in diameter and is more likely to come in a sausage than pre-sliced, although not always: Private Selection Old World Pepperoni, which made our taste test of the best pepperoni for pizza, comes in both sliced and full sausage form.

Okay…And Just Remind Me How That Differs From The Regular Kind…

Well, basically, the “regular” kind is pepperoni that isn’t that. It’s the kind you buy pre-packaged and pre-sliced, and tends to be thinner and flatter, with a larger diameter. The biggest difference on a production level is that it can typically have an artificial casing made from cellulose or collagen. 

In my opinion, though, calling this kind of pepperoni “regular” is a bit of a misnomer. If we’re being pedantic about it (and we must), old world pepperoni is the regular kind, as cured sausages were made in the same way for thousands of years before modern production methods came along. A better name for it, really, is “new world pepperoni.” 

So there we have it, guys. Now you can point at the pepperoni pizza that’s just arrived at your table and regale your friends, with satisfied glee, about the difference between the two. It’s more fun than it sounds (your friends may not agree).