Salad cream

Heinz Salad Cream

Salad cream is a creamy, yellow condiment based on an emulsion of about 25-50 percent of oil in water, emulsified by egg yolk and acidified by spirit vinegar, and with other ingredients which may include sugar, mustard, salt, thickener, spices, flavouring and colouring. It was introduced in the United Kingdom in the 1920s, where it is used as a salad dressing and a sandwich spread. Due to the higher cost of ingredients during periods of rationing in the United Kingdom a flavour similar to mayonnaise was achieved in the creation of salad cream.

Brands

In the UK it has been produced by companies including H. J. Heinz Company and Crosse & Blackwell. Heinz Salad Cream was the first brand developed exclusively for the U.K. market. When first created in the Harlesden (London) kitchens of Heinz in 1925 the preparation was done by hand. The jars were packed in straw-lined barrels- 12 dozen in each. The work schedule was 180 dozen jars a day- with a halfpenny a dozen bonus if the workforce could beat the target.

Heinz and Crosse & Blackwell brands are available in most supermarkets in Canada.

Salad cream was not readily available in the United States until the 21st century; however with the large population of British expatriates, especially in the Northeast, it is becoming more common. Apart from many expat stores, major retail supermarket chains such as New York based Wegmans, Maine-based Hannaford, Massachusetts-based Stop and Shop, southern chain Publix, and Michigan-based Meijer now sell salad cream as a regular item. Many supermarkets sell national and store brands of salad dressing which resemble salad cream.

Salad cream is available in most supermarkets in Australia as well.

External links

• "Salad Cream," from BBC h2g2 site
• "Cornish Salad Cream Recipe" - The Green Chronicle; A forerunner to the modern salad cream
• Heinz Salad Cream (official site)