I’m a big fan of center cut bacon and the only stuff I’m able to reliably find is Oscar Mayer. I’ve been buying a pack every 2-3 weeks for about 6 months now. Before that, I bought it sporadically for about a year.
The last 2 months (and 3 packages) have been significantly fattier than any previous package. Now, they’re not as fatty as a regular pack of bacon but they’re certainly not up to par with the past yearish of purchases. I even purchased one of the last 3 packs at a totally different grocery store to see if it was just that particular store’s shipment and it was still as fatty.
I’ve had to trim off a top layer of fat of each slice in these 3 packs. A solid layer of fat exists that never did before.
Has anyone else experienced the same thing? And does anyone have a recommendation for getting very lean bacon in the future?
You do know that cooking renders most of the fat into liquid form right? And that fat is where the flavor comes from? And that fat is full of meat that will appear after cooking?
The amount of visible fat in bacon varies a lot. What type of pig, how big it is, when it’s slaughtered, what it’s fed, any many other factors affect this. Since bacon is sold by the pound, this shouldn’t affect your value since fat weighs much less than meat. If you really don’t want the fat (for reasons I fail to comprehend), just trim it as you did. The best quality bacon, center cut or otherwise, should contain a thick layer of belly fat. For packaged brands, I’ve found Oscar and Boar’s Head offer the best quality. It will vary greatly by region for the smaller brands.
Perhaps a stupid suggestion, but if you really want very lean bacon, have you tried Canadian bacon, (i.e., smoked and cured pork loin)? It’s not the same as bacon made from pork bellies, but if you want meaty bacon flavor without the calories/fat, it’s in the same ballpark. I grew up on Canadian bacon-and-eggs (mom would generally lay down a layer of Canadian bacon in the pan, cook it halfway, then crack eggs over them and cook 'em sunny side up)–great way to have the general flavor of bacon without the calories.
The best commercial bacon I’ve had is Neuske’s. I don’t know if they sell it out where you’re at. It’s a Wisconsin brand. I can’t speak to its leanness, though, just its flavor and quality.
I spend an inordinate amount of time going through EVERY SINGLE PACKAGE OF BACON. Hubster is quite particular in what he likes, and there can be tremendous differences from one package to the next. I try to be civilized, though, and put the packages back the way I found them.
~VOW
If you’re in Kentucky or a neighboring state, look for Broadbent bacon. Best I’ve had by a country mile. It’s shelf-stable, so it can be shipped without ridiculous measures, too. It’s seriously wonderful stuff.
