Bacon is a popular breakfast food and snack ingredient loved by many for its smoky, salty, umami flavor. Smithfield is one of the largest pork producers and bacon manufacturers in the United States. Their thick cut bacon is widely available in grocery stores across the country. But is Smithfield thick cut bacon better than other brands? What makes it stand out? Let’s take a closer look at Smithfield thick cut bacon, its qualities, nutrition facts, and how it compares to other bacons on the market.
What is Smithfield thick cut bacon?
Smithfield thick cut bacon refers to bacon slices that are cut thicker than traditional breakfast bacon. While regular sliced bacon is around 1/16 inches thick, Smithfield thick cut slices are approximately 1/8 inches thick, giving each slice more body and substance. Smithfield thick cut bacon is made from pork belly that is cured, smoked, and sliced to produce rashers with signature Smithfield wood smoked flavor and marbling.
The thicker cut means each slice has a higher ratio of meat to fat. This gives the bacon a pleasantly substantial texture and more pronounced meaty pork flavor when cooked, with crisp yet tender chew. Thicker slices also hold up better when cooking compared to flimsier regular cut bacon that can overcook quickly and shrivel up.
Key Features
– Thicker cut – approximately 1/8 inch slices
– Made from pork belly
– Hardwood smoked
– Higher meat to fat ratio
– Produced by Smithfield, a major U.S. pork supplier
– No added nitrates or nitrites
– Gluten free
– Keto friendly
Nutritional Information
Smithfield thick cut bacon delivers robust bacon flavor in every bite. But how does it compare nutrition wise to regular bacon? Here is the nutritional information per slice (21g) of Smithfield thick cut bacon:
| Calories | 50 |
|---|---|
| Fat | 4g |
| Saturated Fat | 1.5g |
| Trans Fat | 0g |
| Cholesterol | 15mg |
| Sodium | 180mg |
| Carbohydrates | 0g |
| Sugars | 0g |
| Protein | 5g |
The calorie and fat content of Smithfield thick cut bacon is comparable to regular sliced bacon. Each slice provides 50 calories, 4g of fat, and 1.5g of saturated fat. As expected with any bacon, the sodium level is quite high at 180mg per slice.
The increased slice thickness means you get more protein (5g) than a typical thin slice of bacon, while still keeping carbohydrates and sugars at 0g. Overall, from a nutrient standpoint, Smithfield thick cut bacon offers great porky bacon flavor with a similar nutrition profile to regular sliced bacon.
How Does it Taste?
Flavor and texture are what make bacon so craveable, so how does Smithfield thick cut stack up in these categories? Here is a look at the pros and cons of its taste:
Pros
– Generous smoky flavor – hardwood smoking gives it robust smoky bacon taste
– Meaty texture – slice thickness means you get more meaty bite instead of flimsy bacon
– Pepper seasoning adds flavor without overpowering
– Balance of salty and savory
– Crispy yet tender when cooked properly
– Works well in recipes like bacon wrapped appetizers, sandwiches, etc.
Cons
– Can have slightly uneven texture since it’s thick hand sliced
– Requires more precise cooking time – thin bacon crisps up quicker
– Stronger pork flavor may not appeal to those who only like ultra smoky bacon
– Saltiness can vary between batches
Overall, Smithfield thick cut bacon delivers on rich, wood smoked bacon flavor with pleasing texture from the extra thickness. It may require slightly more finesse to cook, but nicely crisped thick slices are hard to beat. Those who crave intense smoky flavor may find the porkiness overpowers the smoke. But for bacon lovers, Smithfield thick cut has an appetizing balance of salty, savory and tender.
How Does Smithfield Thick Cut Bacon Compare to Other Brands?
Smithfield is one of the major national brands when it comes to packaged bacon. Here is how thick cut Smithfield stacks up against some other top bacon brands:
Oscar Mayer
– More affordable, lower price point
– Thinner slices
– Milder smoke flavor
– Prone to shrinking/crisping more when cooked
– Include nitrates/nitrites
Hormel Black Label
– Similar thick cut style
– Pepper coating adds spice
– Slightly less salty than Smithfield
– Leans more savory than smoky
Wright
– Thinner cut than Smithfield thick
– Abundant hickory smoke flavor
– Higher sodium content
– Prone to greasiness
Farmland
– Lower cost option
– Thin sliced like Oscar Mayer
– Very crisp texture when cooked
– Less meaty, more greasy mouthfeel
Nueske’s
– Artisanal style smoked meats
– Very pronounced smoky flavor
– Most expensive option
– Lower fat ratio for leaner bacon
In comparison, Smithfield brings nice balance of value, flavor, and texture with their thick cut bacon. The thickness brings more hearty meatiness without veering into too fatty or too smoky flavor profiles. Overall it delivers great classic bacon taste and satisfaction.
Best Uses for Smithfield Thick Cut Bacon
The extra thickness of Smithfield bacon lends itself well to certain cooking applications. Here are some of the best uses to highlight its texture and flavor:
Baked Potatoes
Thick cut slices bake up nice and crisp; perfect topped on loaded baked potatoes.
Carbonara
The higher meat-to-fat ratio gives great bacon flavor to pasta carbonara.
Breakfast Sandwiches
Holds up well when cooked and adds great crunch to breakfast sandwiches.
Wrapped Scallops or Shrimp
Adds wonderful smoky, salty flavor when wrapped around seafood before grilling or broiling.
Soups and Salads
Crispy cooked crumbles provide nice bacon bit topping and seasoning.
Burgers
Thick bacon slices pair perfectly for bacon cheeseburgers.
The thickness allows Smithfield bacon to shine when you want hearty bacon texture and flavor. It does require a few extra minutes cook time compared to thin bacon but delivers satisfying results.
Cost and Value
Smithfield thick cut bacon offers pleasing quality and taste at a reasonable price point. It costs a bit more than basic thin sliced bacon but less than premium artisanal brands. The value matches its positioning as a leading mainstream packaged bacon option. You get noticeably better texture and flavor than cheap thin bacon without paying premium artisanal pricing.
Depending on promotions and sales, expect to pay around $6-7 USD for a one pound package of Smithfield thick cut bacon. This puts it on the lower end of mid-tier bacon pricing, at around 25-50% more than basic thin sliced store brands. In return you get great tasty bacon for everyday cooking or special recipes.
Downsides
While Smithfield thick cut bacon hits the mark on flavor and texture, there are a few downsides to consider:
– Higher price than basic thin sliced bacon
– Requires more precision when cooking due to thick slices
– Stronger pork flavor than just smoky taste
– Sodium and saturated fat content typical of regular bacon
– Potential for inconsistent sizing between slices
– May shrink more than expected if overcooked
The thicker hand sliced nature means you lose a bit of uniformity and need to adjust cooking times. The heartier pork flavor could also be overpowering for those who only enjoy really smoky bacon. But for most bacon aficionados, Smithfield thick cut bacon brings welcome thickness and taste without notable drawbacks.
Conclusion
Smithfield delivers a tasty and satisfying thick cut bacon option that performs well for everyday cooking. The thicker slices provide hearty bacon flavor and pleasantly crisp yet tender texture when cooked properly. Flavor is a nice balance of smoky, salty, and savory porkiness. While not the intensely smoked taste of artisanal bacon, Smithfield thick cut offers very solid quality at a reasonable price point. It brings noticeable improvement in flavor and enjoyment over basic thin bacon. Overall Smithfield thick cut bacon earns strong marks for taste and texture that bacon lovers will appreciate.