* price listed is per lb * final price will reflect exact package weight * Gluten Free
Back bacon made from trimmed, lean, boneless pork loin rolled in cornmeal to make a yellow crust is called peameal bacon or cornmeal bacon. It is wet-cured and not smoked. Originally, it was rolled in crushed yellow peas, hence the name peameal. It was originally developed by a Toronto ham and bacon curer, William Davies in the 1850’s.
Try it pan fried or oven roasted with breakfast or on a bun. Peameal Bacon – Sliced {1 lb} quantity.
Peameal bacon also known as Canadian bacon is a beloved breakfast meat originally from Canada. While not as widely available in the US as regular bacon, this back bacon made from pork loin is gaining popularity for its leaner, ham-like texture and sweet, salty, maple flavor.
As more Americans discover peameal bacon and want to try it a common question arises Where can I buy peameal bacon in the USA?
The good news is that while peameal bacon may not be on every grocery store shelf yet, this Canadian treasure can be found in the US through a variety of retailers and online stores. Keep reading to learn all about peameal bacon and where to get your hands on some south of the border.
What Is Peameal Bacon?
Before diving into where to buy it, let’s look at what exactly peameal bacon is. Also known as Canadian bacon or back bacon, peameal bacon comes from the lean pork loin rather than pork belly like American-style bacon. It gets its signature flavor from being cured in a brine made with spices like maple syrup, brown sugar, and coriander.
The name “peameal bacon” comes from the traditional process of rolling the cured pork loin in ground peas or cornmeal before slicing. This coating on the outside of the bacon helps absorb moisture during cooking.
When cooked, peameal bacon has a tender, ham-like texture and tastes sweeter and saltier than regular bacon It contains less fat than American-style bacon but still provides plenty of rich, meaty bacon flavor
Peameal bacon makes an excellent addition to breakfast dishes. It can be substituted in for regular bacon in classics like eggs Benedict and bacon, egg and cheese sandwiches. The leaner cut of meat also lends itself well to sandwiches, wraps, baked dishes and more.
Where to Buy Peameal Bacon in the USA
While peameal bacon is ubiquitous in Canada, it has only recently become more available to American consumers. Here are some of the best places to buy peameal bacon in the US:
Online Retailers
One of the easiest ways to get peameal bacon in the US is to order it online. There are several online meat markets and food retailers that sell high-quality peameal bacon that ships frozen right to your door.
Some of the most popular online options include:
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North Country Smokehouse: This New Hampshire-based meat purveyor sells 6-pound peameal bacon packs and ships to most US states. Their peameal bacon is certified humane, antibiotic-free, and made from vegetarian-fed pork.
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Burgers’ Smokehouse: This Missouri smokehouse has an online store with 9-pound packs of peameal bacon available. Their peameal bacon is cured in a brown sugar and maple brine.
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Chef’s Warehouse: On this website for restaurant suppliers, you can buy 8-pound cases of peameal bacon from Nicky’s brand. Their Nova Scotia-style peameal bacon is minimally processed with no artificial ingredients.
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Igourmet: Known for gourmet foods, Igourmet has 4-pack boxes of peameal bacon slices you can order online.
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Amazon: Search for “peameal bacon” on Amazon and you can find various brands available for purchase, often with free shipping for Prime members.
The benefit of ordering peameal bacon online is that you can often buy it in bulk for the best value. The cured pork loin also ships well frozen.
Specialty Butcher Shops and Meat Markets
In some areas, especially those near the Canadian border, local butcher shops and specialty meat markets may carry peameal bacon or be able to order it for you.
Farmers markets and small-batch charcuterie producers may also sometimes have peameal bacon for sale. Check with your local meat providers to see if they have access to any peameal bacon for retail customers.
Grocery Stores and Supermarkets
As peameal bacon gains popularity in the US, more grocery stores are starting to carry it either in the fresh meat department or pre-packaged. Availability will vary greatly by region, but it’s worth checking the bacon section of large supermarket chains to see if they have any peameal options.
Some grocery store chains that may carry it include:
- Whole Foods Market
- Costco
- Wegmans
- Kroger
- Publix
- Hy-Vee
- Piggly Wiggly
- Albertsons
You may need to request it as a special order item at stores that don’t normally stock it. Calling ahead to ask is the best way to find out if your local grocery store can source peameal bacon for you.
Butcher Shops and Meat Markets in Canada
When all else fails, take a road trip up north! If you live near the Canadian border, visiting a local Canadian butcher shop or market is a surefire way to find high-quality peameal bacon.
Pick up a big batch of peameal bacon during your trip to Canada and freeze what you can’t eat right away. This will save you having to make the drive every time you get a craving for this Canadian specialty.
Tips for Buying Peameal Bacon
Now that you know where to buy peameal bacon, here are some tips for getting the best quality when you make your purchase:
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Check the ingredients: Look for peameal bacon cured with natural ingredients like maple syrup, brown sugar, and spices. Avoid those with artificial preservatives like sodium nitrite.
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Seek out trusted brands: Opt for peameal bacon from well-known smokehouses or butchers instead of generic unbranded options.
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Look for sustainability certifications: Choose peameal bacon certified humane or raised sustainably when possible.
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Inspect the meat: Whether buying in person or online, make sure the peameal bacon has a good ratio of meat to fat without large pockets of white fat.
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Buy extra: Since peameal bacon may not always be available, stock up when you can find it and freeze the extras.
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Check the price: Peameal bacon is generally more expensive than American bacon. Expect to pay $6-12 per pound for high-quality product.
Whip Up Some Canadian Classics at Home
Once you get your hands on some peameal bacon, it’s time to start cooking! Here are a few quintessentially Canadian recipes to try with your peameal bacon:
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Peameal Bacon Poutine – Top fries and cheese curds with peameal bacon bits
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Baked Peameal Bacon with Maple Glaze – Bake slices brushed with maple syrup for candied bacon
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Peameal Bacon Eggs Benedict – The most luxurious eggs Benedict with peameal bacon on an English muffin
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Peameal Bacon Onion Jam Grilled Cheese – Sweet onion jam and melty cheese meets smoky peameal bacon
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Peameal Bacon Wrapped Scallops – Elegant bacon-wrapped appetizers with a Canadian twist
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Peameal Bacon Maple Baked Beans – Traditional baked beans punched up with peameal bacon and maple
With so many tasty ways to enjoy it, peameal bacon is worth seeking out. Follow this guide to get your fill of this Canadian specialty without having to cross the border. Even in the US, you can cook up quintessentially Canadian dishes with peameal bacon from various retailers and online stores.
So next time you get a craving for this sweeter, leaner bacon, you’ll know exactly where to buy peameal bacon in the good old USA. Let the peameal bacon breakfasts begin!
