is salami raw
Though uncooked, salami are not raw; they have been prepared via curing. The term cotto salame refers to salami cooked or smoked before or after curing. This is done to impart a specific flavor but not to cook the meat. Before curing, a cotto salame is still considered raw and is not ready to be eaten. Most kinds of salami made from donkey or ox are considered cotto. Salami are cured in warm, humid conditions in order to encourage growth of the bacteria involved in the fermentation process.