How do you ship your meats? Will they stay cold enough?
We ship our meat products out frozen so that they stay cold longer. Some products have a "use or freeze by" date listed on the label. Everything we send out has been flash frozen before that date. Your product may arrive slightly or fully defrosted (depending on the time of year). Upon reception, product should be refrozen or refrigerated for later use. Our meat products are packaged in vacuum-sealed packaging to extend the shelf life. Sometimes, in the process of shipping, the vacuum packaging may lose its seal. If you are planning on consuming the product within a week's time, this will not affect the longevity of the product itself.
We ship our products in lined boxes with 1-3 ice packs, depending on the size of the package and the time of year. On rare occasions, because of hot weather or extended time in transit, product may become too warm to consume safely. Any raw meats over 40 degrees in temperature upon delivery should not be consumed. In those cases, please reach out to us and we will gladly replace any damaged or warm items. The safety and satisfaction of our customers is our first concern!
Do you use any fillers in your products?
No. We do not add fillers to our products, nor do we use centrifuges to obtain animal by-products repurposed as fillers, as some larger meat packing operations do. We welcome any inquiries about the ingredients used in our products, information that can also be found on product labels and our website.
Do you use nitrates in your products?
For some, yes. Nitrates are a naturally-occurring and stable chemical compound consisting of one nitrogen and two oxygen atoms. Nitrates are found in high amounts in vegetables such as celery and beets, and are a natural part of the human body, which converts Nitrates into Nitric Acid, a healthy chemical compound. Many meat products advertised as "Nitrate-Free" in fact contain higher levels of Nitrates in their use of Celery Salt in place of Sodium Nitrate in the curing process. At extremely high temperatures, these Nitrates can be converted into Nitrosamines, which can be harmful. We use Nitrates in the curing process for our bacon, hams, and other smoked products. Because we smoke these products at low heat for a long amount of time (instead of quickly at high heat), Nitrosamines are less present. Nitrosamines can be avoided by observing correct cooking methods and by not burning meat products. Lastly, the formation of Nitrosamines is inhibited by Vitamin C, another important component of a healthy diet.
Are the pork, beef, and poultry you use for your products Amish-raised?
Some is and some is not. For example, some of our chicken comes from Gerber Poultry, which relies on a group of cage-free chicken farmers, some of whom are Amish. Our Turkey, meanwhile, comes from Sensenig Farms of Lancaster County, which is Mennonite owned and operated. Our beef and pork is sourced from neighboring counties and states, and is not necessarily Amish raised.
Do you slaughter your own pork, beef, chicken, and turkey?
As of 2009, we no longer do our own slaughtering. Because slaughtering takes up time and space, it can be difficult to both slaughter and keep up with the demands of production. Instead, we rely on trusted sources, such as those mentioned above, for the fresh pork, beef, and poultry needed for processing. We monitor for freshness and temperature every step of the way to ensure that our standards of quality are maintained.
Is your pork, beef, and poultry local?
Most of our pork, beef, and poultry comes from either Lancaster or neighboring counties and states, with the bulk of our chicken coming from Ohio and the Mid-Atlantic region.
Can I freeze your products?
Yes! Our products are good frozen for up to six months. Our products can be safely refrozen upon reception. You CAN refreeze meats that have thawed out. For more information, see this article published by the USDA.
How long should I cook your products?
Different products require different temperatures and cook times. Our smoked hams, for example, only require warming up while our Ring Bologna is fully cooked and ready to eat. More information can be found on individual product pages.
Is your beef grass-fed?
The beef we use in our beef bologna products is not grass-fed. Enola Cattle Co. Beef IS grass-fed, however, and only available online through our website.
Is your poultry raised cage-free?
Yes. We contract with poultry suppliers who raise their flocks in cage-free barns.
Are your products gluten-free?
All of our sausages, smoked meats, and our Scrapple is gluten-free. Our baked goods, hamloaf, and many of our bulk items do contain gluten, however.
Do you use MSG in your products?
With the exception of our Smoked Kielbasa and Ring Bologna products, we do not use MSG. MSG has been proven to be a completely safe and healthy way to enhance taste. Find out more here.
Are there any allergens in your products?
Some of the peanut butter products we sell online contain nuts (nut allergen). Some of our sausages and bologna products contain cheese (lactose). Our hamloaf contains bread (gluten). These are the only instances of a known allergen present in our products.
Can I order ahead of time?
Absolutely. Just let us know in your order notes when you would like us to ship out your product. We will hold off on shipping until that date.
How do you ship your products?
We handle every order in-house—no third-party warehouses, no outsourced fulfillment.
Our team personally reviews your order, hand-picks each item, and packs it using high-quality insulation and ice packs designed for optimal temperature control. Once packed, we rely on UPS to deliver your order to you.
We ship using services that keep transit time 2 days or less.
For more about our packing process and commitment to quality, see the Shipping Information.
When will my order ship?
We ship Monday–Wednesday. Orders placed after 9AM Wednesday through Sunday will ship the following week. This schedule helps ensure your order doesn’t sit in a warehouse over the weekend. If we're short-staffed or temporarily out of stock, orders may experience a slight delay—but this is rare. We appreciate your patience as a small business.
Do you offer ground shipping?
Yes! If your order contains only shelf-stable items, you can now select Ground Shipping at checkout. If your cart includes both perishable and shelf-stable products, they must ship together using our standard 2-Day Ground service. We cannot split shipments.
How much does shipping cost?
We use a variable-rate shipping model based on your shipping address.
This allows us to:
- Keep product prices lower
- Ship with insurance for reliability
- Maintain the freshness standards we’re known for
Please note—we no longer offer free shipping on orders over $125.
What if my package is delayed or arrives warm?
While we can’t control UPS transit issues, we stand behind every order.
If your package:
- arrives late
- is damaged
- arrives at an unsafe temperature (40°F or above)
Please contact us at myorder@stoltzfusmeats.com and we’ll make it right.
It is normal for products to partially thaw during shipment. According to USDA guidelines, thawed meat can be safely refrozen as long as it remains below 40°F.
How do you keep products cold during transit?
We continuously invest in better packaging, including:
- Denser, thicker liners for improved insulation
- Extra ice packs during hot weather
- Optimized packing methods to maintain safe temperatures
Even in summer, your products should arrive cold and in great condition.
What if an item is out of stock?
If we are temporarily out of an item, we will notify you and fulfill your order as soon as possible. This happens only occasionally, typically during peak seasons.