Applegate, Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon, 8oz
✅ PROS
- Organic, uncured pork with zero nitrates or nitrites — just celery powder and sea salt
- Thick-cut slices hold up beautifully in a pan without curling or shriveling to nothing
- Clean, smoky flavor that actually tastes like pork, not salt and chemicals
❌ CONS
- Premium price point — expect to pay roughly double conventional bacon per ounce
- 8oz package yields fewer slices than standard 12oz or 16oz bacon packs
- Some batches can be inconsistently sliced, with a few ragged-edged pieces
The Verdict
Let’s be direct about what we’re dealing with here. This is not your diner’s bacon. Applegate’s Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon is the product you buy when you’ve read the ingredient list on standard bacon and decided you’re done with sodium nitrite. At 4.7 stars across 235 Amazon ratings, it’s clearly resonating with shoppers who take their pork seriously.
What’s actually in the package
You get an 8-ounce package of thick-cut bacon slices, typically running 10-12 slices per pack depending on how the butcher’s knife lands that day. As shown in the product image, it’s vacuum-sealed in Applegate’s familiar packaging — nothing fancy, but functionally sound. The pork is certified organic, humanely raised, and contains no antibiotics. The curing process uses celery powder (which naturally contains nitrates) and sea salt instead of synthetic sodium nitrite. If you’re shopping for genuinely uncured bacon, this qualifies.
How it performs in the kitchen
Here’s where this bacon earns its keep. The thick cut means it renders slowly and evenly. In a cast iron skillet over medium heat, expect about 6-8 minutes per side to reach that crispy-but-chewy sweet spot. It doesn’t curl into contorted shapes like thin commercial bacon, and it holds up well as a structural component in BLTs or wrapped around scallops. The fat renders cleanly — you’ll get a decent amount of liquid gold for cooking greens or eggs afterward.
Flavor-wise, this tastes like pork first, smoke second. The smoke profile is present but restrained compared to heavily smoked mass-market brands. It’s salty, but not aggressively so. One Amazon reviewer put it well: “I didn’t realize how much chemical aftertaste regular bacon had until I tried this. Now I can’t go back.”
What buyers consistently praise
Across the reviews, three themes dominate. First, the clean ingredient list — parents especially appreciate feeding this to kids without the nitrite concern. Second, the texture: thick, meaty slices that don’t disintegrate. Third, the flavor balance. Another reviewer noted, “It’s the only bacon my wife will eat now. We’ve bought it four times in two months.”
Where it falls short
Let’s be honest about the tradeoffs. At roughly $8-9 for 8 ounces, you’re paying a significant premium — about double what conventional bacon costs per ounce. The smaller package also means fewer slices per purchase; if you’re feeding a family of four, one pack barely covers a weekend breakfast. A handful of reviewers mentioned inconsistent slicing, with a few pieces coming out thinner or more ragged than others. It’s not a dealbreaker, but for the price point, you’d hope for more uniformity.
Who should buy this
You’re the target buyer if you prioritize clean eating, avoid synthetic nitrates, or appreciate genuinely thick-cut bacon that doesn’t shrink to half its size in the pan. It’s also a strong choice for anyone hosting brunch who wants to serve something that tastes artisanal. Skip it if you’re on a tight grocery budget, need volume for bulk cooking, or prefer heavily smoked, diner-style bacon.
Real questions shoppers ask
Is the celery powder actually nitrate-free? Technically, celery powder contains naturally occurring nitrates. Applegate’s process is USDA-certified as uncured, meaning no synthetic nitrates were added. If you’re avoiding nitrates entirely for health reasons, consult your doctor — this is a gray area.
How does it freeze? Excellent. Portion it into zip-top bags, press out the air, and it’ll hold for up to three months without significant flavor loss. Thaw overnight in the fridge.
Is it worth the premium over conventional bacon? If you’re buying for taste and texture alone, maybe not. If you’re buying for the organic certification, humane animal treatment, and clean ingredient list, yes — that’s what the premium buys.
The verdict
Applegate Organic Uncured Sunday Bacon delivers on its promises: clean ingredients, solid texture, and genuinely good flavor. The premium price and smaller package are real drawbacks, but for shoppers who prioritize what goes into their food, this is the bacon to beat.
Buy it if: You want thick-cut, organic bacon without synthetic nitrites and don’t mind paying for the quality. Skip it if: You’re feeding a crowd on a budget or prefer the heavy smoke flavor of conventional bacon.
Rating: 4.6/5 — premium quality, premium price, and a few minor consistency quirks keep it just short of perfect.
Where to Buy
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Last updated: 2026-08-06. Ratings and prices current as of review date. Verify on Amazon before purchasing.