During the late seventies and eighties, Sizzlean was a popular bacon alternative produced by Swift & Co. The breakfast strips were sold as a healthier alternative to bacon because they had less fat and shrunk less than regular pork bacon. Sizzlean was supposedly 50% leaner than pork belly bacon, in fact, although it actually contained 37% fat. And let’s be honest, if it didn’t, it wouldn’t have tasted as good. Most sites that talk about nostalgia or food history seem to think of Sizzlean as one of those crazy 1980s ideas that should be thrown away.
People think that products are only taken off the market because they don’t sell, which isn’t true. In truth, Sizzlean did not fail, at least not in that way. Did it outsell bacon? No. Was it successful? Yes.
As people who grew up in the 1970s, 1980s, and 1990s, Sizzlean bacon is very important to us. This alternative to bacon that was leaner and meatier tasted great and made us feel a little less bad about eating salty, savory breakfast meat.
But at some point in the early 2000s, Sizzlean simply disappeared from grocery store shelves, leaving many fans wondering what happened to this beloved product. So do they still make Sizzlean bacon? Let’s take a nostalgic walk down memory lane and get to the bottom of the mystery
What Exactly Was Sizzlean?
It was marketed by Swift as a healthier alternative to regular pork bacon when it first came out. Turkey, pork, and beef were mixed together to make it. It had about half the fat of regular bacon.
The meat components were ground finely and molded into thin breakfast strips meant to mimic the look and crunchy texture of bacon. When cooked up in a pan, those signature little bubbles of fat would form, providing plenty of sizzle and flavor
In terms of taste, Sizzlean was smoky, salty, and meaty just like bacon, but with a chewier, jerky-like texture. The fat content allowed it to fry up nice and crisp. To kids in the 80s, it was delicious!
Sizzlean was never going to completely replace good old pork belly bacon. But with its promise of less fat and calories, it carved out a nice little niche as a tasty bacon alternative
How Popular Was Sizzlean Really?
Despite what many websites claim, Sizzlean did not fail due to lack of sales. While it never dominated the market share like bacon, it maintained steady sales for over 20 years from the late 70s through the 90s.
In taste tests, consumers often ranked it second only to regular bacon, and far above turkey bacon. Sizzlean’s fun, sizzling TV commercials became nostalgic pop culture references for generations of kids who grew up with it.
By no means was Sizzlean a runaway hit. But it succeeded in its market position as a reduced fat breakfast meat for the health conscious bacon lover.
So why did it ultimately get discontinued?
When Did Sizzlean Disappear?
Throughout the 80s and 90s, Sizzlean maintained its status as a readily available grocery store staple. But by the early 2000s, production started slowing down. It became harder to find on store shelves.
Most accounts point to Sizzlean being completely phased out around 2005. After close to 30 years in production, the Sizzlean era quietly came to an end.
Why Did They Stop Making Sizzlean?
When beloved food products disappear, we naturally assume it’s because people stopped buying them. But that doesn’t seem to be the case with Sizzlean.
When Swift & Co, Sizzlean’s original producer, was acquired by ConAgra Foods in 1990, they continued making it. But at some point in the early 2000s, ConAgra chose to discontinue Sizzlean, along with some other niche meat products in their portfolio.
Large food conglomerates like ConAgra own many brands and products. As product lines get shuffled around, consolidated, bought and sold, some “orphan brands” fall between the cracks even if they maintained decent sales.
Sizzlean may have simply been a casualty of corporate consolidation rather than lack of consumer demand. It’s also possible that declining profit margins played a role as well. But its loyal fan base proves that Sizzlean still had plenty of consumer appeal when it disappeared.
Could Sizzlean Make a Comeback?
The Sizzlean trademark is still owned by a company called Quality Brands that acquires and licenses well-known brand names. This means that while the original Sizzlean as we knew it is gone, there’s a possibility that the name could appear again on a new product.
