Where to Find Beef Demi Glace in Grocery Stores: An In-Depth Guide

Beef demi glace is a rich, concentrated brown sauce made from beef stock that adds incredible depth of flavor to many dishes. But this versatile ingredient can be tricky to locate in grocery stores if you don’t know where to look.

As a home cook and food blogger, I’ve spent years searching for demi glace in stores near me. Through trial and error across countless grocery aisles I’ve discovered the best places to find quality beef demi glace so you don’t have to embark on an epic quest just to locate this elusive sauce.

In this detailed guide, I’ll share my insider tips on where to find beef demi glace in grocery stores, key brands to look for, and how to identify the best options Let’s dive in!

Check the Soup and Broth Aisle

One of the most reliable places to find beef demi glace is in the soup and broth aisle. Since demi glace is made from reduced beef stock, many stores stock it alongside their selection of stocks and broths.

Scan the shelves near the chicken, vegetable, and beef broths and bullion cubes. Top brands like Savory Choice and More Than Gourmet often have their demi glace products located in this section.

You may find small jars or pouches containing a few ounces of demi glace concentrate. The packaging will usually specify “demi glace” or “glace de viande.” Grab a pouch or jar to use as a flavor booster in savory dishes.

Search the Sauces Section

Another hot spot to locate beef demi glace is in the sauces area. Demi glace is considered a classic French mother sauce, so it’s frequently shelved near other French sauce varieties like bechamel or hollandaise.

Search for demi glace near the soy sauces, steak sauces, and gravies. It may be available as a concentrate or a ready-made demi glace sauce. Popular options from brands like Savory Choice and Rienzi are often stocked in the sauce section.

Check Specialty Foods and Gourmet Sections

For a wider selection of premium demi glace products, head to the specialty foods or gourmet sections in large grocery stores. This is where you’ll discover imported demi glace, artisanal varieties, and professional chef-quality options.

Explore shelves near specialty oils, vinegars, olives, and global ingredients. Look for brands like More Than Gourmet, which offers demi glace imported from France in elegantly packaged jars. With its depth of flavor, it takes recipes to the next level!

Ask at the Meat Counter or Butcher

For fresh, house-made demi glace, consult with your grocery store’s meat counter or butcher. Many high-end grocers produce their own demi glace by reducing beef broth and stock.

Ask if they have any beef demi glace available for purchase. You can often buy it by the pint or in larger quantities. This is the closest you’ll get to restaurant-quality demi glace at home!

Check the Frozen Section

Surprisingly, the frozen foods aisle can be a hot spot for beef demi glace too. Some brands offer demi glace in frozen puck-shaped concentrates for longer shelf life.

Browse the frozen meats section near the beef, lamb, and veal. Or scope out specialty frozen areas for gourmet items. Keep an eye out for frozen demi glace from leading brands like Savory Choice for easy long-term storage.

Scan International Food Aisles

For an exotic twist, browse the international foods aisle at grocery stores. Here you may uncover unique imported demi glace options from France or other European countries for a gourmet experience.

Check areas like the French, Italian, or British sections where specialty sauces and cooking ingredients are displayed. Chat with international grocery staff for tips on locating European-style demi glace.

Read the Ingredients List

When evaluating demi glace products, be sure to read the ingredients list closely no matter where you find it in the store. The best quality demi glace will only include beef or veal stock in the ingredients.

Avoid products listing thickeners like cornstarch, flour, or other starches. And the fewer additives and preservatives, the better. This helps ensure you get the richest, most genuine beef flavor.

Know What to Avoid

Now that you know what to look for when hunting for demi glace, it’s also useful to recognize what to steer clear of:

  • Demi glace made with chicken or vegetable stocks instead of beef.

  • Products containing fillers like flour, cornstarch, or excessive salt or sugar.

  • Pre-made demi glace sauces with cream, wine, or other added ingredients.

  • Jarred gravies labeled as “demi glace” style. These tend to be lower quality.

  • Anything with artificial flavors, colors, or chemical preservatives.

Stick with pure, concentrated beef demi glace for the best results in your cooking.

Handy Tips for Cooking with Demi Glace

Once you’ve secured that precious jar or pouch of beef demi glace, you may be wondering how to actually use it in the kitchen. Here are my top tips:

  • Add just a spoonful or two of demi glace concentrate to pan sauces, stews, pot roasts, or braised meats. It adds instant rich flavor.

  • Whisk some into soups or risottos for luxurious depth.

  • Use it to make quick sautéed mushroom sauce for steak.

  • Mix demi glace with red wine and broth for coq au vin.

  • For the easiest demi glace sauce, dilute the concentrate with water, broth, or wine. Start with a 1:1 ratio.

  • Heat it slowly and gently to preserve the delicate flavors. Don’t let it boil.

With the proper care, beef demi glace can transform your cooking into gourmet cuisine. Get ready to take your dishes to the next level!

Top Brands to Look For

In my extensive demi glace searches, these brands consistently offer high-quality products worth buying:

  • Savory Choice – Highly rated demi glace concentrate in jars and pouches. Finds in soup, sauce, and frozen sections.

  • More Than Gourmet – Demi glace imported from France. Sold in specialty foods aisle.

  • Rienzi – Traditional Italian-style demi glace available as concentrate or sauce.

  • Swanson – Good quality and affordably priced frozen demi glace pucks.

  • Housemade/Butcher Demi Glace – Check your grocer’s meat department for fresh options.

Where to Find Demi Glace By Store

To make your search even easier, here is exactly where to locate demi glace products at popular grocery chains:

Whole Foods

  • Soup and broth aisle
  • Sauce section
  • Specialty foods aisle
  • Meat department

Kroger

  • Soup aisle
  • Gravy and sauce section
  • Private selection gourmet foods

Safeway

  • Broth and bouillon aisle
  • Meat department
  • Seafood section near lobster tail sauce

Trader Joe’s

  • Shelf-stable sauce area
  • Frozen foods section

Costco

  • Soup aisle
  • Frozen section

Walmart

  • Broth and stock aisle
  • International foods section

Satisfy Your Demi Glace Cravings

The next time a recipe calls for this luxurious French sauce, you’ll know exactly where to find it. Happy demi glace hunting and bon appétit!

Demi Glace Part 2 – How to Use, Portion & Store Demi-Glace

FAQ

Can you buy demi glaze at the grocery store?

Ready-made concentrate/gel usually near the meat counter (kind of like finding the cioppino sauce at/near the fish counter). If you ask someone at the meat counter, they should know (Mollie Stones, Andronicos, maybe Whole Foods – and similar stores). It’ll run about $7.00 for one pack.

Is demi-glace refrigerated?

Refrigerate for optimum flavor and to retain best quality. The shelf-life of unopened containers is: 6-8 months room temperature storage. 12 months refrigerated storage.

What is a substitute for beef demi-glace?

*It’s not as good as the homemade stock, but a good quality canned beef consommé can be used as a shortcut substitution. Reduce by half in the same way. **In a real pinch 2 teaspoons beef base can be dissolved in 2 tablespoons red wine as a substitute for demi-glace.

Is beef Bouillon the same as demi-glace?

Demi glace (half-glaze) is thick and concentrated stuff. Bullion cubes and “beef base” (that sticky stuff in a jar) are forms of imitation of demi glace, and beef base can sometimes used as a substitute if the salt can be controlled.

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