The Italian Meat In Costco's Deli That's Not Worth Your Money

Costco has an entire refrigerated section dedicated to deli meat, which is why we ate our way through it earlier this year. In our tasting of seven different Costco deli meat selections, we found some terrific all-purpose players for sandwiches (like turkey and ham), but one classic Italian product completely missed the mark for our taste tester.

The Citterio Prosciutto Di Parma, which comes in two 6-ounce packs at an average price of $14.42, was just a let down, considering how luxurious it can normally feel (via Warehouse Runner). One of the key qualities we look forward to in a salty slice of prosciutto is the fat, but this product didn't sport the rich oiliness we expect in each bite. Instead, we got chewy and unappealing fat that didn't melt in the silky way a good prosciutto should. The slices were also much too thin, so they barely conveyed any savory porkiness. Our taste tester concluded, "My overall impression, then, was lightly salty, too chewy, and underwhelming in flavor."

We may be in the minority on this one, however (we're all opinionated folks; it's our job). Other people have a much higher opinion on Citterio's prosciutto overall, but they tend to recommend using it in combination with other ingredients. 

In a Reddit thread about this particular brand of prosciutto, one person said, "Love them on a Ciabatta bread with some manchego cheese." Another user also suggested that the prosciutto is better in a supporting role, saying, "A slice or two on any normal lunch meat sandwich really makes the flavor so much better." Or, you can even do like Bobby Flay does, which is use it as a bacon swap – pan fry the slices until crispy and eat them with scrambled eggs.

Ultimately, the finer prosciutto you can find at an Italian deli will likely be best. Even though the price per ounce is a good deal at Costco, we suggest you skip that version and save up for the real deal from a shop that imports the good stuff. Or, if you're looking for an affordable alternative (and don't have a Costco membership), one of the best Italian food finds at Aldi, according to customers, is its house brand, Priano Prosciutto Italiano.