So could Sizzlean make a nostalgic comeback? Many Gen Xers and Millennials who fondly remember it certainly hope so! Here are some key factors that could influence relaunching Sizzlean:
Health Trends
With current interest in high protein, lower carb diets, Sizzlean’s meaty nutritional profile could make it on-trend again. Products like turkey bacon surged back thanks to keto and paleo diet fads. Sizzlean may be poised for a comeback for health-conscious consumers.
Specialty/Nostalgia Foods
Vintage products from the 70s, 80s, and 90s are having a major renaissance right now. Familiar comfort foods offer both tasty nostalgia and novelty appeal. Specialty retailers like Trader Joe’s have been bringing back discontinued classics to tap into this demand. Reviving Sizzlean could catch this wave.
Consumer Pressure
Food companies have started tuning into social media to make decisions about reviving products. Consumers tweet, start petitions, and reach out actively to brands about discontinued favorites. With enough grassroots enthusiasm voiced online, Sizzlean could return by popular demand!
For now, Sizzlean remains an elusive white whale product that can only be found on eBay or in our fond childhood memories. But never say never! With some convergence of health trends, consumer demand, and nostalgia, our beloved low-fat bacon could sizzle again.
Filling the Sizzlean-Shaped Hole: Beef Bacon
Since authentic Sizzlean is no longer made, finding a similar bacon alternative can help fill the craving. While turkey bacon has become widely available, it doesn’t quite capture Sizzlean’s meaty flavor. But there are a few beef bacons still made today that come closer.
Brands Still Producing Beef Bacon
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Nueske’s Beef Bacon – Smoky and rich-tasting beef belly bacon
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Jacobs Cattle Co Beef Bacon – Beef brisket bacon with marbling for flavor
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Kiolbassa Beef Bacon – Texas-style smoked beef bacon from beef shoulder
These specialty beef bacons are sourced from leaner cuts than pork belly. The meatier flavor profile and texture makes them the closest substitutes for good old Sizzlean.
Tips for Cooking Beef Bacon
Cooking beef bacon takes some slight technique adjustments from pork:
- Use medium vs. high heat to avoid overcooking
- Cook a few minutes longer than pork since beef is leaner
- Bake in oven on a rack to allow fat drainage
- Fold over strips while cooking to get crispy edges
When prepared properly, beef bacon can provide a satisfying salty, smoky, savory fix for us Sizzlean lovers! It’s not an exact match, but may come closest to scratching that discontinued bacon itch.
Reliving the Glory Days (For Now)
Sizzlean holds such nostalgia because it takes us right back to being a kid in the 80s or 90s, eagerly waiting for that lean bacon sizzle. Through rose-colored glasses, it symbolizes a simpler time of Saturday morning cartoons, family breakfasts, and blissful ignorance of calories.
While we await the possible return of Sizzlean, we can keep our memories alive on Reddit threads, YouTube videos, and food blogs reminiscing about iconic foods from the past. Sizzlean may be gone, but it still holds a special place in our collective pop culture hearts and stomachs.
For now, I’ll be stocking up on beef bacon, firing up some Nena on my Walkman, and happily remembering just how great Sizzlean really was. Here’s hoping it comes back someday!
Move Over Bacon, Now There’s Something Leaner!
Commercials for the product started with the tagline “Don’t bring the bacon, bring home the Sizzlean. Later came “Move over, bacon, there’s something leaner!” and “Move over, bacon, now there’s something meatier!”.
1978 Sizzlean Commercial
1982 Sizzlean Commercial
When Was Sizzlean Discontinued?
This product and others like it, like Firebrand beef breakfast strips, never had a big share of the bacon market, but they sold well for a long time.
Sizzlean was sold in the 1980s and 1990s, but by the early 2000s, it was almost impossible to find. It was completely discontinued by 2005. It’s like Jello Pudding Pops: a lot of people remember it fondly and want to know why it’s not sold anymore.
1985 Sizzlean “Move over Bacon” TV Commercial
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