Shoppers say these pre-sliced deli meats taste freshly cut, not slimy or overly processed.
The freshest deli meat at the grocery store is generally the kind sliced in front of your eyes by the butcher. However, it also goes bad fast. If you don’t use it within a few days of purchase, you risk exposing your family to bacteria such as Listeria, Salmonella, or E. coli. The great thing about pre-sliced and packaged deli meat? While you should consume it within a few days after opening, you can generally keep it sealed and store it until the expiration date. Unfortunately, many deli meat packages are filled with slimy, processed slices of turkey, ham, and roast beef that might give you the ick. Here are 6 pre-sliced deli meat brands that still taste fresh, not packaged.
Boar’s Head
Boar’s Head is one of the premier deli meat brands. For example, the sliced honey-smoked turkey is American Heart Association Heart Check Certified, extra lean, low-fat, gluten-free, and made with no preservatives, artificial colors, flavors, or MSG. Shoppers maintain it is the highest-quality deli meat and tastes straight from the butcher.
Applegate Naturals Oven Roasted
Applegate Natural Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast is another natural crowd-pleaser. “The best turkey lunch meat I’ve tried. Makes the price completely worth it,” writes a shopper. “Like the day after Thanksgiving!” another adds. “This product tastes like turkey breast from a recently roasted turkey. Sure makes a tasty sandwich!” A third calls it the “freshest tasting turkey, it’s so moist that it can fall apart when trying to remove it by the slice so it’s easier just to take everything out of the pack, the taste is nothing but fresh clean white meat turkey, zero slime or weird chewy bits.”
Dietz & Watson Premium
Dietz & Watson
Dietz & Watson is up there with the ranks of Boar’s Head in terms of quality. “Fresh, tasty, and convenient lite turkey—perfect for quick and healthy meals,” writes a shopper. “I really liked the Dietz & Watson Pre-Sliced Gourmet Lite Turkey. The slices are fresh, tender, and not dry, with a mild and natural turkey flavor. The packaging is convenient and easy to reseal, which helps keep the product fresh for longer. The portion size is perfect for sandwiches, wraps, or quick protein snacks. It feels like a healthier option without compromising on taste, and the aroma is clean and pleasant.” Another adds that the “slices taste fresh and clean, not overly salty or processed. Super lean and packed with protein.”
Hillshire Farm Naturals
Hillshire Farm Ultra Thin Sliced Oven Roasted Turkey Breast Sandwich Meat is thing sliced and tasty. “I like the airtight packaging. The texture is great. The taste is excellent. Freshness is on point,” a Target shopper says.
Hormel Natural Choice
Hormel
Shoppers also stand by Hormel Natural Choice deli meat. “This is the only sandwich meat that we buy. I do not want nitrates in my meat. This sandwich meat tastes good and has a good texture. It is good for sandwiches and wraps,” says one.
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s
Trader Joe’s Oven-Roasted Turkey and the ham are winners, and the brand is one of the few I personally buy for my family. “It’s about as good as you can do for a precooked meat,” says a Redditor. “The turkey breast you just linked to is just about as healthy as turkey deli meat gets. It’s just turkey, salt, and water so that’s much better than meats you could get that would have added non-salt preservatives. That’s a good find,” another agrees.
Leah Groth
Leah Groth is an experienced shopping editor and journalist for Best Life and Eat This, Not That! bringing readers the best new finds, trends, and deals each week. Read more about Leah
