The deli counter of agrocery storeis home to a variety of cured core process into log and infused with atomic number 11 . Whether that ’s appetizing or not is subjective , but for millions of people , loading up on Gallus gallus , turkey , corned beef , and pastrami for sandwich is as much a part of thesupermarketexperience as struggling with a sticky wheel on a shopping go-cart .
But those last two food shop orders can be somewhat confusing . Pastrami seems exchangeable to corned beef : Both are salted nub cull from kine , and both would believably be ostracize by nutritionist and cardiologists . So what ’s the realdifference ?
When it comes to saturating the substance with a solution of salt and spices , both pastrami and corn squawk mostly get the same discourse . They ’re brined in sugar , cloves and dill weed , as well as preservatives . And both descend from cows — but that ’s about where the similarities end .

While both pastrami and corned beef come from bovid origins , they originate in different places . Pastrami is taken from the articulatio humeri , ordeckle . It can also be source from just below the rib . Corned gripe , meanwhile , is brisket take from the low-spirited chest . Sometimes , pastrami can be made from brisket , though it does n’t wind up being the same as corned beef . ( More on that in a moment . )
Pastrami is also spicier , with pepper , mustard seed , and other flavors added . Corned beef cattle is brine , but otherwise buzz off no extra handling . When it come time for preparation , pastrami gets smoked , while corned beef is broiled . The net result is two gist of standardised profile that wind up with unlike taste and texture thanks to preparation methods . In fact , some usepastramias a catch - all term for the smoke - and - spice physical process , and even enforce the same proficiency to turkey or salmon .
Pastrami has roots in Romania , with immigrantsbringingit to the U.S. in the twentieth century . ( It was originally made with goose . ) Corned beef cattle underwent a standardized transfiguration , with Irish immigrant using pork until they recover beef more widely available in America .
And no , corned beefdoesn’t actually hold any edible corn . The term rise with maize as a method acting of preserving meat with salt .
Have you got a Big dubiousness you ’d wish us to answer ? If so , let us know by e-mail us atbigquestions@mentalfloss.com .