The sound of bacon cooking on the stove and the wonderful smell of it are just as good of alarm clocks, if not better. Many people feel the same way about turkey bacon. Even the biggest bacon fans will lick their lips with hunger when they see a crispy slice of turkey bacon. Mel Magazine says this hybrid product is a new creation in the world of meat. It was made in the early 1970s to get more meat eaters interested in bacon. However, many people have been drawn to the turkey because it has less fat and calories because it has white meat added to it.
But this doesn’t mean turkey bacon is better for you than regular bacon, since Healthline says it usually has more sodium. Putting health aside, though, turkey bacon has gained a lot of fans since it was first made. As a result, many deli and meat brands have started selling their own versions of turkey bacon. You can put turkey bacon on a sandwich or eat it with a hearty breakfast. Here are ten popular brands of turkey bacon, ranked from worst to best with our rating system.
For many people, crispy bacon is an essential part of a satisfying breakfast. However, traditional pork bacon often contains nitrates for curing and preserving the meat. Some studies have linked nitrates to potential health risks like cancer when eaten in high amounts. This has led to more brands offering nitrate-free turkey bacon options to appeal to health-conscious consumers seeking an alternative.
But with so many turkey bacon brands now available, how do you know which ones are truly nitrate-free? I reviewed the top brands of turkey bacon to determine the best options for a flavorful yet nitrate-free start to your day
What Are Nitrates and Why Do Some Want to Avoid Them?
Nitrates are chemical compounds frequently used in processed and cured meats like bacon, deli meats and hot dogs. They help preserve the meat and give it that distinctive pink color.
However, some studies have found links between consuming large amounts of nitrates and nitrites and an increased risk of cancer. This is because under certain conditions in the body, nitrates can convert into nitrosamines, compounds that are considered carcinogenic.
While more research is still needed, some consumers prefer to take a precautionary approach and limit nitrates in their diets, especially when it comes to frequently-eaten foods like bacon.
For those wanting to reduce nitrate intake from processed meats, seeking out nitrate-free turkey bacon can be a healthier alternative to traditional pork bacon.
The Challenge of Finding Truly Nitrate-Free Turkey Bacon
When reviewing turkey bacon options, you’ll see many brands advertise themselves as “nitrate-free.” However, upon closer inspection of the ingredients list, many of these products replace sodium nitrate with “celery powder” or “celery juice powder.”
While this may sound harmless, these celery-based powders are actually naturally high in nitrates. Technically, the bacon can be advertised as “nitrate-free” since no man-made sodium nitrate was added. But these celery powders essentially function the same way during processing and curing, producing nitrates that end up in the final product.
This tricky labeling means you have to read turkey bacon ingredients carefully to find options without any added nitrates, whether man-made or from natural sources like celery powder. Below are the top genuinely nitrate-free turkey bacon brands I recommend based on thorough review of all ingredients lists.
The Best Nitrate-Free Turkey Bacon Brands
1. Applegate Organics Turkey Bacon
- No nitrates/nitrites from any source – no celery powder or other hidden nitrate sources
- USA-raised organic turkey – no antibiotics or added hormones
- Delicious smoky, savory flavor – tastes closest to traditional bacon
- 70 calories and 3g fat per slice – lower than most traditional pork bacon
Applegate Organics checks all the boxes for nitrate-free integrity. Their turkeys are humanely raised on a vegetarian diet without antibiotics. For curing they use only sea salt, cage-free eggs, vinegar and natural flavors. With amazing taste and texture, Applegate Organics Turkey Bacon is the closest I’ve found to real bacon without the nitrates.
2. Wellshire Sugar Free Uncured Turkey Bacon
- No nitrates – just turbinado sugar, sea salt and natural maple syrup
- Minimally processed – no artificial ingredients
- Hickory smoked – rich, smoky bacon flavor
- 45 calories per slice – lowest among all brands reviewed
Wellshire Farms Never Any! turkey bacon is a high quality minimally processed option. The turkeys are raised without antibiotics or animal by-products. Wellshire only uses simple natural ingredients to create an incredibly delicious nitrate-free turkey bacon with just the right amount of sweetness.
3. Naked Bacon Organic Uncured Turkey Bacon
- No nitrates/nitrites – uncured with just sea salt, vinegar and spices
- Certified humane and organic
- 60 calories per slice
- Nice crispy texture – fries up like traditional bacon
Naked Bacon’s organic uncured turkey bacon is a straightforward product using old world curing methods and better farming practices. With fry-up friendly slices, this bacon tastes like the real deal. Nice, crispy texture with bold, peppery flavor.
4. Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon
- No added nitrates – contains celery juice powder only
- Lower sodium option – 57% less than pork bacon
- Classic bacon smell and taste – kids love it!
