It's no secret that the keto diet is one of the most popular choices for a diet plan. It helps the body achieve the metabolic state of ketosis by focusing on low-carb, high-fat food, which promotes rapid fat burning and weight loss.

Also, if you think the ketogenic diet is all about saying goodbye to your favorite food, such as bacon, then you are wrong. Trust us; you don't have to settle for "diet food" just because you are on a low carb diet.

In fact, you can easily include delicious and satisfying sugar-free bacon on a healthy keto diet. Because it contains a good balance of proteins, fats, and is a low-carb food, sugar-free bacon has become popular among keto dieters.

However, whether you are considering a keto diet plan for health and fitness or maintaining blood sugar levels, finding quality products that fit your lifestyle can be challenging.

Today, our guide will cover the best and worst brands of bacon for a keto lifestyle, tips for making the right choice, and more – so stay tuned!

Best Bacon Brands for Keto

When looking for keto-friendly bacon, there were a couple of standards we wanted to meet to ensure you are enjoying the highest quality delicious bacon on the market. The standards are:

1. Must be made with high quality organic ingredients.
2. No added sugar or artificial sweeteners, especially high fructose corn syrup.
3. Must be uncured bacon.

Here are some of the best bacon brands that met our criteria that we think you will love! All these brands of bacon can be bought at your local grocery store or online.

Pederson's Farms, Organic Pork Bacon -  Uncured and No sugar added hickory smoked bacon. We recommend Pederson uncured bacon as the best option for a keto diet.

The team at Pederson is highly committed to animal care and raises them on a 100% vegetarian and antibiotic-free diet.

Bacon manufactured in the Pederson farm is nitrate, msg, and gluten-free. It contains 6 grams of protein, 250 mg of sodium, and 0 g of net carbs per serving!

Applegate Organic Hickory Smoked - Sugar-free Uncured Pork bacon. Applegate Organic bacon is popular amongst individuals who love following a keto lifestyle.

The uncured bacon contains 6 g of protein, 310 mg of sodium, zero total carbs, and no sugar per serving. Isn’t that amazing?

As a result, they are 100% Keto approved. The bacon is sourced from pork raised without any hormones or antibiotics. Their pork products contain no artificial ingredients or preservatives and are free from phosphate and nitrate.

Wellshire Farms Organic - Sugar Free Uncured Turkey Bacon. This brand is one of the best options for Keto as it contains 6 g of protein and 200 mg of sodium and zero net carbs in every serving.

The farm has many bacon varieties, all of which claim to be keto-friendly. Its best types include organic sugar-free bacon and uncured Canadian bacon.

The animals have many outdoor and indoor spaces and are fed a 100% vegetarian diet, producing a high-quality product.

Things to Look for When Selecting Keto-Friendly Bacon

• Examine the Ingredients - In general, bacon with fewer added ingredients is outstanding in terms of quality. Artificial flavors and preservatives found in many bacon products may be harmful to your health and will also shrink during cooking, leaving you smaller strips of bacon as an end product.
• Keep an eye out for Nitrates - Nitrates are naturally occurring chemicals that are used as preservatives and flavor enhancers in cured and processed foods. Therefore, consuming bacon that isn't high in nitrates is a healthier choice.
• Look out for sugar - Many brands of bacon have added sugar. It is best to avoid buying any bacon product with added sugar or artificial sweeteners. There are many names for sugar on the nutrition labels, so you can check for them in the form of honey, molasses, maple syrup, sugarcane, sugar, fructose syrup, corn syrup etc.
• Sodium - High sodium has been linked to water retention issues, such as weight gain and bloating. There are also concerns related to heart health. Therefore, monitor the sodium levels per serving and adjust your meals for the recommended daily intake.
• Sulfates - These are chemical preservatives used to increase the shelf life of bacon. They give bacon its attractive color, and this preservative has been shown to cause serious health issues such as diarrhea, low blood pressure, and stomach pain. Avoid the brands including sulfates in the product labeling.

Types of Bacon

Here are some of the most popular types of bacon you may see stocked in the refrigerator section of the grocery store.

Regular Bacon: It is made using pork belly and includes distinct strips of marbled pink meat and white fat. Sometimes also referred to as Streaky Bacon.

Center-cut Bacon: A type of regular bacon with the fatty ends cut off.

Thick-cut Bacon: It is streaky bacon that is cut into strips. These are about twice as thick as those of regular bacon. 

Slab bacon: A cured pork belly that has not been cut or trimmed. It can be cut into matchstick shapes to form bacon lardons. 

Dixie Bacon: It is made from pork cheeks, aka jowls, and is popularly called jowl bacon.

Turkey Bacon: A healthy choice, made from a mixture of light and dark turkey meat and seasoned to resemble bacon. 

Pancetta: A type of Italian Bacon made using pork belly. It is often heavily spiced and air-dried to produce a concentrated flavor.

Canadian Bacon: This type of bacon is made from a hog's back. It is leaner than slab or center-cut bacon and undergoes a heavy curing process similar to other bacon varieties. 

Is uncured bacon better for Keto?

Uncured bacon is meat that has been cured with natural nitrates, like celery powder.

Cured bacon on the other hand uses salt and artificial chemical additives like sodium nitrate and sodium nitrite.

These chemicals used during the curing process, prevent the growth of bacteria and extend the product's shelf life. However, this process is often associated with health risks such as cancer due to the use of some chemicals.

