Can you (should you?) eat pancetta raw?

[elektra]

Do to eat it raw like salami or prosciutto, or do you have to cook it like bacon?
I googled and there seems to be varying opinions.

[pastrygirl]

I'm pretty sure you always cook it... I would never eat it raw.

[boolady]

I'm not sure if you can eat it raw, but I don't think you should. Pancetta is like bacon-- cured (actually salted, I think) but not to the point that it should be eaten without being cooked. Prosciutto is cured for a long time, like ham, so that it can be eaten without being cooked.

ETA: I don't think it would taste very good raw or have a very pleasing texture...it's a lot fattier than prosciutto or ham, so would be like eating a slice or raw hunk of bacon.

[vludmilla]

I would not eat it raw. I always cook it, and to the point of crispiness.

[lmh2402]

no, definitely not. it's italian bacon. it needs to be cooked before consumption

[LMPC]

Since it's sold in the deli section, I'm guessing that it's technically ok to eat without extra cooking but it's so yummy cooked and crispy.