- 2.5g fat per slice – lower fat option
Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon is a mainstream brand that manages to achieve nitrate-free status by using celery juice powder instead of sodium nitrate in curing. It’s a lower sodium choice that cooks up with that classic fatty bacon smell and taste kids love.
5. Butterball Everyday Turkey Bacon
- No nitrates added – contains celery juice powder
- AHA Heart-Check certified – meets criteria for heart health
- Lower calorie/fat – 60 cal, 2.5g fat per slice
- Affordable price – budget friendly
Butterball has created a reasonably priced nitrate-free turkey bacon by using trusty celery juice powder in processing. With a clean ingredients list and certification for heart health, Butterball’s budget-friendly bacon tastes fresh and mild.
What To Look For When Shopping for Nitrate-Free Turkey Bacon
When searching for nitrate-free turkey bacon options, keep these tips in mind:
-
Read the ingredients list – make sure there’s no sodium nitrate, potassium nitrate or nitrite listed. Also look out for celery juice powder, celery concentrate or celery extract, as these naturally contain high nitrate levels.
-
Check for independent certification – legitimate organic and uncured labels mean more oversight into processing methods and ingredients.
-
Know acceptable nitrate levels – Some residual nitrates can occur naturally in meats. Opt for brands with 10 ppm nitrate levels or less.
-
Consider skillet vs. microwave cooking – Frying creates more nitrosamines than microwave heating methods.
-
Check the brand’s transparency – Reputable natural or organic brands are transparent about processes and ingredients. Look for ones committed to healthier practices.
The Bottom Line on Nitrate-Free Turkey Bacon
If you love bacon but want to limit nitrate intake, quality turkey bacon can satisfy your craving. Independent organic brands like Applegate Organics and Wellshire Farms offer the best turkey bacon options that are genuinely nitrate-free, using only traditional curing methods.
Mainstream brands like Oscar Mayer and Butterball have also created reasonably healthy turkey bacon options using natural celery powder instead of sodium nitrate. Just be aware this celery powder still produces nitrates that end up in the final product.
While not exactly like the real thing, the top nitrate-free turkey bacon brands can provide a satisfying cooking experience and smoky flavor reminiscent of regular bacon. So you can feel good enjoying a healthier breakfast minus the controversial chemical compounds.
Sam’s Choice Uncured Turkey Bacon (Walmart)
It’s one of the biggest department stores in the world, with about 10,500 stores in many countries, mostly the U.S. but also other places. S. This chain has so many stores and an online store that it seems to have no limits. If you’ve never shopped at a Walmart, have you really shopped? Like Aldi, Walmart has its own lines of popular consumer goods and sells them at lower prices, like Sam’s Choice Uncured Turkey Bacon. This kind of meat is made from real smoked wood meat, costs less than $4 on the Walmart website, and has 70% less fat than most pork bacon.
Even though we wished there was a little more flavor in this turkey bacon, overall, it was a good bacon that we wouldnt mind eating on a sandwich. Each piece looked similar to a pork bacon slice, and was just as crispy. While it doesnt have the cult following that other turkey bacon does, it still has a good number of Walmart shoppers who enjoy its taste. One review on Influenster says, “The bacon is not too salty, it gets crispy, and tastes great to us. Its affordable and easy to find, we get it from Walmart.” The next time youre at your local Walmart, dont be shy to grab some of Sams Choice.
Fit & Active Turkey Bacon (Aldi’s)
Aldi is one of the most well-known grocery store chains because it sells a lot of different items at reasonable prices. If you can find it at Walmart or Whole Foods, you can probably get it cheaper at an Aldi. Turkey bacon is no exception, as Aldi carries its Fit & Active Turkey Bacon. Many people already think of turkey bacon as being healthier than pork bacon. But Aldis’ line of meat takes this one step further: each slice of turkey bacon has only 25 calories and no sugar. Also, each package has more than twenty slices, so you really are getting a lot for your money.
While we love the quantity of the bacon we got, we are really focused on the quality. It was more salty than most turkey bacon, which might or might not suit your tastes. How good for you the Fit One review on Influenster writes that the bacon is “not as good as the Oscar Meyer [sic] brand. This bacon is healthier than regular bacon. In my opinion the flavor is lacking. ” While this is great by Aldis standards, as far as turkey bacon goes, there are better-tasting options.
Turkey Bacon Brands Ranked From Worst To Best
FAQ
What turkey bacon is nitrate-free?
What brand of turkey bacon is the healthiest?
Is Oscar Mayer turkey bacon nitrate-free?
Does Trader Joe’s turkey bacon have nitrates?