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| Every slice is oh so nice. Hormel |
Bacon is bacon is bacon… right?
Not always.
Nitrates and nitrites come under fire often for adding unnecessary chemicals to meats and have ben called out as carcinogenic (cancer causing).
King Soopers was having a sale on their bacon (half price at $3.50/package), so I decided to give it a go and see what the nitrate free hub bub was all about.
Even down to its “greener” more “organic” looking packaging, Hormel Natural Choice Uncured Bacon claims “No Nitrates or Nitrites Added: Except for those naturally occurring in seasoning”, a definite bonus for those of us who have avoided processed meats due to the added chemicals.
Hormel’s Black Label bacon has always been a favorite of mine, so knowing their Natural Choice line comes from the same brand family created some confidence in purchasing the product.
Slightly thicker slices per 12 ounce container makes for chewier, more delicious slices, and the lack of the usual stuff found in bacon isn’t missed. The bacon also seems lighter somehow and doesn’t feel heavy in the stomach even though it’s as filling as it ever has been.
Hormel’s Line of Natural Choice products include: Deli Sandwich Meats, Applewood Smoked Ham, Carved Chicken Breast, Canadian Bacon and Uncured Bacon.
Rating: ♥♥♥♥
Price: $6.00 for 12 oz package (Denver King Soopers)
Usefulness: Hello? It’s bacon. Use your imagination… *dream sequence music*
Negative: The flavor is somewhat more ‘celery’ since the spice added is cultured celery juice powder. Cost could be a deterrent.
Found at: Store locator
Website: https://www.hormelfoods.com/
More on this product
Hi there, just wanted to add my two cents in here. My husband and I made a trip to our local butcher yesterday and were able to purchase uncured pork belly (bacon). The butcher sliced it up for us (slightly thicker than regular bacon) and was also able to meet our dollar amount that we wanted. The slices are huge. Haven't tried it yet but it looks like good bacon!
Thanks for the review! I always wondered what that was like, I will have to look for it on sale somewhere 🙂
if you have a trader joes nearby, they have a few different kind of uncured/nitrate free bacon for less. I think they are 3.99 a package.
Celery is high in nitrates, which is why almost all natural bacon has it as an ingredient. I buy uncured bacon from the farmer. This week he had montreal spiced bacon and talk about good! I hope they have more next time 😀
Patrick Cudahay(sp?) has an uncured,nitrate free bacon; but it still has sugar listed in the ingredients. Go figure!
Thanks for the review, I'll look for it and see whats the price up here in the woods! Sometimes "specials" like this cost an arm and a leg!
So glad you wrote about this, I have heard about Sodium Nitrates for a while now and it bears repeating, this was very informative!
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Dawn
If there is a heaven and it has no bacon in it, there is going to be a problem. Hormel’s Uncured is very good. It is just hellishly expensive. Safeway has a brand that tastes as good but is a dollar less. I wait unit Hormels is close to the expiration date when it goes down to $3.79 and I buy six. It lasts a long time in the freezer.
Beware when buying this product, on the two occasions we bought it the visible piece of bacon on the top was from a nicer cut than the sliced slab underneath. Hormel used the nicely marbled piece to hide less than ideal and very fatty bacon underneath. Not good for the ppremium version of a product.