If you are looking for high quality meat products, there may be no company better than Niman Ranch. Out of Alameda, California, they strive to not only produce a good product but also to give you the most natural tasting experience. Their bacon is made with pork that has never been given antibiotics, hormones, and is feed an all vegetarian diet. They allow the pigs to be pigs.
Their applewood smoked bacon is slow smoked over applewood chips, which gives it delicious flavor. It is center cut bacon, which describes the portion of the pig they cut the bacon from. Center cut bacon is naturally leaner than other bacon. Their bacon is also uncured. The USDA requires that products they are not preserved by the addition of sodium nitrite, sodium nitrate or a salt cure must be labeled as uncured. Instead they use naturing occurring nitrates found in celery powder. Not only is this a natural way to do it, it also brings additional flavor to the meat.
The flavor of the bacon was amazing. Definitely better than what we normally buy. It’s more expensive than most bacon you find on sale at the grocery store, but I would rather have bacon less often and enjoy the Niman Ranch bacon.
Where to Buy
I purchase my 12oz package at Plum Market in Ann Arbor, Michigan. I have also seen Niman Ranch products at Walt Churchill’s in Maumee, Ohio
From the company’s website I found that they carry their products at these stores as well:
Marczyk Fine Foods in Denver, Colorado
Lunds and Byerly’s stores in Minnesota (Minneapolis/St. Paul area)
You can also purchase their products online. Click here for their online store.
Want to know how to shop for bacon? Check out my tips on shopping for bacon.
Want to learn more about Niman Ranch (as well get some great recipes)? Check out The Niman Ranch Cookbook: From Farm to Table with America’s Finest Meat
5 pings
Cancer for Many – Profits for a Few-cancer says:
August 14, 2010 at 10:39 am (UTC -6)
[...] Eat Like No One Else » Blog Archive » Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked … [...]
Eat Like No One Else » Blog Archive » Tips on Buying Bacon says:
August 20, 2010 at 7:09 am (UTC -6)
[...] sodium nitrate into their bacon. You can buy bacon that is uncured, or not treated with nitrates (Niman Ranch makes a bacon like this). These chemicals are certainly not good for you and there are concerns [...]
Eat Like No One Else » Blog Archive » Book Review – The Niman Ranch Cookbook says:
August 21, 2010 at 12:28 pm (UTC -6)
[...] Click here to check out one of my favorite Niman Ranch products – BACON! [...]
Sustainable Dad » Better Bacon says:
September 18, 2011 at 10:47 am (UTC -6)
[...] it comes to bacon? An easier find for those with natural food stores or a Trader Joe’s is Niman Ranch bacon. It does have a small amount of turbinado sugar, which is a less processed sugar. The better [...]
Niman Ranch Uncured Center Cut Maple Bacon » Eat Like No One Else says:
November 11, 2011 at 1:52 pm (UTC -6)
[...] more bacon goodness check out my review of Niman Ranch Applewood Smoked Bacon and my tips for shopping for [...]