You probably don't dig into a full platter of bacon every day, but when you think about it, this smoky sliced pork product is a common denominator in so many recipes we love: quick sandwiches, like BLTs and BECs, hearty dinners like pasta carbonara (the American version) and loaded baked potatoes and don't forget the party apps.
Consider it proof that bacon, in all its fatty, salty glory, does indeed make everything better, whether you're crisping it in a skillet, baking it in the oven or even blanching it for a Julia Child-style quiche. But what about differences among brands? With an array of nearly identical-looking shrink-wrapped options stocked in retail refrigerator cases—some marketed with confusing buzzwords and terms—it’s hard to know which bacon varieties are really worth your precious grocery dollars.
To help you find the best bacon, I cruised around to several supermarkets in my area and grabbed 10 of the most readily available, recognizable bacon options I could find, including Oscar Mayer, Trader Joe's, 365 by Whole Foods Market and Applegate.
After sampling my way through dozens of sizzling slices, I ranked the contenders from worst to best, with a detailed breakdown of why each brand landed where it did. Before you make your next bacon run, give this list a look.
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What To Look for When Shopping for Bacon
Courtesy Olivia Bria
In the U.S., bacon is typically cut from the pork belly, a fatty area by definition. (Other bacon varieties, like Canadian bacon, may be cut from leaner areas, like the back.) For most U.S. bacon fans, fat is integral to the taste experience.
In a quick conversation with the butcher working at my local Whole Foods, I learned that a 50:50 ratio of fat to meat tends to result in the sort of crispy-chewy slices that have the broadest appeal. But both fattier and leaner options—say, 65 percent meat and 35 percent fat—are available to suit other preferences.
The issue is, even within a given brand, every package is a little different because every pig is a little bit different. The lesson here? Take a look at the bacon in the package you picked before you toss it into your cart.
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Courtesy Olivia Bria
Most brands of bacon contain some form of salt and sugar, two ingredients used in the curing and flavoring process that make bacon, well, bacon. Commercial producers often use other additives too: sodium phosphate to retain moisture, nitrites and nitrates for additional curing and color preservation, and so on. Flavoring ingredients, including maple syrup, dried herbs and black pepper aren't uncommon either.
Admittedly, the terminology around some ingredients can be a little confusing. For example, while some brands bill their bacon as "uncured," this just means the meat doesn't contain added nitrites and nitrates—and that the bacon is cured with regular salt instead. Before you buy, it may help to do a little research online to figure out which bacon ingredients are meaningful to you.
Bacon slices are also sold in a range of thicknesses: thin-cut, regular-cut and thick-cut. Thickness plays a key role in cooked texture, with thinner slices generally cooking up lighter and crispier, while thicker slices have more of a meaty chew. There's no "perfect" thickness, per se; it's just a question of what kind of bacon you're craving, or which would suit whatever you're making the best.
Not all brands of bacon are smoked, but it's fair to say most are. To fans, including myself, a smoky quality is key to that special "bacon" flavor. Many brands are smoked over wood—applewood, cherrywood and hickory being some of the most common. Applewood and cherrywood tend to produce a milder, sweeter smoky flavor, while hickory's impact is bolder. Brands that use the general term "hardwood smoked" on their packaging are usually referring to hickory.
All the brands in this roundup claim to smoke their bacon over real wood, but something to keep in mind that some producers may inject their meat with a concentrated ingredient known as liquid smoke to mimic that smokehouse flavor. While plenty of bacon fans have no issue with this practice, others prefer to avoid the ingredient, saying it doesn't taste quite the same as authentically smoked meat.
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How I Tested These Popular Bacon Brands
To test each bacon brand, I used four simple assessment criteria: fattiness, crispiness, thickness and overall flavor. I cooked each brand of bacon in a nonstick skillet with a drizzle of olive oil and followed the cooking time indicated on the packaging.
In keeping with my butcher's recommendation, I awarded points for an equal meat-to-fat ratio, consistent crispiness around the edges with a slightly chewy center, and robust flavor. I should note that I'm personally inclined toward sweeter bacon with a slightly higher proportion of fat. As objective as I tried to be in the name of food journalism, my preferences do come through in these rankings.
Courtesy Olivia Bria
And just to be 100 percent clear: This is a taste test, not a nutritional ranking. Bacon brands vary widely in their levels of sodium, saturated fat, sugar, preservatives and other additives. If you have dietary considerations or restrictions, compare nutrition labels closely before choosing a brand. For me, bacon is just a once-in-a-while treat to be enjoyed in small doses, so finding the best-tasting bacon was my main objective.
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10 Popular Bacon Brands, Ranked From Worst To Best
10. Oscar Mayer Original Bacon
With apologies to this major player in the baconverse, sometimes household names just don’t impress. If robust flavor is what you're seeking, you can skip Oscar Mayer's weirdly bland entry. Sure, the slices turned out crispy enough in my skillet, but they didn't deliver much taste despite being billed as naturally hardwood smoked. They were also pretty greasy, truth be told. The thickness was fine, but not noteworthy enough to overcome the other drawbacks.
