system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
ELI5: how are cured meats like salami and pepperoni safe to eat without being cooked?
gpt
Cured foods are highly dehydrated, using salts, heating, or other processes. That lack of water keeps bacteria from growing on cured meats, making them able to last an extremely long time, especially when stored in sealed packaging.