Pastrami sandwiches in delis are frequently extremely expensive when compared to other sandwiches on the menu, as you may have observed if you’ve ever ordered one. However, have you ever questioned why? We’ll go over some of the factors that contribute to pastrami sandwiches’ hefty price tags below.
Let’s begin with the actual meat. Beef brisket is used to make pastrami, which is smoked and cooked until soft after being seasoned with a mixture of spices. It takes a lot of talent and attention to detail to finish this operation, which might take several days. Additionally, the brisket used to make pastrami is frequently of a higher caliber than that used to make other deli meats.
So, is pastrami more expensive to produce than other deli meats? Both yes and no, is the answer. Even though creating pastrami requires more effort and time than, say, slicing a turkey or a ham, the price of the meat itself may be lower. The USDA estimates that the average cost of beef brisket in 2021 will be $3.42 per pound, which is less expensive than the cost of various other cuts of meat.
The labor-intensive nature of making pastrami sandwiches is another factor raising the price. It takes more than just placing some meat between two slices of bread to make a pastrami sandwich. The sandwich is often made at a traditional Jewish deli like Katz’s in New York City with thick pastrami slices piled high on rye bread, along with mustard and a side of pickles. The deli employee must take the time to slice the meat, construct the sandwich, and package it for the customer because each sandwich is created to order. All of that results in a higher cost.
Let’s now discuss the issue of why bologna can also be costly. Typically, a mixture of meats—including beef, pork, and/or chicken—is used to make bologna. As the beef is ground and combined with additional ingredients like spices, sugar, and corn syrup before being shaped into a log and cooked, the process of manufacturing bologna is also more labor-intensive than that of certain other deli meats. Additionally, more expensive beef cuts may be used in higher-quality bologna, which could increase the price.
The type of pickles that Katz’s Deli employs is the last thing we need to discuss. The website for the deli claims that they utilize “full-sour” pickles, which are fermented for a longer period of time and have a stronger flavor than other varieties. Using a family-secret recipe that has been handed down for many years, the pickles are prepared on-site.
In conclusion, there are a number of elements, such as the quality of the meat, the effort required to make the sandwich, and the fact that each sandwich is cooked to order, that contribute to the high cost of a pastrami sandwich. Even while pastrami can be more expensive than some other deli meats, many people consider it to be a delicacy, thus it’s usually worth the extra money.