Jennie-O Versus Butterball Cajun Turkey Breast

I'll be the first one to tell you that I absolutely hate packaged luncheon meats, except for bologna. When I want a good sandwich, I bake a turkey or I head to the deli. One of my favorite types of deli sandwich meat is Cajun turkey breast. I love the spiciness the meat brings to an otherwise boring sandwich and I love that it's low in fat and calories. Two brands I purchase quite regularly are Butterball and Jennie-O. However, I do prefer one brand over the other. Let's take a closer look at both brands and see which one comes out on top.

Texture

Texture is an important factor for me. This is the main reason I hate packaged luncheon meats. I want my sandwiches to taste like they are made with fresh meat, not something that is overly processed. When it comes to texture, Jennie-O is the clear winner. Jennie-O Cajun Turkey Breast comes apart the same way a freshly baked turkey does. With Butterball, the texture reminds me more of a packaged luncheon meat. It's not as bad, but definitely not up to par with Jennie-O.

Mouth Feel

When I bite into a sandwich I want to be reminded of a freshly baked turkey, not a packaged slice of meat. Again, Jennie-O wins this battle. I like that Jennie-O has a drier consistency than Butterball. That's not to say the product is dry. What I mean is the Butterball brand seems almost oily/slimy in the mouth. It's too wet for my taste and makes the meat seem almost mushy.

Taste

Cajun food is known for it's spiciness. Both brands bring good flavor to a sandwich, but Jennie-O is spicier, which I prefer. If you want something that is still flavorful, but not as spicy, Butterball would be your best bet.

Nutritional Value

A 2 ounce portion of Jennie-O Cajun Turkey Breast has 50 calories, 0.5 grams of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans-fat, 25mg of cholesterol, 610mg of sodium, 1 gram of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar, 12 grams of protein and 2% of your daily iron.

A 2 ounce portion of Butterball Turkey Breast has 60 calories, 1 gram of fat, 0 grams of saturated fat, 0 grams of trans-fat, 20mg cholesterol, 470mg of sodium, 2 grams of carbohydrates, 0 grams of fiber, 1 gram of sugar and 1 gram of protein.

Honestly, the numbers are pretty close, but I'm going to say that Butterball wins this one because it is so much lower in sodium that the Jennie-O brand.

The Winner

The clear winner is Jennie-O, winning 3 out of the 4 categories. When it comes to texture, mouth feel and taste, Butterball doesn't even come close to Jennie-O. Try both brands and see what you think. Personally, I buy both, but I only buy Butterball when Jennie-O isn't available.