Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon (2024)

Posted: May 30, 2013 | Author: profoundjester | Filed under: Trader Joe's Brand, Turkey | Tags: bacon, peppered, turkey bacon |6 Comments

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon (1)

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon

Holy cow folks, it’s another jaw-dropping double feature with Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon.

Refugee of Baconmania

Bacon is wonderful, bacon is divine manna, and bacon has been done to death. The bacon fad (or “baconmania”), which is still ongoing as of this writing, may have died down from it’s bacon salt and DIY bacon vodka heights, but nevertheless the mad hankering for bacon continues nationwide and across the internet. It’s really not my intention to contribute to this inarticulate scream for brined slices of pork belly, good though it is. Instead, and I’m fully aware this viewpoint may well inspire incandescent vitriol among bacon purists, I’m going to try and sell you on turkey bacon – something which I eat frequently.

Why, you must be asking, why does he do that to himself? In my case, it’s a matter of simple expediency. I need to grab breakfast and get out the door in the mornings, and bacon cooks up quick in a microwave. I’d be more than happy to use “real” pork bacon for this task, if I didn’t so greatly fear it’s great gobs of drooping fat deposits. I love my poor little heart, and I’ve abused it enough already for a life time. Now is my era of healthy eating. (As you may have picked up from my previousposts I try to stick to a low carb diet. Generally I fail.)

A World Where Bacon Never Lived

So turkey bacon gives me a healthy choice for my daily bacon consumption and, and guys I’m willing to be real here, that’s all it really has to offer. Turkey bacon is a pale shade of an imitation compared to those fatty strips of pork, but in it’s nutritional profile they are worlds apart. Trader Joe’s Turkey bacon boasts of an astounding 40 calories per slice, 15 from fat. That’s less than a third of the fat that Oscar Meyer serves you with their Center Cut Bacon (70 calories per slice, 50 from fat).

In addition, TJ’s has gone fully nitrate, antibiotic and preservative free here, making it that much easier to feel good about eating bacon.

Unfortunately, a healthy profile is all there really is to recommend Turkey Bacon. Even I, unrepentant turkey bacon eater I, cannot come to endorse this product to the populous at large. It just isn’t that good, really. Maybe if we lived in a world where there as no pork bacon and turkey bacon was all we knew I might be able to muster some enthusiasm for the product – as it stands, every bite of turkey bacon is beggared by comparison to the real deal.

Warm Garbage Bag and Other Tastes

The main issue is not the taste, which is passable to tasty, but the texture, which is awful. Turkey bacon simply does not fry up crispy and crunchy like fatty strips f bacon. It remains perpetually limp and soggy whether you zap it in the microwave or sizzle it in a pan.

The regular turkey bacon comes out of this process just this side of edible, as the loss of texture is the price I’m will to pay for healthy bacon. If you’re willing to pay that price as well, like me you’ll be forced to decide between two options, regular or peppered. I’m going to cut right to the chase here because this information is important – choose regular. This is imperative. Whatever is redeeming about the taste of the regular turkey bacon is completely lost on the peppered variety – replaced by a nasty, pseudo-seasoned taste and a long, lingering after taste that resembles sucking on a warm garbage bag – truly unpleasant to the point of inediblity. The existence of this variation suggests that there must be fans of it out there, and I welcome your point of view in the comments, but as for as I’m concerned this abomination should have never been made.

The Breakdown

Would I Recommend It: Only to those who have decided to sacrifice taste for health.

Would I But It Again: Regular uncured turkey bacon, yes. Peppered uncured turkey bacon, no – no, never.

Final Synopsis:You don’t choose turkey bacon because you want a good time, but when the cards are down it’s better than no bacon at all.

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon (2)

Trader Joe’s Peppered Uncured Turkey Bacon – Nutrition Facts

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon (3)

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon – Nutrition Facts

Trader Joe’s Uncured Turkey Bacon and Trader Joe’s Uncured Peppered Turkey Bacon (2024)

FAQs

Did Trader Joe's discontinue peppered turkey bacon? ›

Trader Joes discontinued their peppered black turkey bacon," she wrote.

Is uncured turkey bacon unhealthy? ›

“As with bacon made from pork, turkey bacon is high in saturated fat and sodium – two substances that put you at greater risk for developing heart disease,” she says. “And the similarities don't stop there.”

Can you eat uncured turkey bacon without cooking? ›

No, it's not safe to eat turkey bacon raw. Turkey bacon is made from thin strips of turkey that have been seasoned and cured. Like pork bacon, consuming raw turkey bacon puts you at risk of foodborne illness. These are the other types of bacon you should know, and—spoiler!

