Online Italian Grocery Store Shopping
During 2020, the world saw people shift to online shopping. It wasn’t just safe but also hassle-free. However, if you are wondering whether an online Italian grocery store is just as authentic as the one on the street, you aren’t alone.
Nothing is better than getting a whiff of that fresh bag of groceries delivered to your doorstep. You don’t have to lift a finger (besides pressing add to cart, of course)! Online shopping might not be new, but it has only recently gotten popular following the pandemic.
An online Italian market can provide you with a lot more variety when compared to other brick and mortar stores. It is always stocked with the gourmet products, such as Italian meats, fruits, and vegetables, and ingredients that are a great addition to your meals.
Be it authentic Italian olives or a variety of oils you require, you can depend on an online Italian grocery store. Here’s why Italians love shopping at online stores
Why an Online Italian Grocery Store is a Go-To for Italians
Have you ever wondered why Italians love shopping at online stores? You may be surprised, considering Italian ingredients are known for their freshness. Most people associate online stores with stale food and low variety. However, you don’t have to encounter that if you shop at an authentic Italian grocery store.
To understand why an online Italy market is so popular, we must understand why we buy food online;
1. No Need to Stand in Line
If you want to buy the freshest Italian ingredients at the Italy market, you don’t have to travel to Italy. In fact, you don’t even need to stand in line. You can avoid the queue, the noise, and the chaos people usually associate with a supermarket or even a farmer’s market.
Buying authentic and fresh ingredients is much easier from the comfort of your home. You don’t need to take time out. You can simply add to the cart whenever you are free. Moreover, you don’t have to keep a list with you. The notes on your phone will suffice.
An online Italian grocery store is becoming the first choice for many Italians, especially if they live abroad. They can get the authentic ingredients they desire at their convenience without having to deal with people at the supermarket. Moreover, since Italian meats at these markets are preferred by Italian chefs, they should certainly pass the test for you.
2. Experience the Italy Market Abroad
Italians love shopping at an Italian grocery store. That is perhaps because the gourmet ingredients remind them of home. An Italian cheese that smells of the Italy market delivered to your doorstep is a better gift than any other during the holidays. All you need to do is add it to that charcuterie board.
These e-stores also stock many products that are hard to find at traditionall stores. Supermarkets all across the USA may sell some unique items. But they will never sell everything Italian taste buds love. For that, you need to visit a market that caters to Italian products.
Most people flock to Italian stores because they are looking for gourmet items that are hard to find elsewhere. Niche items such as fresh Prosciutto Cotto can only be sourced from stores that invest in a regularly updated stock.
3. Shopping for Gifts at the Italian Grocery Store
Online Italian grocery stores often sell gourmet items in bundles or pairings, making them easy for beginners to use. You can easily shop for gifts for Christmas and surprise your Italian friends. An Italian cheese, coupled with some Italian olives, can make for a nice heartfelt gift.
Moreover, it is also easy to treat yourself to a gourmet item even if you have never experimented with Italian cuisine before. The bundles can allow you to invest in delicacies that you can pair. Try to neutralize flavors by adding sweet to a sour flavor (wrap some Prosciutto around melon slices and give it a go)!
Things to Buy at an Italian Grocery Store: A Beginner’s Shopping List
If you are a beginner wondering what to buy at your first Italian grocery store, the following grocery list may help;
1. Italian Extra Virgin Olive Oil
No Italian dish is complete without some extra virgin olive oil. In fact, Italian olives are some of the most delicious delicacies in the region. Olive oil is used both during cooking and as a dressing when the dish is served.
Your best bet is extra virgin olive oil, which may be expensive. However, if you are considering shopping for gourmet items, why not go all out? Extra virgin olive oil tastes just a bit more like pure Italian olives sourced from olive branches in Italy.
Olive oil is quite underrated. Since it can merge with most dishes and bring out the flavor with its spice, it is one of the most loved ingredients by Italians shopping at the Italy market.
2. Italian Pasta, Bread, and Flour
Stocking your pantry with items from the online Italian grocery store is a great idea. They last longer than most Italian gourmet ingredients. However, the best thing about them is that they go well with most Italian delicacies.
