Although pepper is commonly thought of as a preservative, this is not altogether true. Pepper does however contain what is known as “piperine” which is a compound that makes it so spicy and it also has certain antimicrobial properties to it. While this may be true, when pepper is in the form of a spice, it has little effects on microbes in the body when ingested.

Salt acts as a much more effective preservative than salt, but pepper has played a very important role in certain types of preserved meats in the past. This particular spice is considered to be one of the most common in the entire world.