Turkey Bacon Taste Test

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Registered: 08-07-2007
Turkey Bacon Taste Test
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Fri, 10-24-2008 - 6:18pm

What is your favorite brand of turkey bacon?  The SF Chronicle did a taste test this week, and liked only one brand:


From the San Francisco Chronicle (www.sfgate.com)


One turkey bacon stands out in the flock

Amanda Gold, Chronicle Staff Writer


Wednesday, October 22, 2008


If you swoon over regular bacon, chances are you wouldn't go anywhere near turkey bacon. It's one of those "just not quite as good" substitutes for pork lovers.


But for those who prefer something a little lower in fat and calories, it can provide a similar flavor profile, and, stufed into a BLT, works in much the same way. Plus, turkey bacon offers an alternative for those who avoid pork due to dietary or religious restrictions.


Most of the products we tested come from turkey thighs - some cured, some uncured - that have been smoked, chopped and reformed into strips. We pan-fried them according to package directions.


The bacon strips were all over the map in terms of appearance. Many were likened to Canadian bacon, and some were even compared to dog treats (Beggin' Strips, to be exact).


Still, one product stood out enough to be awarded a spot in the Taster's Choice Hall of Fame, an honor reserved for those products scoring 80 points or higher out of a possible 100. The rest, however, dropped nearly 50 points lower, and the panel had trouble recommending more than just the top brand.


It has been more than a decade since we last tested turkey bacon, and while the amount of brands has more than doubled; our first-place winner was the same.


"Looks like bacon, tastes like bacon," was how the widely available Oscar Mayer's Louis Rich brand ($3.99/12 ounces at Andronico's) was described. The Hall of Famer won immense praise all around, with panelists commenting on the "good balance of flavor and salt" and "good thickness." All five tasters would buy this product.


In second place, Trader Joe's ($2.69/8 ounces) had "an odd, lacy appearance," but a "mild, slightly smoky flavor." "If you are looking for Canadian texture and flavor," said one panelist, "this one is pretty good." Another said it would be good to use "chopped, but not in slices." Four tasters might buy this brand, and one would not.


Applegate Farms ($4.99/8 ounces at Andronico's) came in third place, with "an acceptable bacon flavor," though the appearance was "dry." One taster called it "ham-ish in flavor and texture," but said it had an "OK balance." Two might buy it, and three would not.


The fourth-place spot went to Garrett County ($5.99/12 ounces at Mollie Stone's). Panelists described this brand as "a bit salty but overall not so bad," and said it had "a meaty texture" and a "pleasant smoky flavor." Some felt it was "chewy and soft" with "no bacon flavor." Two might buy this brand, and three would not.


Rounding out the top five was Whole Foods 365 brand ($5.69/12 ounces). Tasters called it "OK," but said it "looks like cheap luncheon meat." Some felt that the texture was "meaty and chewy." Two panelists might buy this brand, and three would not.



Turkey Bacon

Oscar Mayer Louis Rich 85



Trader Joe's 37



Applegate Farms 33



Garrett County 29



365 28



Jennie-O 24



Wellshire 24



Willie Bird Cured 20


Wellshire Organic 6



Kroger 4



Willie Bird Uncured 0



Panelists were Linda Anusasananan, food writer and consultant, San Mateo; John Carroll, cookbook author, San Francisco; Emily Luchetti, pastry chef, Farallon, San Francisco; Shelley Handler, consultant, San Francisco; and Roland Passot, chef-owner, La Folie and five Left Banks. All products are tasted blind; a perfect score would be 100. Prices listed are the lowest found, but products may be available at other stores.


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Registered: 04-01-2004
Fri, 10-24-2008 - 6:40pm
Thanks for sharing that.
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Registered: 07-21-2005
Fri, 10-24-2008 - 11:27pm
thats the only brand we buy too, the other ones just dont taste very good and dont cook up the right way.
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Avatar for dana828
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Registered: 03-25-2003
Sat, 10-25-2008 - 1:04pm
The Oscar Mayer is the one we buy. All the other ones I've tried have been horrible (then again, I've never seen any of those other ones in the article)
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Registered: 06-30-1997
Sat, 10-25-2008 - 7:15pm

Interesting. I usually buy the Butterball brand. And I don't see that one on the list anywhere. Maybe it's a regional brand?

Rebekah








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iVillage Member
Registered: 05-03-2005
Sat, 10-25-2008 - 8:19pm

Knowing which brand to buy, I might give turkey bacon a try sometime in the future.

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Registered: 12-06-2007
Sat, 10-25-2008 - 8:54pm

I don't have a package on hand, but I think Butterball is what I use, as well.

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Registered: 04-01-2004
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 8:22am

We have Butterball turkey bacon here too.

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Registered: 08-07-2007
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 1:37pm
I suspect that we don't have Butterball here, or it would have made the list.
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Registered: 06-30-1997
Sun, 10-26-2008 - 11:15pm

I'll have to look for the Louis Rich brand as well. I've seen that brand of lunchmeats around here, but haven't noticed whether they stock the turkey bacon. We're well pleased with the Butterball. I doesn't look like regular bacon, but it has a nice taste and cooks up crispy like we all like it.

I also remember reading about the Jennie-O and have stayed away from it.

Rebekah








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iVillage Member
Registered: 09-02-2004
Mon, 10-27-2008 - 7:25am
What is the secret to getting it crispy? High or low heat? Frequent or infrequent turning?




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