So, the bottom line is: if you choose to eat bacon, opt for uncured varieties whenever possible  – even if it costs more and has a shorter shelf life.

Worst Brands of Bacon for Keto Diet

The worst bacon brands for Keto contain sugar and excess sodium nitrate. Below we have compiled a list of bacon brands that consist of ingredients you should definitely try to avoid:

• Boar's head- maple brown sugar bacon.
• Hormel- black label microwave ready.
• Kroger- hardwood smoked bacon.
• Kroger- applewood smoked bacon.
• Oscar Mayer- Original Turkey bacon.
• Hempler's- Pork shoulder bacon.
• Private Selection- Center-cut double-smoked bacon.
• Oscar Mayer- cooked maple bacon.

Nutritional information for the Best Keto Bacon

Two bacon slices of the Applegate Organic Hickory Smoked - Sugar-free Uncured Pork Bacon contains 70 calories, 5g of fat, 6 grams of protein, 310mg of sodium, 0g of total carbs, and 0g of fiber.

Two slices of the Pederson's Farms, Organic Pork Bacon -  Uncured and no sugar added hickory smoked bacon contains 60 calories, 4 grams of fat, 4 grams of protein, 460mg of sodium, 0g of total carbs, and 0g of fiber.

Two slices of bacon of the Wellshire Farms Organic - Sugar Free Uncured Turkey Bacon contains 90 calories, 4 grams of fat, 12 grams of protein, 400mg of sodium, 0g of total carbs, and 0g of fiber.

Bacon contains essential nutrients like:

• Vitamins - B1, B2, B3, B5, B6 and B12
• Selenium
• Phosphorus
• Minerals - Iron, Magnesium, Zinc, and Potassium

Types of Keto Bacon

When it comes to bacon, there are several different types of meat that can be used. The three most popular types include-

• Pork Bacon - When it comes to bacon, most people think of it as pork bacon, and why not? It is the most popular type of bacon and is made from pork belly, and is typically smoked or cured.
• Turkey bacon - is a leaner option and is made using ground turkey meat.
• Beef Bacon - On the other hand, beef bacon is made from beef brisket and has a more robust flavor than pork or turkey bacon.

All these bacon types can be keto-friendly, because they are high in fat and low in carbs, as long as they have no sugar added. This makes them perfect for the ketogenic diet.

How is Bacon Made?

For a long time, crispy bacon has been a favorite at breakfast tables. With its rich and salty taste, the versatile meat will continue to hold onto its popularity for years to come. 

To turn meat into bacon, it has to go through a curing process.

The traditional method of curing was known as dry curing. In this, the raw bacon is rubbed with salt and other seasonings, imparting flavors and curing the meat over time.

Most bacon today is cured through wet curing, where ingredients like salt, sugar, sodium nitrate, and potentially other chemicals are mixed to create a brine. The meat then soaks in the brine or is injected with the brine.

After being cured, bacon is rinsed off and dried, and it goes into a smoker for further preservation and flavoring. 

Smoking is done at low heat to add flavor to the bacon without cooking. The wood chips used in the smoker add a specific flavor, whether it be hickory, cherry, or applewood.

What type of bacon is the healthiest?

Pork bacon is a fatty meat that has a high sodium content, so even though you would like to eat as much pork bacon as you please, moderation is key.

If you are looking to swap your breakfast for a healthier and more flavorful bacon that is ideal for a keto diet, look no further than uncured, sugar free turkey bacon for delicious flavor and nutritional value.

It is a fantastic low-fat protein that doesn't skimp on taste and is perfect to add a boost of flavor and texture to your healthy recipes.

There are several brands offering turkey bacon with great taste and low-fat content. When selecting the healthiest choice for your needs, you should consider factors such as added sugar, sodium levels, and artificial preservatives. 

Conclusion

Simply put, bacon is a great option for the keto diet plan, but you must ensure the brand you choose is uncured and sugar-free. The best bacon for keto diet is made with organic meat and nitrate free, which is why it is always important to check the labels.

Bacon is part of a healthy keto diet. And if you stick to the serving sizes and eat in moderation, you will maintain a healthy balance of fats and proteins while staying on track with your ketogenic lifestyle.

Easy keto recipes with bacon

Keto Cheeseburger casserole - is meaty, cheesy, satisfying, and topped with everything you'd expect on a deluxe cheeseburger. Enjoy this easy to make keto casserole that the whole family will love.

Keto Stuffed Mushrooms - If you love mushrooms, you have to try this recipe for Keto Stuffed Mushrooms. They are packed with the delicious flavors of bacon, garlic, and cheese and will be a sure crowd pleaser.

Keto Chicken bacon ranch casserole  - is the perfect, low-carb comfort meal. It's cheesy, creamy, full of healthy protein, and is an easy way to feed the whole family with minimal effort.

Keto Broccoli Salad  - is the low carb salad you'll want to make and eat all year long. Especially popular with BBQ style meals and parties, everyone will love this sweet and savory cold broccoli dish.

More articles you may like:

Keto Fruit

Keto Diet for Beginners

Keto Ground Beef Recipes

Keto Breakfast Recipes

Keto Meals

Keto Side Dishes

Keto Desserts

Keto Snacks

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Please help us out by leaving a quick review and star ★ rating below.

LET'S GET SOCIAL, you can follow Four Score Living on Pinterest. You can also leave a comment below if you have any questions.