Bologna sausage#Colloquial usage
{{Short description|American sausage}}
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Bologna sausage, informally baloney ({{IPAc-en|b|ə|ˈ|l|oʊ|n|i}} {{Respell|bə|LOH|nee}}),[http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/baloney "baloney."] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111023020533/http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/baloney |date=23 October 2011 }} Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. 14 October 2011. is an American cooked sausage. Its seasonings, which include black pepper, nutmeg, allspice, celery seed, coriander, and myrtle berries, give it its flavor. It is an imitation of genuine Italian {{lang|it|mortadella Bologna}} PGI, a variety of mortadella, a large {{lang|it|salume}}.{{cite news|date=24 October 2013|title=What The Heck Is In Bologna, Anyway?|work=Huffington Post|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/national-bologna-day-what-is-in_n_4151151.html|access-date=1 November 2014|archive-date=2 November 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141102031122/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/10/24/national-bologna-day-what-is-in_n_4151151.html|url-status=live}}
Similar imitations of {{lang|it|mortadella Bologna}} include parizer{{Cite web |title=Bologna (Parizer) |url=https://www.muncanfoodcorp.com/muncan_product/bologna-parizer/ |access-date=23 April 2022 |website=Muncan Food Corp |language=en-US |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509133717/http://www.muncanfoodcorp.com/muncan_product/bologna-parizer/ |url-status=live }} (Parisian sausage) in Hungary, Romania, and the countries of the former Yugoslavia; polony{{Cite web |title=Polony |url=https://www.meatsandsausages.com/sausage-recipes/cooked/uk/polony |access-date=23 April 2022 |website=meatsandsausages.com |archive-date=9 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210509185758/https://www.meatsandsausages.com/sausage-recipes/cooked/uk/polony |url-status=live }} in Zimbabwe, Zambia, South Africa and Western Australia; devon in most states of Australia; and fritz in South Australia.{{Cite web |last=Packer |first=Stephanie |date=20 June 2014 |title=Is it fritz or devon? |url=https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/is-it-fritz-or-devon-potato-cake-or-scallop-australias-states-and-territories-each-have-unique-ways-of-saying-things-what-side-are-you-on/news-story/1c17af11fbb0d9f7a26716b56effbbcf |website=heraldsun.com.au |access-date=23 April 2022 |archive-date=23 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180523175616/http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/news/is-it-fritz-or-devon-potato-cake-or-scallop-australias-states-and-territories-each-have-unique-ways-of-saying-things-what-side-are-you-on/news-story/1c17af11fbb0d9f7a26716b56effbbcf |url-status=live }}
In North America, a simple and popular use is in the bologna sandwich. In the Southern United States, a bologna cake exists which is bologna slices layered with seasoned cream cheese to make the appearance of a cake.{{Cite web |last=Benilyn |date=5 July 2021 |title=Easy 3-Ingredient Bologna Cake |url=https://izzycooking.com/bologna-cake/ |access-date=26 March 2023 |website=IzzyCooking |language=en-CA}}
Variations
=U.S. bologna=
U.S. government regulations require American bologna to be finely ground.{{cite web|title=Hot Dogs and Food Safety|url=http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/hot-dogs-and-food-safety/CT_Index|access-date=20 March 2015|archive-date=10 March 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150310080514/http://www.fsis.usda.gov/wps/portal/fsis/topics/food-safety-education/get-answers/food-safety-fact-sheets/meat-preparation/hot-dogs-and-food-safety/CT_Index|url-status=live}} "Frankfurter, frank, furter, hotdog, weiner, vienna, bologna, garlic bologna, knockwurst, and similar products" all use the same standard of identity defined in 9 CFR 319.180. They belong to the category of cooked sausages.{{cite web |title=9 CFR 319.180 -- Frankfurter, frank, furter, hotdog, weiner, vienna, bologna, garlic bologna, knockwurst, and similar products. |url=https://www.ecfr.gov/current/title-9/chapter-III/subchapter-A/part-319/subpart-G/section-319.180 |website=www.ecfr.gov |language=en}}
It is historically and geographically associated with the German-American immigrant community. There can be significant variation among regional styles: Northern Ohioans prefer coarser-ground straight German-style bolognas, while Southern Ohioans prefer the finer-ground ring bologna.{{cite web |last1=McKeever |first1=Amy |title=How Lunch Became Full of Bologna |url=https://www.eater.com/2016/12/2/13799660/bologna-sandwich-recipe-history |website=Eater |language=en |date=2 December 2016}}
==Rag bologna==
Rag bologna is a long stick, or "chub", of high-fat bologna native to West Tennessee{{cite web|url= http://www.finebergpacking.com/|title= Fineberg Packing Co., Inc.|website= Fineberg Packing Co., Inc.|access-date= 17 December 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141217103740/http://finebergpacking.com/|archive-date= 17 December 2014|url-status=dead}} and its surrounding area, unavailable elsewhere. It is traditionally sold wrapped in a cloth rag, and has a higher content of filler than that of regular bologna. Milk solids, flour, cereal, and spices are added during processing, and the roll of bologna is bathed in lactic acid before being coated in paraffin wax. It is generally eaten on white bread with mustard and pickles, but is also a staple of family gatherings, where thick slices are smoked and barbecued along with other meats.{{cite journal|url= http://www.cooksinfo.com/rag-baloney|title= Rag Baloney|first= Oulton|last= Randal|date= 11 August 2004|website= CooksInfo.com|access-date= 14 August 2013|archive-date= 14 July 2014|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20140714150709/http://www.cooksinfo.com/rag-baloney|url-status= live}} In Newfoundland and Atlantic Canada, a type of rag bologna referred to as "wax" bologna is sliced thickly and fried, which is referred to as "Newfie steak".{{Cite web|date=8 May 2020|title=Newfoundland Steak: An In-Depth Look at Bologna|url=https://newfoundlandtimes.ca/newfoundland-steak/|access-date=4 June 2021|website=Newfoundland Times|language=en-US|archive-date=4 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210604145744/https://newfoundlandtimes.ca/newfoundland-steak/|url-status=live}}
