What is potted meat made from?

Potted meat is made from chopped, cooked meats, water, salt, flavorings and preservatives. The exact ingredients vary between brands of potted meat. The top ingredients in most commercial potted meats are mechanically separated chicken and beef organ meat, such as tripe and heart.

In addition to chicken meat and beef organs, some commercial potted meats contains pork skin and pork fat. Common seasonings include salt, mustard, garlic powder and vinegar. Sodium nitrite and sodium erythorbate preserve the mixture, keep the flavors stable and help maintain the coloring of the mixture. Potted meat is similar to a pate and lasts a long time, compared to most protein sources.