“I’m not sure how healthy bacon is in general, but I know it’s incredibly delicious,” says Gwyneth Paltrow’s character in My Father’s Daughter.
It may be challenging to find someone who does not enjoy bacon. Few types of meat, let alone foods, elicit the same enthusiasm and excitement as bacon. Whatever your feelings on the subject, there is no doubting that bacon is a real if not-all consuming passion in America.
We checked out the most favorite grocery store in the US to find out about the Trader Joe’s bacon and if it lives up to our expectations for this meat candy.
Trader Joe’s Bacon in 2023
Bacon has progressed over time. We may recall anticipating Saturday morning cartoons and not having to rush through breakfast. Either our taste receptors have altered dramatically as adults, or bacon is no longer the same.
However, if you sample Trader Joe’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon, you will be transported back to your childhood.
Trader Joe’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon is as simple as it can get. There will be no mess to clean after. Even though the container is only 3.25 ounces, you get 15 slices, which is the same as a standard box. However, the slices appear to be thinner.
This Trader Joe’s bacon is worth picking up for $4.99. There are times when you crave bacon but don’t want to deal with the preparation or cleanup. This package satisfies both flavor and practicality. Although the bacon is thin, it has a salty, smoky, and slightly sweet taste.
There is still some fat in this product, so if you want crispy bacon, this isn’t the product for you. If you are only searching for a few slices, follow the package directions; you may layer it on paper towels and microwave for 20 seconds, then check the temperature and microwave for another 20 seconds.
The amount of time should give you the perfect temperature and crispiness for the bacon. Just enough to provide you with a quick breakfast or a salad dress-up.
What Types of Bacon Does Trader Joe’s Have?
Currently, Trader Joe’s has 2 variations of bacon plus their seasonal Uncured Bacon Porchetta Pork Roast – their version of tender pork loin wrapped in bacon.
Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon
Trader Joe’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon is manufactured without sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate, two typical components in bacon curing. It is therefore technically “uncured.”
This bacon is smoked over genuine applewood rather than artificial curing agents, giving it a distinct, delectable, and simply indulgent flavor. However, Trader Joe’s recipe contains naturally occurring nitrites in the form of sea salt and celery powder.
Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon is thickly sliced that goes well with eggs for breakfast, lettuce, and tomatoes for a BLT, wraps, salads, and so on. You can cook it the same way you would any bacon, or use the all-time favorite method of baking it on a foil-lined baking sheet in a 400 ° oven for about 15 minutes, which yields the most wonderful results.
No Sugar Dry Rubbed Uncured Bacon
Trader Joe’s understands the need to reduce sugar and salt but in a way that it doesn’t need to forego the delicious delights of bacon.
Their supplier starts with pork that has been grown without crates, on a vegetarian diet, and without the use of antibiotics or hormones, then rubs it with sea salt and spices like fenugreek, white pepper, and all spice but no sugar.
The bacon is then slow smoked for seven to eight hours over a blend of smoking natural hardwoods after the dry rub has had time to set in.
The result is deliciously seasoned, smokey bacon that crisps and crackles in your skillet like bacon should, but without the sugar and with around 37% less salt than the USDA norm. This one’s for individuals looking to cut carbs while still eating a hearty breakfast.
Uncured Bacon Porchetta Pork Roast
Trader Joe’s wrapped tender pork loin in their Uncured Applewood Smoked Bacon after rubbing it with herbs like sage, rosemary, and oregano). This may sound excessive and indulgent, but that’s how Trader Joe’s is with their seasonal items.
Apart from the recipe, what makes Trader Joe’s Porchetta Roast so special is that it’s already put together for you. You only need to place it in the oven and forget about it. The label has its detailed instructions, including resting durations, variable oven temperatures, and cook times, so don’t throw it away.
Is Trader Joe’s Bacon Good?
Food and Wine magazine ranked Trader Joe’s Bacon as their top pick for their best bacon list. Its chewy texture and smoky sweetness are a good balance of fat to meat. Like the chew to crispness, its nice smoke with a bit of sweet touch is perfect.
Is Trader Joe’s Bacon Gluten-Free?
Trader Joe’s provides a variety of bacon tastes to choose from, depending on what you want to do with all that great grease and fat. The bacon ends and pieces are the most cost-effective and least expensive bacon at Trader Joe’s, made up of a variety of strange-shaped bits and slices.
These are awesomely good and taste fantastic, and have not been found of any gluten-containing ingredients.
Does Trader Joe’s Sell Sugar-Free Bacon?
Yes. Even as bacon is tasty, a regular strip of cured bacon isn’t necessarily the ideal option for anyone limiting their sugar or sodium intake. But, like brave explorers on the culinary high seas, Trader Joe’s believed it was their job to close that gap.
This is the reason they came up with Trader Joe’s No Sugar Dry Rubbed Uncured Bacon because cutting back on sugar and salt shouldn’t mean sacrificing the savory delights of bacon.
Trader Joe’s No Sugar Dry Rubbed Uncured Bacon is a deliciously seasoned, smokey bacon that crisps and crackles in your skillet just like bacon should, but without the sugar and with around 37% less salt than the USDA standard.
How Long is Trader Joe’s Bacon Good For?
Fresh bacon can be kept in the refrigerator for longer than smoked or cured bacon, although it should still be used within a week. Bacon cooked at home, on the other hand, can be refrigerated for up to one week after cooking or frozen for up to four months.
How to Tell if Bacon is Bad?
Even though bacon is pumped full of preservatives, cooked bacon has a limited shelf life. The bacon’s use-by date is one indicator of whether a package or slice of bacon should be consumed or discarded. However, it isn’t a foolproof method of assessing whether or not a slice of bacon is edible.
Spoiled Bacon’s Telltale Signs
Bacon that has gone rotten will turn a different color. Instead of fresh meat’s pink/red color, it may take on a greenish hue or turn a dull gray. Touching bacon with your fingers is another technique to inspect if you suspect it has gone bad. When cooked bacon is about to go bad, it will have a slimy feel even before it starts to yellow.
Because of all the spices and preservatives in bacon, it’s difficult to detect if it’s rotting by its smell. The chemicals can sometimes hide the odor of decays, even if it is starting to change. Even so, it may have an “off” odor. The one thing you should never do with ruined food is taste it.
How Should You Dispose of Spoiled Bacon?
You could be tempted to feed your dog or cat the spoiled bacon. While these animals have better gut bacteria for digesting meals that are no longer edible for humans, the meat can make your pet sick if it is sufficiently rotten or has developed specific types of bacteria.
You must place your spoiled bacon in a trash bag, seal it tightly, and toss it into your local garbage to save money on vet and doctor fees. This will keep rodents away (who have no difficulty eating ruined food) and avoid the mess that can happen when your family pets think you’ve thrown something “yummy” away. If that isn’t possible, create a specific container in your freezer for ruined items that can be thrown away when the time comes.
Conclusion
Overall, the bacon from Trader Joe’s is rather delicious. The fatty sides were tasty, delectable, comforting, and melt-in-your-mouth excellent. Because of the thickness, the meatier sides were a little chewy and leathery but still excellent. The smoky flavor is noticeable, as is a faint apple-y sweetness paired well with the salt and gristle.