==Ring bologna==
File:Ring Bologna (Usinger's).jpg
Ring bologna is much smaller in diameter than standard bologna. It is better suited for slicing and serving on crackers, either as a snack or hors d'oeuvre. It is generally sold as an entire link rather than sliced. The link is arranged as a semicircle or "ring" when prepared for sale (hence the name).{{cite web|title=What is Ring Bologna|url=http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ring-bologna.htm|website=wiseGeek|access-date=27 August 2014|archive-date=3 September 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140903103254/http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-ring-bologna.htm|url-status=live}} Pickled bologna is usually made from ring bologna soaked in vinegar and typical pickling spices.[http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/11/midwest-tradition-bologna-sandwich-ring-bologna-lunchmeat.html In the Midwest, Great Bologna Is a Way of Life] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150422020435/http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/11/midwest-tradition-bologna-sandwich-ring-bologna-lunchmeat.html |date=22 April 2015 }}, Sara Bir, 3 November 2014
=Polony=
In England, Ireland and also Western Australia, a "polony" is a finely ground pork-and-beef sausage. The name, likely derived from "Bologna", has been in use since the 17th century. The modern product is usually cooked in a red or orange skin and is served as cold slices.{{cite web |url=https://www.foodsofengland.info/polony.html |title=Polony |work=Foods of England |access-date=14 April 2025 |language=en}} In England polony can also be used for the pork sausage instead of bologna.{{Cite news |title=Made in Britain the history behind food |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/features/made-in-britain-the-histories-behind-our-food-418504.html |work=The independent}}
In Scotland, "polony" is a finely ground seasoned pork sausage often eaten in a roll or as part of a full breakfast. It is cooked in a red skin, served in slices by butcher shops, and fried or grilled before eating. It is particularly popular in the north east of Scotland.https://macdonaldbutchers.co.uk/scottish-polony-online-butchers/
In New Zealand, "polony" is a type of cocktail sausage with pink or red artificially-coloured skin similar to, but much smaller than, a saveloy. Miniature polonies in New Zealand are called "Cheerios" and often are eaten boiled with tomato sauce. In New Zealand, polony is also called "Luncheon Sausage" or simply "Luncheon".{{Cite web |url=https://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/food-news/72947836/butchers-secret-to-success-is-dont-mess-with-a-good-recipe |title=Butcher's secret to success is don't mess with a good recipe |date=12 October 2015 |access-date=13 February 2020 |archive-date=13 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200213024941/https://i.stuff.co.nz/life-style/food-wine/food-news/72947836/butchers-secret-to-success-is-dont-mess-with-a-good-recipe |url-status=live }}
South African "polony" is similar to bologna in constitution and appearance, and is typically inexpensive. Large-diameter (artificially coloured) pink polonies are called "French polony", with thinner rolls referred to simply as "polony". Garlic polony is also widely available.{{Cite web |title=Special Garlic Polony |url=https://eskort.com/products/special-garlic-polony/ |access-date=23 April 2022 |website=Eskort |language=en-ZA |archive-date=23 April 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220423064617/https://eskort.com/products/special-garlic-polony/ |url-status=live }}
In 2018 a South African factory that produced polony and other processed meats was associated with a listeriosis outbreak that killed approximately 216 people and sickened a further thousand.{{cite web|url= https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-04-breaking-enterprise-polony-identified-as-source-of-listeria-outbreak/|title= Enterprise polony identified as source of listeria outbreak|publisher= Sunday Times|work= www.timeslive.co.za|last1= Katharine|first1= Child|date= 4 March 2018|access-date= 14 June 2020|archive-date= 31 May 2021|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210531005651/https://www.timeslive.co.za/news/south-africa/2018-03-04-breaking-enterprise-polony-identified-as-source-of-listeria-outbreak/|url-status= live}}
=Vegetarian bologna=
Various vegetarian and vegan versions of bologna are available. A typical UK recipe uses soy and wheat protein in place of lean meat and palm oil instead of fat together with starch, carrageenan, and flavorings. It can be eaten cold or cooked in the same ways as traditional bologna.{{cite web|url= http://www.frysvegetarian.co.uk/product/slicing-sausage-polony/|title= Slicing Sausage / Bologna - Fry Family Food|date= 16 July 2016|access-date= 13 January 2016|archive-date= 23 January 2016|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20160123031224/http://www.frysvegetarian.co.uk/product/slicing-sausage-polony/|url-status= live}}
See also
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