6 Bacon Brands That Fall Flat And 9 That Bring the Crispy, Smoky Goodness

Not all bacon is created equal. Some brands promise thick-cut or smoky flavor but deliver limp slices, weird textures, or way too much fat and salt. If you’re tired of bacon that disappoints when it hits the pan, here’s a breakdown of which ones to skip—and which ones actually live up to the hype, crisp up beautifully, and taste like real bacon should.

1. Great Value (Walmart Brand) Bacon

Inconsistent slices, overly fatty, and cooks down to almost nothing—cheap but not worth it.

2. Bar-S Bacon

One of the lowest-rated in blind taste tests. Often rubbery, greasy, and lacking real smoke flavor.

3. Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon

Despite the name, it often tastes overly processed with a chemical-smoke aftertaste.

4. Smithfield Hometown Original Bacon

Tends to be super salty with very little actual pork flavor—plus it shrinks a lot when cooked.

5. Aldi’s Appleton Farms Bacon (Standard Cut)

Inexpensive, but frequently thin, uneven, and doesn’t crisp up well without burning.

6. Farmland Hickory Smoked Bacon

Hickory in name only—more salty than smoky, and prone to curling up unevenly in the pan.

7. Wright Brand Bacon

Thick-cut, deeply smoky, and consistently meaty. It’s pricier, but worth it for real bacon lovers.

8. Nueske’s Applewood Smoked Bacon

Award-winning flavor, perfect balance of sweet and smoke, and incredible crispiness without drying out.

9. Applegate Naturals Uncured Bacon

Clean ingredients, no added nitrates, and still delivers big on flavor and crisp texture.

10. Hormel Black Label Thick-Cut Bacon

A supermarket staple that actually holds up—crispy edges, bold smoke flavor, and hearty slices.

11. Trader Joe’s Uncured Dry Rubbed Bacon

Rich flavor with a good meat-to-fat ratio. Slightly sweet, slightly smoky, and great in sandwiches or salads.

12. Benton’s Smoky Mountain Country Bacon

Old-school, intensely smoky, and thick-sliced. A Southern cult favorite that adds punch to any dish.

13. Pederson’s Natural Farms Bacon

Sugar-free and uncured but still loaded with savory flavor—great for low-carb or keto diets.

14. Black Forest Thick Cut Bacon

Usually found in deli cases or specialty markets, this German-style bacon brings deep savory flavor and a tender chew.

15. Kirkland Signature (Costco) Bacon

Great quality for the price—thick, meaty slices that crisp evenly and hold up well for big breakfasts or meal prep.