Pasta, bread, and flour are loved by all Italians. The time and effort added to that perfect pasta through kneading the flour, adding the eggs, and running it through the pasta maker show the love for the dish.
Be it pre-made pasta or flour, you can find everything gluten at online Italian grocery stores. You don’t need to knead your own flour. But remember the following tips when buying your pasta;
- Don’t accept pasta that looks stale or too dry.
- Look for a suitable color that indicates freshness (the best pasta looks like wheat).
- Choose a pasta that goes well with your dish.
When it comes to flour, ensure you get the best quality ingredients. Everything matters when kneading that pasta, from the flour to the eggs and oil. Remember to choose different kinds of flour depending on what you are making. For example, flour for pasta is much different than flour used to make bread or pizza.
3. Fruits and Vegetables
When shopping at an online Italian grocery store, your eyes may dart to that canned and jarred produce section. Don’t worry; it isn’t as scary as it looks. At a reliable online store, items added to the cart are always fresh and of the highest quality. You will never be served something that has expired.
If you are considering putting together a charcuterie board for your guests, consider shopping at an online grocery store for fruits, you could add to the board. Avoid tinned fruits and vegetables, and cut up your own fresh fruits for that extra tang.
4. Italian Cheese
Italian cheese may be the best addition to your online grocery cart. Soft, hard, and sour cheeses lift your dishes and tasting boards to the next level. Some of the best cheeses you could try include;
- Gorgonzola Cheese
- Cheddar
- Goat Cheese
- Gouda
- Manchego
- Parmigiano Reggiano
- Pecorino
- Provolone
- Mozzarella
Cheese pairings can differ based on your meal or board. For example, salty Italian meats go well with hard, tangy cheese. On the other hand, Italian sausages can be paired with softer and creamier cheeses.
Don’t go for low-quality cheese, as that may ruin your dish once you add heat to it. Bad-quality cheeses get worse as they are melted. This is because instead of melting, they burn quickly.
5. Italian Olives
Italian olives are widely found in the Italy market. They are used in most Italian dishes and are an easy pairing. You can choose ripe ones or softer and sweeter versions. All you need to do is consider your pairing.
Olives can also be pickled. Just add them to salted water and ensure you run them under some tap water before adding them to your meals.
Some of the olives you should look out for include;
- Black Olives
- Capers
- Castelvetrano Olives
- Green Olives
- Red Olives
6. Italian Meats
At the Italian grocery store, one of your best bets is the Italian meats section. In online stores, the variety you find will sweep you off your feet. Italian meats are versatile as you can add them to anything sweet, sour, or spicy, and they will raise the dish, making it gourmet.
Italian meats are sourced from some of the best regions in Italy. In fact, most Italian meats are named after the place where they were first discovered. You may never run out of Italian meats to try since each meat from different regions tastes different.
If you need some recommendations added to your grocery list, the following meats should be a great beginner’s choice;
- Prosciutto Crudo/Cotto
- Salami
- Pancetta
- Coppa
- Mortadella
- Nduja
- Soppressata
7. Sweets and Snacks
Italian sweets and snacks are much like any other dessert or snack from around the world. You can use them as an appetizer in between meals or an addition to the board. The better the pairing, the better it tastes.
The best addition to a charcuterie board is the famous Italian cracker. The crunch, when added to olives or cheese, can be satisfying, to say the least. Moreover, nuts and seeds are also the best things to sprinkle on top of your board at the end.
8. Sauces
The final addition to the grocery list is a must-have assortment of condiments you can drizzle or smear on top of anything and everything. This could be pizza sauce, jams, jellies, and chocolate spreads made from the best Italian ingredients.
It is best to take advantage of the variety provided by an Italian grocery store. Not all stores stock many of the ingredients available at Supermarket Italy. This authentic store includes some of the freshest and healthiest ingredients online!
Final Thoughts
Italians don’t flock to online grocery stores simply for convenience. The best quality of an online Italian market is the variety they provide. In fact, sometimes they are the only way to bring the Italy market to your home.
To buy ingredients for your next gourmet meal, you can simply scroll through Supermarket Italy’s collection and incorporate their suggestions during your search. Along with many of the best ingredients, the guides allow you to look for the best pairings to get it right the first time.