The Best Places to Buy Salt Beef in Toronto

Salt beef, also known as corned beef, has a rich history and is a beloved deli meat, especially in Jewish culinary traditions While salt beef originated as a way to preserve meat before refrigeration, it has become a staple sandwich filling and delicious comfort food Toronto has a vibrant Jewish community and many excellent delis and restaurants that serve high-quality salt beef. In this article, we will explore the top places to get your salt beef fix in Toronto.

A Brief History of Salt Beef

Before we dive into where to find salt beef in Toronto today, let’s go over a quick history of this cured and brined meat. Salt beef dates back to the Middle Ages in Europe when salting and curing meats was one of the only ways to preserve them before modern refrigeration The salt helps extract moisture, which makes it harder for bacteria to grow Corned beef gets its name from the “corns” of salt used in the curing process.

Jewish immigrants brought a love of corned beef to North America. It became a staple in Jewish delis, often piled high on rye bread for beloved sandwiches. Pastrami actually comes from a similar curing process as corned beef. However, pastrami is then smoked and steamed for a different flavor profile.

While salt beef was once prized for preserving meat longer, today it is valued for its distinct salty flavor and tender, moist texture after cooking. Salt beef still plays a major role in Irish British, and Jewish cuisines. It’s the star of classic dishes like corned beef hash, reuben sandwiches, and boiled dinners, though it also makes an excellent sandwich filling.

Where to Buy Salt Beef in Toronto

Toronto has a thriving food scene with delis and restaurants that cater to all tastes. Here are the top recommended spots to get your salt beef fix in the city.

Pancer’s Original Deli

Pancer’s Deli has been serving up mouthwatering smoked meats and sandwiches since 1967. This Toronto institution is known for having some of the city’s best salt beef sandwiches piled high on rye bread. You can also buy their salt beef by the pound to take home and enjoy. They roast their beef briskets in-house for up to 18 hours for maximum tenderness. Their sandwiches are simply dressed with mustard so the flavorful meat can shine.

Sanagan’s Meat Locker

One of the best places to buy high-quality fresh salt beef in Toronto is Sanagan’s Meat Locker. This specialty shop focuses on sustainably raised meats with an in-house butcher shop. Their salt beef is made from hormone and antibiotic-free cows. It’s cured for over a month with just salt, pink curing salt, spices, and brown sugar. Customers rave about the incredibly tender and flavorful results. You can buy it by the pound or enjoy it in their sandwich shop upstairs where it stars in sandwiches, burgers, and platters.

Moe Pancer’s Deli

This deli serves top-notch salt beef from a third-generation owner of the original Pancer’s deli. Their boneless beef brisket is cured for over three weeks in house. Customers love their simple salty beef sandwich that lets the meat shine, though they also offer more loaded options. This is another great spot to buy salt beef by the pound.

Centre Street Deli

Centre Street Deli first opened in 1931 and continues to serve authentic salt beef sandwiches today. Their signature sandwich piles on thin-sliced salt beef with mustard on rye. For over 45 years, they’ve worked with the same local producer to cure their briskets just right. Their classic deli atmosphere makes it a wonderful place to stop in for a sandwich.

Caplansky’s Delicatessen

Famous deli owner Zane Caplansky wanted to bring classic Jewish deli food to Toronto. His popular restaurant Caplansky’s cures their beef briskets in-house for 21 days. Their classic salty beef sandwiches get rave reviews. You can also buy their meat to enjoy at home. Caplansky’s also serves creative twists like salt beef fried rice.

The Black Hoof

Known for meat-centric, nose-to-tail dining, The Black Hoof serves an amazing salt beef sandwich. They top tender salt beef with flavorful horseradish cream cheese, pickled onions, and mustard on rye. Even meat connoisseurs say it’s one of the tastiest salt beef sandwiches in Toronto.

Saul’s Restaurant & Delicatessen

This Jewish deli in North York has been run by the same family since 1969. Their salt beef sandwich comes piled high on rye bread. Reviewers praise their perfectly spiced and tender house-cured salt beef. The restaurant has a cozy, old-school vibe.

Schmaltz Appetizing

This small take-out joint focuses on traditional Jewish comfort foods like bagels, smoked fish, and salt beef. They cure Angus brisket for their acclaimed salt beef. You can order it by the pound or on one of their sandwiches, like the classic Schmaltz salty beef sandwich with mustard. Everything is prepared from scratch in-house.

The Healthy Butcher

This local butcher shop sells high-quality cured meats, including salt beef sold by the pound. They cure whole briskets with spices for up to 10 days for optimal flavor. Their shop also has great sandwich specials featuring their salt beef like the Corned Beef Benny Breakfast Sandwich.

Harvest Wagon

This charming cottage business smokes all their salt beef and pastrami in-house from locally sourced meats. Their tender salt beef combined with premium rye bread makes for mouthwatering sandwiches. Customers also love buying their sliced salt beef from the deli to take home.

Olliffe’s Butcher Shop

With a 70-year history, Olliffe’s is a beloved neighborhood butcher shop selling Irish and British classics like bangers and salt beef. Their salt beef sandwich on a baguette is a customer favorite. You can also buy their house-cured salt beef sliced or by the pound.

Tips for Buying and Cooking Salt Beef

Now that you know the best spots to pick up salt beef in Toronto, here are some tips to get the most out of this delicious cured meat:

• Look for salt beef with a deep red color throughout and plenty of fat marbling for flavor and moisture. Avoid grey, dried out pieces.

• For stewing and boiling, opt for a cut like brisket with a good fat cap. For sandwiches, get thinner sliced navel or round.

• Cook salt beef low and slow, whether braising, simmering, or roasting. Slow cooking tenderizes the meat.

• Slice across the grain before serving for tenderness.

• Add aromatics like onion, garlic, bay leaf, cloves, peppercorns, and mustard seed to the cooking liquid for extra flavor.

• Salt beef can be swapped into any beef stew or pot roast recipe. It also shines in hashes or stuffed in things like cabbage rolls.

• Use the salty cooking broth as a base for soups or gravy.

• Leftover cooked salt beef is delicious chopped and fried into crispy hash.