Comparison of Boar's Head meats.... (Reading, Austin: to buy, school, store)

[DavidWebb]

saw this in my news feed this morning and since others here on CD have a preference to BH as I do thought I'd share it....doesn't change my mind about BH anyway....still my preferred over Thumans, Deitz & Watson, or Oscar Mayer any day....

https://www.tastingtable.com/1035671...orst-to-best/?

[fisheye]

Originally Posted by DavidWebb

saw this in my news feed this morning and since others here on CD have a preference to BH as I do thought I'd share it....doesn't change my mind about BH anyway....still my preferred over Thumans, Deitz & Watson, or Oscar Mayer any day....

https://www.tastingtable.com/1035671...orst-to-best/?

They did like many of the BH products. They did not mention the BH Head Cheese - which I really get hungry for from time to time. Head cheese has to be sliced just right. If it is too thick it does not make a good sandwich and if it is too thin it will fall apart when separating the slices.

[DavidWebb]

Originally Posted by fisheye

If it is too thick it does not make a good sandwich and if it is too thin it will fall apart when separating the slices.

Has to be ordered as "sandwich slice" which they will do....that way it doesn't fall apart....thicker slices are better for when making grilled cheese sandwiches....comes out extra gooey!!

[ElijahAstin]

Oscar Mayer is garbage. I consider Boar’s Head, Dietz & Watson, and Thumann’s to be decent (and largely interchangeable).

[Wells5]

Boar's Head like a lot of other companies that make cold cuts has removed sodium nitrite from their products. Sodium nitrite is a curing agent, which effectively removes pig and bull sex and other hormones from lunch meat products. I no longer buy meats that aren't cured. Provision companies try to make up for this by adding more salt, smoke flavorings and celery powder to the ingredients.



Berks Packing of Reading still uses sodium nitrite. I used to buy Ball Park angus beef hot dogs but since they took out the sodium nitrite I've switched to Berks.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Sodium nitrite is a curing agent, which effectively removes pig and bull sex and other hormones from lunch meat products.

I’m sorry, what?

Originally Posted by Wells5

I no longer buy meats that aren't cured. Provision companies try to make up for this by adding more salt, smoke flavorings and celery powder to the ingredients.

Excessive sodium nitrate and nitrite consumption is also associated with a whole host of health issues. And celery powder has naturally occurring nitrates and nitrites anyway.

Originally Posted by Wells5

Berks Packing of Reading still uses sodium nitrite. I used to buy Ball Park angus beef hot dogs but since they took out the sodium nitrite I've switched to Berks.

Ball Park makes C- dogs anyway. Berks, I’d give a C+. The kosher and kosher-style brands (Hebrew National, Nathan’s, Sabrett, and even Costco.) are the best, IMO, thanks to the garlic and paprika-based spice blend. DC half-smokes are a not-too-distant second for me.

[Wells5]

"The kosher and kosher-style brands (Hebrew National, Nathan’s, Sabrett, and even Costco.) are the best, IMO, thanks to the garlic and paprika-based spice blend. DC half-smokes are a not-too-distant second for me."


I'm surprised, Elijah. Hebrew National is owned by ConAgra and truly observant Jews will not eat them. They've lost their "OU" certification . Nathan's and Sabrett are not kosher. Best Provision Company of Chicago was said to have the best "glatt kosher" hot dogs but they were purchased by the Sara Lee Corporation and then Sara Lee shut them down. There's a tiny glatt kosher hot dog maker in NJ if you're interested.


https://njmonthly.com/articles/eat-d...w-abiding-dog/

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Wells5

"The kosher and kosher-style brands (Hebrew National, Nathan’s, Sabrett, and even Costco.) are the best, IMO, thanks to the garlic and paprika-based spice blend. DC half-smokes are a not-too-distant second for me."


I'm surprised, Elijah. Hebrew National is owned by ConAgra and truly observant Jews will not eat them. They've lost their "OU" certification . Nathan's and Sabrett are not kosher. Best Provision Company of Chicago was said to have the best "glatt kosher" hot dogs but they were purchased by the Sara Lee Corporation and then Sara Lee shut them down. There's a tiny glatt kosher hot dog maker in NJ if you're interested.


https://njmonthly.com/articles/eat-d...w-abiding-dog/

Why are you surprised? I mentioned kosher and kosher-style brands because I generally like all-beef hot dogs with a garlic-and-paprika based spice blend. For me, the method of slaughter is incidental to the taste.

I do not keep (and never have kept) kosher. The DC half-smoke shoutout should have given that away (half smokes being 50/50 pork and beef, after all).

[Chester Burnett]

Originally Posted by Wells5

Boar's Head like a lot of other companies that make cold cuts has removed sodium nitrite from their products. Sodium nitrite is a curing agent, which effectively removes pig and bull sex and other hormones from lunch meat products. I no longer buy meats that aren't cured. Provision companies try to make up for this by adding more salt, smoke flavorings and celery powder to the ingredients.

Berks Packing of Reading still uses sodium nitrite. I used to buy Ball Park angus beef hot dogs but since they took out the sodium nitrite I've switched to Berks.

Celery powder contains naturally occurring nitrates and makes a fine curing agent.

edit: I see ElijahAustin has already pointed this out.

[Chester Burnett]

Boars Head is a brand I've been eating since the 70s and still enjoy. Some of their products are very nostalgic for me. I used to go to a little grocery store during grade school lunch breaks for bologna on a kaiser roll with Gulden's brown mustard. I mostly use their low-sodium options these days, which are still pretty salty for my taste.