Where to Buy Italian Beef Meat for Sandwiches and Dishes

Italian beef is a delicious seasoned and thinly sliced roast beef perfect for Italian beef sandwiches and other recipes. But where can you find quality pre-sliced or whole Italian beef meat to make dishes at home? From grocery stores to online retailers, here are the best places to buy Italian beef meat.

What is Italian Beef?

Italian beef starts with top round roast, which is a lean and flavorful cut of beef from the back leg. It is seasoned with a blend of spices like oregano, basil, garlic, and black pepper to give it that iconic Italian flavor. The meat is then slow cooked until very tender.

Once cooled, it is thinly sliced across the grain. This creates delicate slices that are easy to pile high on a sandwich. The sliced Italian beef is served on an Italian roll and dipped in the cooking juices known as gravy or au jus. Peppers and other toppings are also commonly added.

Where to Buy Italian Beef Meat

Here are some of the best places to find high quality pre-sliced or whole Italian beef for all your cooking needs:

Grocery Store Deli Counter

• Many grocery store deli counters will have pre-sliced Italian beef available. This can be a convenient option to quickly pick up meat for sandwiches without having to cook a whole roast yourself.

• Look for thinner sliced deli Italian beef versus thick steak-like cuts to get an authentic sandwich experience.

• For best quality, choose stores with butcher counters that slice meat fresh in-house. The product will be fresher.

Butcher Shop or Meat Market

• Local butcher shops are a great place to find high quality meats. Ask them to slice a top round roast for you to get freshly sliced Italian beef.

• Many butchers may even have pre-marinated and cooked Italian beef roasts ready to slice. This cuts down on prep time.

• Butchers can also recommend quality cuts of beef and may have better availability of harder to find top round roasts.

Online Stores

• Online retailers like Amazon offer both raw and fully cooked Italian beef options available for delivery.

• Raw roasts need to be cooked but allow for customizing your seasoning. Pre-cooked roasts just need gentle reheating before slicing.

• Look for reputable brands when buying pre-seasoned and sliced meats online to ensure quality. Brands like Vienna Beef are known for authentic Italian beef.

Direct from Suppliers

• Order from a high volume supplier like Vienna Beef to get perfectly seasoned and sliced Italian beef straight from the source.

• Specialty Italian beef suppliers often offer kits with meat, buns, and toppings for the full sandwich experience.

• Large restaurant suppliers may also carry quality pre-cooked Italian beef in bulk quantities.

What to Look for When Buying Italian Beef

To find the best Italian beef meat, here are some tips on what to look for:

• Cut of Meat – Top round roast, also labeled London broil, is the traditional cut used. Eye of round is also acceptable. Ensure it is well marbled for flavor.

• Thickness of Slices – Slices should be paper thin, between 1/16-1/8 inches thick. Thicker cuts won’t be as tender.

• Color – Raw Italian beef should be bright red. Pre-cooked roasts will be more brown in color once cooked.

• Marbling – Look for good marbling in raw meat for added moisture and flavor when cooked.

• Pack Date – Check pack dates and look for meat sliced that day for freshest quality and flavor.

• Seasoning – Pre-seasoned meats should have spices visible on the exterior of the meat.

How to Store and Use Italian Beef

Properly stored, Italian beef will stay fresh 3-4 days in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer. Here are some tips:

• Store raw Italian beef wrapped well in freezer paper or plastic wrap to prevent freezer burn. Defrost in the refrigerator before cooking.

• Cooked Italian beef should be kept moister by storing covered in the juices/au jus or broth. Keep chilled.

• For pre-sliced Italian beef, wrap well and remove as much air from packaging as possible before freezing.

• Freeze extra slices of cooked Italian beef for quick sandwiches whenever you want them!

Italian beef is perfect in sandwiches but also try it in these recipes:

• Italian Beef Soup with tomatoes, beans, and vegetables

• French Onion Soup with Italian beef and provolone cheese

• Hash with potatoes or peppers and onions

• Pasta like spaghetti Bolognese or lasagna

• Omelets, breakfast burritos, or egg sandwiches

• Lettuce wraps for low carb sandwiches

Top Places to Buy Quality Italian Beef

To recap, here are some of the top recommended places to buy delicious Italian beef meat:

• Grocery Store Deli Counter – Check meat cases for pre-sliced Italian beef.

• Local Butcher Shop – Butchers can slice top round roast fresh for you.

• Online – Order raw roasts or pre-cooked Italian beef online from retailers like Amazon.

• Specialty Supplier – Order high quality product directly from reputable brands like Vienna Beef.

• Restaurant Food Supplier – Bulk pre-cooked Italian beef can sometimes be purchased through restaurant suppliers.

No matter where you get it, high quality Italian beef is the star of the show for tasty sandwiches, soups, pasta dishes, and more! With so many options for finding it pre-sliced or buying whole roasts, you can enjoy this versatile meat readily in your own kitchen.

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