9. Farmer John Premium Classic Bacon
This Premium Classic Bacon from Farmer John caught my eye at Walmart. The slices were thicker and had a little more fat than Oscar Mayer's. Still, I was able to get a nice, even crisp with less grease than Oscar Mayer produced, which put Farmer John a notch above in my book, even though the strips were chewier than I prefer.
On the flavor front, this brand lacked depth and left me hungry for a richer "bacon" taste. I could see this being an OK add-in for dishes where you want a subtle salty-savory note that won't compete with other ingredients.
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8. Great Value Naturally Hickory Smoked Bacon
Maybe it was just the package I bought, but the uneven marbling in my Great Value bacon was a little off-putting. Some bites were pure fat! But other bites weren't bad at all, with crispy browned edges and some nice chew in the center. These slices weren't too thick or too thin—or too greasy either.
Flavor, as with the other brands so far, was lacking, falling short of the boldness I expected from a brand touted as hickory smoked. Overall, Great Value tasted more to me like a Good Enough Value. It would make an adequate addition to your breakfast sandwich.
7. Devanco Foods Hickory Smoked Beef Bacon
Granted, this entry from Devanco Foods is a bit of an outlier because it's made from beef instead of pork, but I was curious to see how it would stack up against the pork products. It cooked up with a deep, meaty flavor with a touch of natural sweetness—similar to that of steak. The slices were on the thinner side but they didn't burn or dry out.
I wouldn't exactly call this a substitute for a good, classic pork bacon, but I could see myself reaching for it when I'm in the mood for something different. It's also a good option to keep in mind if you or the people you're cooking for don't eat pork.
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6. Applegate Naturals Hickory Smoked Fully Cooked Uncured Sunday Bacon
The package for this Applegate product is bursting with healthyish buzzwords—"uncured," "humanely raised," "no nitrates or nitrites," etc.—so consider this your reminder to read up on the terminology and compare brands if those factors are important to you.
As for the taste and texture, this bacon delivered nice crunchiness and a subtle, earthy flavor I found appealing—if a little more muted than I prefer. And because the medium-thick strips are precooked and only need to be heated up a bit, grease runoff was minimal. This bacon is a solid option—tasty enough to serve on a brunch platter—and super convenient if you’re pressed for time.
5. 365 Whole Foods Market Uncured Center Cut Smokehouse Bacon
Courtesy Olivia Bria
This bacon entry from Whole Foods is a center cut variety, which simply means the fatty ends have been trimmed away. The remaining fat in the center slices looked nicely distributed throughout, so I had high hopes for this store brand going in.
As the slices sizzled, however, I was unpleasantly surprised by the quantity of grease they produced. The slices also shrank pretty dramatically when they hit the heat—not great for standalone presentation. This brand did OK on flavor factors, delivering more salty punch than smoky depth while still being tasty. Slices were on the thinner, crispier side; they'd be good crumbled on top of something, like a bowl of loaded potato soup.
4. Trader Joe’s Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon
Courtesy Olivia Bria
I'm a big Trader Joe’s fan in general—it's my go-to store—and the fan-favorite grocery store's Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon landed firmly in the top half of my rankings. The applewood smoke flavor was balanced and mellow, allowing the pork's natural flavor to come through. Eyeballing the slices, I'd say the fat content was a bit higher than 50 percent, but they cooked up crispy all around and held their shape well. The thickness was nicely situated in the middle zone, making these strips great for a creamy pasta dish or Cobb salad.
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3. Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Uncured Bacon
The bacon from Niman Ranch was truly delicious. The package says the pork is smoked over real applewood, and unlike a number of other brands in this list, the bacon actually lives up to that description.
The smoky flavor was front and center in these slices, along with a satisfyingly salty hit. While this is a thicker bacon with a higher proportion of fat, it crisped up beautifully on the edges and developed a nice chewiness in the center. Every bite was packed with savory flavor. A strong contender!
2. Appleton Farms Premium Sliced Bacon
Courtesy Olivia Bria
This unassuming entry from Appleton Farms—an Aldi store brand—blew me away. The hardwood-smoked slices had an ideal 50:50 balance of fat and meat and they cooked up perfectly, turning out crispy on the edges and just chewy enough in the center. The smokiness was bold and assertive without overpowering the natural flavor of the pork, and the saltiness was downright delightful. Really, no notes! This brand is one to look for if you're making a dish where bacon is a star ingredient. Your BLTs would greatly benefit. Bonus: This is also an affordable option at $5 a pack.
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1. Smithfield Premium Maple Thick Cut Bacon
OK, this is where my personal bias toward sweeter bacon really shows. Smithfield’s thick-cut slices—the only maple-flavored entry in this list—totally stole the show for me. Like Aldi's runner-up above, this package appeared to have a perfect 50:50 meat-to-fat ratio. And sure enough, the slices cooked up nicely in my pan, with crispy golden-brown edges that looked great on a serving platter.
What really moved Smithfield to the top of my list was the sweet–savory duality I loved, and the deliciously meaty texture thanks to the thicker cut. Every bite was somehow crunchy, chewy, sweet, smoky and salty all at once. My Sunday brunch game just got a serious upgrade.
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