The intoxicating aroma of bacon sizzling on the stove is a great reason to make your own bacon crumbles, but it’s a messy job that takes time. It’s much easier to open a bag of pre-cooked, pre-crumbled bacon — if, that is, it tastes good.
Not to be confused with those bright red imitation “bacon” bits, bacon crumbles are real pieces of smoky, rich meat that can be stirred into mac and cheese, sprinkled on a baked potato, mixed into quiche or scattered on pizza.
Typically found near the salad dressings, bags and jars of real bacon bits come in various styles, including cured and uncured, chunks and granules. Some include artificial flavorings such as hickory or maple, others are just bacon, with few other ingredients. All bacon bits made with real bacon are labeled “real,” and none have that signature crispiness of just-fried bacon.
Are bacon bits healthy? Of course not. They’re salty, cured pork tossed with preservatives to keep them moist and fresh. But they are convenient — and delicious, if they’re made right. Great bacon bits look like bacon and are meaty, smoky and rich without being too fatty or salty. Bad crumbles are fake-food bombs laced with toxic flavors, or they’re so salty the bacon flavor is lost.
It’s important to know that bacon pieces or bits found on the salad or meat aisles are shelf stable — until they are opened. Once opened, they must be refrigerated. They last about 3 weeks in the fridge.
Here’s the scoop on the pre-cooked bits guaranteed to amp up flavor in any dish — and the gnarly, oddball chunks that punish the tastebuds. Nutrition info refers to 1 tablespoon of crumbles.
Oscar Mayer Real Bacon Recipe Pieces
The balance of flavors in these generous-sized crumbles is pleasant. They’re both salty and sweet, like an applewood-smoked slice of bacon. 30 calories, 2 g fat, 160 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $2.50 for 2.8 ounces at Raley’s. (4 stars)
Kirkland Bacon Crumbles
These chewy bits taste exactly like the low-sodium version of Kirkland brand bacon. The flavor is clean, and the pieces are large enough to stand-in for fresh-cooked. 30 calories, 2.5 g fat, 100 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $8.89 for 1.25 pounds at Costco. (3½ stars)
Epic Uncured Hickory Bacon Bits
One of the healthier bacon pieces on the market, these chunky squares are nitrate- and nitrite-free, and hard to fault. They’re smoky and tasty, but a bit too large in size — and incredibly pricey. 30 calories, 2 g fat, 105 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $7.39 for 3 ounces at Whole Foods. (3½ stars)
Signature Real Bacon Pieces
Those who like their bacon bits large and chewy will appreciate these. They’re about ¼-inch and they taste like a well cooked slice of meaty, smoky bacon. They lose a point for being way too salty. 25 calories, 1.5 g fat, 210 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $2.99 for 2.8 ounces at Safeway. (2½ stars)
Hormel Real Crumbled Bacon
A sprinkling of these bitty granules will add a big dose of salt to your dish — but surprisingly little bacon flavor. 25 calories, 1.5 g fat, 210 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $5.69 for 4.3 ounces at Raley’s. (1½ stars)
Fairbury Fully Cooked Real Bacon Bits
The overpowering flavor of imitation hickory in these attacks the tastebuds. If you must eat these, do so in minuscule amounts. 30 calories, 2 g fat, 190 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $9.99 for 1 pound at Smart & Final. (1 star)
Great Value Real Bacon Pieces
These need a warning label: Not for human consumption. Wicked flavor and more fat than meat make these mini-bits the ones to avoid. 30 calories, 2 g fat, 160 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $1.64 for 2.5 ounces at Walmart. (No stars)
Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.
