5. Boar’s Head

It has been a very difficult tasking in attempting to score this Boar’s Head Bacon. With the prestigious reputation the Boar’s Head brand holds, how can I possibly speak negative words on any of their products. I mean, have y’all tried their ham? It rocks. They also make fantastic condiments for sandwiches. I never even heard of their bacon until recently and I knew I had to give it a try.

I was delighted when I first saw the package. This pack bears the celebrated Boar’s Head logo and doesn’t require any gimmicky colors or slogans to sell itself. One look and you know you have quality. When I opened the package, I noticed perfectly uniform slices throughout and some very decent marbling but not overly fatty. The thickness was somewhere between regular cut and thick cut, so it was near perfect on that end.

The flavor of the bacon was superb and possibly the most balanced bacon I’ve ever tried. The smokiness was just right and so was the saltiness. What an outstanding flavor all around. I was pleased that the bacon wasn’t too fatty and I enjoyed the hell out of every bite of this rich flavored smoky bacon strip. The strips were perfectly consistent in size after frying, which also helped the overall experience.

It’s not all roses for this pork bacon however. For some reason, these bacon strips are easier to burn than most. Possibly due to a somewhat lower fat content, but regardless, they tend to burn very easy before they crisp up. Another negative is the texture of the bacon. It is a little on the tough side. I tried frying crispy, I tried burnt, I tried a little under-cooked. No matter what I did, every strip was a little tough and somewhat chewy. This was very disappointing, but I don’t want yall to think it was bad. The chewiness was nothing like a beef jerky. It was only a little less than desirable. Most people prefer their bacon to snap (if they like it crispy, that is). This is a tough one to make into crumbled bacon, that’s for sure.

Overall, Boar’s Head Bacon was a very enjoyable experience but for some reason didn’t quite live up to their reputation. I was very surprised and maybe my expectations were high based solely on their standing as the “best pork products in America and Canada.” It’s a little on the pricier side and not as enjoyable as some less expensive brands I’ve tried. I likely won’t be buying Boar’s Head Bacon again unless I for some reason want to impress someone.

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