Question: what is the difference between cured and uncured deli ham?
Answer: Quite simply, it's all a matter of how the meats are preserved: Cured meats use chemicals and additives while uncured meats rely on natural salts and flavorings. Cured meats have nitrates. Uncured don't. ... Because nitrites are not added, the meats are considered by the USDA to be uncured.