Does Trader Joe's turkey bacon have nitrates? ›

There is always a downside and sodium is it! Another Trader Joe's no-nitrate option is the uncured, turkey bacon. Each 30 calorie slice cooks up nicely and tastes more like high quality ham than turkey. Mix it with scrambled egg whites, beans and salsa and stuff into a tortilla.

Is Trader Joe's discontinuing products in 2024? ›

Here are some products that will no longer be here in January 2024: Jingle Jangle chocolate holiday mix. Dark Chocolate Stars cookies. Taste Test of Caramels.

What is the difference between cured and uncured turkey bacon? ›

Cured bacon is treated with salt and nitrites to preserve flavor and color, and to stop bacterial growth. Uncured bacon is still cured, only with naturally occurring nitrites like celery juice powder.

Can I eat uncured turkey bacon everyday? ›

And just like with any processed meat, eating turkey bacon in excess is not a wise move for your overall health. Turkey bacon can be enjoyed in small amounts when combined with an overall healthy diet, but generally, it should not be consumed in large amounts every day.

Is it bad to eat uncured bacon everyday? ›

Nitric oxide production may help improve blood vessel health and blood pressure, and enhance muscle function. “Cured or uncured, less is more when it comes to processed meats like bacon,” Keating says. “You don't have to give them up entirely, but they shouldn't be a regular part of your diet.”

Which is healthier cured or uncured turkey bacon? ›

The truth is there is little practical difference between cured and uncured bacon in terms of health. Both are cured in the true sense of the word, meaning they are preserved. The use of the labels “cured” and “uncured” on processed meats results from Department of Agriculture labeling regulations.

What is the point of uncured bacon? ›

At its most basic, uncured bacon is bacon that hasn't been cured with synthetically sourced nitrates and nitrites. Instead, the bacon has been cured with natural nitrates, found in celery, beets and other veggies. It's this natural combination of ingredients that come together to create a delicious, smoky flavor.

Is uncured turkey bacon bad for cholesterol? ›

Turkey is white meat and has less cholesterol, probably about 20% less cholesterol than regular pork bacon,” he says. “But if it's 20% less, it's still 80% more cholesterol than if you weren't to consume it.”

What does it mean when it says uncured turkey bacon? ›

A process that is better for you and much more flavorful! Simply put, uncured bacon is bacon that has not been cured with synthetically-sourced nitrates and nitrites. Instead, uncured bacon is cured with natural nitrates, found in celery, beets, and other veggies.

Is Trader Joe's uncured turkey bacon healthy? ›

Unlike pork bacon, our Uncured Turkey Bacon is 94% fat free! Each lean slice (one serving) contains just 30 calories and 1.5g of fat, which is about a quarter of the fat found in a typical slice of pork bacon. And you still get 6g of protein per slice!

Is Trader Joe's bacon good? ›

Several attested that Trader Joe's Uncured Black Forest Bacon is not only the best bacon you find at the retailer, but the best bacon you can find period. "It's the best bacon ever and has never led me wrong," a customer said.

Does Trader Joe's bacon have nitrates? ›

Trader Joe's Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon is made without added sodium nitrite or sodium nitrate, two ingredients commonly used in the curing of bacon.

What items did Trader Joe's discontinue? ›

19 Discontinued Trader Joe's Products We're Probably Never Getting Back
  • Chili Sesame Oil. Trader Joe's. ...
  • Hi-Protein Veggie Burger. traderjoestobediscontinued / Instagram. ...
  • Chile Lime Mayonnaise. ...
  • Frozen Spinach Lasagna. ...
  • Matcha Joe-Joe's. ...
  • Banana Waffles. ...
  • Organic Buffalo Style Hummus. ...
  • Cioppino Seafood Stew.
Jan 6, 2024

Why does Trader Joe's discontinue popular products? ›

If a product is not earning its spot on our shelves, then we discontinue it to make room for something new. We do not enter into the decision to discontinue a product lightly. We understand that it can be disappointing – devastating, even.

Do they still make turkey bacon? ›

Yes, this is a thing. A good thing! Turkey bacon has all the taste of pork-based bacon without the guilt.

Why does Trader Joes discontinue? ›

The company may even choose to discontinue an item if manufacturing fees are too high, which keeps prices reasonable at the store. Some discontinued items will make a comeback if Trader Joe's can figure out issues, but only if the solution arrives within a certain time frame.

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