As awareness grows regarding the potential negative effects of synthetic additives like sodium nitrite in bacon, many individuals, myself included, are searching for healthier alternatives. If you’re looking to savour the rich taste of bacon without worrying about nitrates, you’ve landed in the right spot.
Explore nitrite-free bacon at local farmers’ markets, speciality health food stores, and online retailers. Build connections with local butchers, known for offering high-quality, natural options. Opt for certified organic brands with clear labelling, ensuring bacon meets stringent organic and natural production standards.
I’ve done some digging, and trust me, this blog is your go-to guide for picking the best nitrate-free bacon. Keep reading – I’ve got the details to help you make a choice that suits your taste buds.
Places to Buy Nitrate-free Bacon
1. Local Farmers’ Markets
Why not visit your local farmers’ market to discover fresh, locally sourced bacon? Many small-scale producers offer nitrate-free options, providing a direct connection between you and the source of your food. I definitely enjoy them!
I personally find that it is easier to find nitrite-free bacon than organic in my local markets.
2. Check out your local supermarkets
I was surprised to find out that a couple of my local supermarkets stock up on nitrite-free bacon! If you also live in the UK you might want to check out the following supermarkets:
- Morrisons – I managed to find 2 types of bacon with no nitrites – under their own branding ‘the best’ range as well as selling a brand called ‘better-naked’ bacon.
- M&S – sells nitrite-free bacon under their own brand which is also outdoor bread.
- Waitrose – sells smoked, unsmoked and streaky nitrite-free bacon under their own brand
- Tesco – I have found ‘better-naked’ bacon in Tesco too.
I have read in The Grocer magazine that the brand ‘Heck’ entered the nitrite-free market in April 2023 as a direct competition to ‘Better Naked’.
The Yorkshire-based sausage and burger brand rolls out its unsmoked and smoked British back bacon rasher six-pack on 3 April
3. Online Retailers and farms
Besides the above-mentioned supermarkets delivering to our homes, there are some more specialised places where you can order from. Several online retailers and farms specialize in organic and nitrate-free options, delivering them straight to your doorstep.
- Coombe Farm Organic – offers a great range of nitrite-free and organic bacon. This farm based in Somerset might be the perfect choice for someone who is looking for both organic and nitrite-free meat and doesn’t mind paying a little extra. Coombe Farm Organic delivers to your door all over the UK and they have a great selection of meat boxes.
I have not tried it yet but looks like a great option for someone looking for a high-quality product.
- The Dorset Meat Company – award winner of ‘THE UK’S BEST ONLINE BUTCHER’ – another great online choice to purchase your nitrite-free bacon.
We make our nitrate and nitrite-free bacon ourselves by hand, all cured in small batches using pork loin, sea salt, spices, black pepper, and herbs (basil, marjoram, rosemary, thyme), sugar, garlic and onion.
- GAZEGILL Organics – offers great organic produce and nitrite-free bacon with free delivery for orders over £50.
All our meat is 100% organic, grass-fed, rare breed and antibiotic-free, therefore the quality is completely different to supermarket products.
- Green Pasture Farms – based in North Lancashire offers organic and nitrite-free bacon.
I could definitely name a few more but all the above are excellent choices.
- However, I think the one online food retailer we have to mention is Ocado which offers a few choices of nitrite-free bacon: M&S, Naked, Helen Browning’s as well as Bacon by Nature.
4. Local Butchers
Forge a relationship with your local butcher. Many butchers take pride in offering high-quality, natural products and can guide you to nitrate-free bacon or even prepare it for you on request.
5. Certified Organic Brands
Seek out brands that proudly display organic certifications on their packaging. These certifications ensure that the bacon meets specific standards for organic and natural production.
However, as Green Pasture Farms explains:
There are organic bacons made from organic pork cured with “natural nitrates”, and there are many nitrate-free bacons made with industrially raised pigs.
So, organic bacon doesn’t mean that it is nitrite-free and nitrite-free bacon doesn’t mean that is necessarily a good quality product. So, your ideal choice would be – organic and nitrite-free.
When on the hunt for nitrate-free bacon, read labels diligently. Phrases like “uncured,” “no nitrates or nitrites added,” or “nitrate-free” signal a product that aligns with your preference for natural preservation.
It is actually very simple to make your own bacon and I encourage you to read my blog 5 Best Natural Methods for Preserving Meat at Home to learn more.
Why do we care about nitrite (or nitrate) ?
Have you also heard about nitrates? When I started to research into this topic, I was super confused about the difference between nitrites and nitrates. Let’s break it down, so you don’t have to be confused anymore!
Nitrates and nitrites, nitrogen-oxygen compounds, can be found in vegetables naturally. Vegetables like spinach, carrots, and beets contain nitrates, and when we consume them, our bodies can convert some of these nitrates into nitrites through processes like bacterial action in the mouth.
However, when we talk about health concerns related to these compounds, the spotlight is often on artificially created nitrites. In processed meats like bacon and ham, sodium nitrite, a synthetic form of nitrite, is commonly used as a preservative. During the curing process, nitrites help prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, enhance the colour of the meat, and contribute to the characteristic flavour of cured products.
While naturally occurring nitrates and nitrites in vegetables are generally considered safe and even beneficial (think lower blood pressure from beetroot juice), the concern arises with the synthetic nitrites in processed meats. High-temperature cooking of these meats, like frying bacon, can lead to the formation of nitrosamines, potentially carcinogenic compounds linked to health issues, including bowel cancer.
So, this is exactly why I personally decided to exclude them or at least drastically decrease them from mine and my family’s diet.
Conclusion
As we become more educated about the foods we consume, the availability of organic, nitrate-free bacon is proof of the evolving landscape in the food industry. By making informed choices, you not only prioritize your well-being but also contribute to the demand for cleaner, more sustainable practices. Hope this blog helped you with your search for delicious nitrite-free bacon as well as provided useful insight into the topic!
