The 7 best store-bought bacons without fake smoke

Find the most delicious and natural brand of smoked bacon for breakfast.

I’d love to bacon. The popular breakfast meat is very tasty, especially when smoked. But here’s an interesting fact: not all smoked bacon is made with real smoke. Some brands cut corners and that smoky essence is the result of artificial smoke flavoring. If you want authentic smoked bacon, there are some amazing options. Here are 7 of the best store-bought bacons made without fake smoke.

ButcherBox Bacon

I recently received a ButcherBox full of steaks, chicken, and even chicken Smoked Applewood uncured bacon, and it was divine. According to the brand, it’s made from humanely raised pork and contains no nitrates or sugar, but comes with a smoky flavor you’ll love.

Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon

Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon is the gold standard, smoked for 24 hours over glowing apple wood. In fact, some of the best restaurants I’ve ever been to. “For generations, the Nueske family has been dedicated to creating the most flavorful smoked bacon you’ll ever taste. It’s a process we’ve perfected over time, starting with pork belly to create truly premium bacon.” “Each slab is patiently smoked for up to 24 hours over sweet Applewood logs, a method that has earned our bacon awards from culinary experts and the dedication of top chefs. With its rich flavor and minimal shrinkage, this is the bacon you deserve for breakfast.” And, foodies love it. “Very smoky and melt-in-your-mouth delicious. You’ll love it,” writes Amazon the buyer.

Niman Smoked Applewood Inn

Niman Ranch is another brand served by fine dining restaurants and is also available at Whole Foods. Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon is very legit and delicious, made from humanely raised pork that is then naturally smoked.

Applegate Naturals Sunday Bacon

Traditional hardwood smoke with a clean label and no chemical nitrites.6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e

Mild taste, not a very smoky taste like all the others. Very good!

Totally obsessed. I didn’t know about this cut, it’s delicious!!

Wellshire Farms Dry Bacon

Slow-cured and naturally smoked with no water injection or liquid flavoring.

Wellshire’s thick cut dry cured bacon is another option I get from Whole Foods. It is slow cured and naturally smoked with no water injection or liquid flavoring, it is naturally cured, nitrate free and made with a minimum of ingredients. However, it does list organic sugar as an ingredient.

Soft Belly Sugar Bacon

Tender Belly is “on a mission to develop the most insanely delicious bacon on planet Earth,” and its No Sugar Dry Rub Uncured Bacon is the champion of the line. The brand uses “heritage-breed pigs that are raised without crates on a 100% vegetarian diet.” They also avoid splashing water on their uncured bacon. “We rub our pork belly with fresh spices and let the delicious dry beans soak for days. Then we slow smoke our bacon using real cherry wood for hours. There are never any antibiotics. No nitrates or nitrites added.”

Beeler’s Hickory Smoked Bacon

Beeler is proud to offer fresh brand family pork. Beeler’s Hickory Smoked Bacon contains no nitrates or nitrites, except for naturally occurring nitrates in sea salt, celery powder, and antibiotics. It is also casein and gluten free. Pigs are fed a vegetarian diet and are not raised in gestation crates.

Leah Groth