The John Candy Classic
Canadian Canadian Style Bacon
American Canadian Style Bacon
American Canadian Bacon vs. Canadian Canadian Bacon
In the US, Canadian Bacon is typically sold as precooked, cured and smoked meat, much like a ham. In Canada, what people consider Canadian bacon is often what Americans would call Peameal Bacon. It's the same cut of meat, also cured, but it hasn't been smoked. The name comes from its being rolled in meal...nowadays cornmeal is more popular, but the name peameal persists from the olden days. Both styles can be great, if they're made the right way.
Canadian Style Bacon?
Canadian Bacon and Canadian Style Bacon mean the same thing, according to US FDA labeling guidelines, but many US makers prefer using "Canadian Style Bacon" to avoid confusion over its origin.
The FDA is loose in defining what constitues Canadian Style Bacon, including "chunked and formed" ("parts is parts!") and water-injected products. They accept good quality Canadian bacon, cut from pork line and traditionally cured, but they also accept heavily processed versions. The "Canadian Style Bacon" in American Egg McMuffins has water, corn syrup solids, smoke flavor, and nitrates.
If you care about the quality of the food, read the ingredients list. Quality products come from quality ingredients. Even if you're unfamiliar with the maker, the ingredients will tell you a lot.
From the Foot Stnadards
 Shingle style  Reduced Salt |
 Whole Roast  Chub Roast |
The Real Canadian Bacon Co. is run by a Canadian-born bacon lover now living in Michigan. After failing to find authentic Canadian bacon in the US, what Yanks call peameal bacon, he decided to import it himself, and has been winning over Yankee palates ever since. If you want the real deal, either book a trip to Canada, or order from him. This is not smoked or precooked, as is typical with American Canadian Style Bacon (see below). It's cut from lean boneless pork loins, pickle-cured, and rolled in a golden cornmeal. It's easy to prepare, and they offer great recipes and menu ideas. |
American Canadian Style Bacon
 Whole Roast  Sliced |
 Pepper-Coated  Gift Basket | Burger's Smokehouse has been curing meats the old fashioned way since 1927, when they made just six hams per year. The Burger family still runs the company on the same Missouri farm, and while they've grown, they retain their pride in tradition. Hickory smoking is more work than flavor injections used by mass producers, but the taste is a world of difference. Burger's Canadian style bacon is cured and hickory smoked. They also offer a pepper-coated Canadian bacon for added zest, and ready-wrapped gift baskets of assorted meats. |
 Whole Roast |
 VIP Breakfast | Sugardale sells hickory-smoked, maple-cured Canadian Style Bacon. They're actually a subsidiary brand of a big company, but they produce a decent product. They also carry regular American bacon, ham, smoked turkeys, and other foods. |
American Canadian Bacon vs. Canadian Canadian Bacon
In the US, Canadian Bacon is typically sold as precooked, cured and smoked meat, much like a ham. In Canada, what people consider Canadian bacon is often what Americans would call Peameal Bacon. It's the same cut of meat, also cured, but it hasn't been smoked. The name comes from its being rolled in meal...nowadays cornmeal is more popular, but the name peameal persists from the olden days. Both styles can be great, if they're made the right way.
Canadian Style Bacon?
Canadian Bacon and Canadian Style Bacon mean the same thing, according to US FDA labeling guidelines, but many US makers prefer using "Canadian Style Bacon" to avoid confusion over its origin.
The FDA is loose in defining what constitues Canadian Style Bacon, including "chunked and formed" ("parts is parts!") and water-injected products. They accept good quality Canadian bacon, cut from pork line and traditionally cured, but they also accept heavily processed versions. The "Canadian Style Bacon" in American Egg McMuffins has water, corn syrup solids, smoke flavor, and nitrates.
If you care about the quality of the food, read the ingredients list. Quality products come from quality ingredients. Even if you're unfamiliar with the maker, the ingredients will tell you a lot.