Finding and Enjoying Delicious Peameal Bacon in the USA

As a Canadian transplant living in the United States one of the foods I miss most from back home is peameal bacon. This quintessentially Canadian breakfast meat features lean pork loin coated in cornmeal giving it a distinctive texture and flavor. Since peameal bacon is not as widely known or consumed in the U.S., Tracking down authentic peameal bacon south of the border can be a challenge.

After craving this tasty treat from my childhood one too many times I made it my mission to discover how an American bacon-lover like myself can get their hands on real Canadian peameal bacon without having to cross the border.

Through my exploration of gourmet shops and online mail-order websites, I uncovered several reliable sources to buy peameal bacon in the USA. I’ve also gathered tips on how to identify quality peameal bacon and the best ways to cook and enjoy this North-of-the-Border specialty. Keep reading to learn where you can find peameal bacon for sale in America and why it’s worth seeking out!

What Is Peameal Bacon?

Before getting into peameal bacon sources, let’s start with a quick primer on exactly what peameal bacon is. Known as “Canadian Bacon” north of the border, this cured pork product was invented in the early 1900s in Toronto.

Peameal bacon begins with lean, trimmed pork loin, which is cured in a brine solution. It is then rolled in cornmeal, giving the strips their signature coarse, speckled exterior Traditionally the cornmeal helped absorb moisture in the days before refrigeration

When cooked, peameal bacon offers robust pork flavor balanced by a hint of sweetness from the curing process. The cornmeal coating provides a pleasing texture and crust. It has less fat than regular bacon but more flavor than typical lean deli ham.

Now that you know the origins and characteristics of peameal bacon, here are some recommended places to buy it in America.

Order Online from Specialty Producers

One of the easiest ways to get authentic peameal bacon without leaving your home is to order it online from specialty meat producers. Two of my favorite online sources are:

• North Country Smokehouse – This New Hampshire-based company sells 6-lb boxes of Certified Humane peameal bacon for around $70. Their heritage breed pork is smoked over hardwood and maple wood.

• The Grateful Table – This Toronto shop ships peameal bacon across North America. Their naturally-cured 6-lb pack costs about $65. It contains no nitrites/nitrates.

I like buying directly from the producer since you can learn about their curing and smoking process. Ordering online means peameal bacon gets conveniently delivered frozen to your doorstep. Price per pound is reasonable given it’s premium artisanal bacon.

Check Deli Counters at Upscale Grocery Stores

For a local shopping experience, head to gourmet grocery stores, especially ones focused on Canadian imports. The deli counter will often carry peameal bacon or can special order it.

Some grocery stores I’ve found selling peameal bacon include:

• Whole Foods – Good availability, typically $6-8 per pound. Look for Nodine’s brand.

• Columbus Foods – This Midwest chain features peameal bacon seasonally or on request.

• Provigo Le Marché – This Quebec-based grocer sometimes stocks it when they import Canadian products.

Shopping in person allows you to see, smell, and taste samples of the peameal bacon before purchasing. However, stock may be limited based on demand. Talk to the butcher about sourcing it.

Try Canadian Specialty Shops or Delis

For reliably tracking down peameal bacon, your best bet is to visit specialty food shops and delis with a Canadian focus. A few I recommend checking out:

• Caplansky’s Deli – This Toronto-based deli chain has a few US locations serving peameal bacon sandwiches.

• Canada Steak Burger – This Canadian restaurant mini-chain offers peameal bacon as a topping and side order.

• Quality Meats – This NYC butcher imports Canadian meats, including peameal bacon seasonally.

• Maple Leaf Foods – Look for their Prime Canadian peameal bacon at Costco stores in border states like NY, MI, WA.

The availability may rotate, so call ahead to see if they have peameal bacon currently in stock when planning a visit.

With all these great sources, Canadians craving a taste of home and bacon-loving Americans alike can now enjoy sizzling peameal bacon stateside!

What Makes for High-Quality Peameal Bacon?

Once you’ve located a source for peameal bacon, you’ll want to know how to select a high-quality product. Here are a few tips on what to look for:

• Meat should be lean with minimal fat or rind. Peameal bacon relies on the pork loin.

• Color should be pink to mahogany. Avoid gray hues. Some natural smoke darkerning is normal.

• Coating should be coarse yellow cornmeal not fine breadcrumbs or panko.

• Thickness is ideal at .25 – .5 inch for optimal fry and bake time.

• Packaging is often vacuum-sealed to protect freshness and minimize freezer burn.

• Ingredients list should be short with just pork and curing salt. No artificial additives.

• Smell is smoky and meaty when raw. Shouldn’t seem spoiled.

Following these guidelines will lead you to the best tasting peameal bacon for your breakfast or dinner table.

Cooking and Serving Suggestions

Once I’ve selected quality peameal bacon, I’m excited to start cooking! Here are some of my favorite preparation ideas:

• Pan-fry over medium heat to crisp up the cornmeal coating.

• Bake in a 375°F oven for about 15 minutes to brown the outside.

• Grill over indirect heat, watching closely to avoid charring.

• Chop and add to salads, soups, pasta, and scrambled eggs.

• Stack on a sandwich with lettuce, tomato, and a schmear of mayo.

• Wrap around scallops, shrimp, or tenderloin for an upscale bite.

• Serve alongside pancakes, waffles, or French toast for a Canadian-style breakfast.

However you choose to cook it up, peameal bacon is sure to be a delicious addition to any meal. Enjoy this taste of Canada’s culinary tradition!

Now that you know where to source quality peameal bacon and how to cook it, you can satisfy all your maple-flavored, cornmeal-coated, Canadian bacon cravings even while living in America. With so many ways to order it online or seek it out locally, Canadians at heart like me need not feel homesick for this breakfast meat staple. Happy peameal bacon eating, Canada-style, eh!