Beef bacon has been growing in popularity over the past few years as more people discover its rich, meaty flavor. This hearty bacon made from beef is a tasty alternative to traditional pork bacon. I’m a huge fan of beef bacon and enjoy using it to add a smoky, savory flavor to everything from breakfast plates to burgers and sandwiches. If you’re curious about trying beef bacon for the first time or want to find a new place to buy it, this guide shares the best places to buy delicious beef bacon online and in stores.
What is Beef Bacon?
Before jumping into where to buy it, let’s start with a quick primer on exactly what beef bacon is. Beef bacon is made from beef instead of pork belly like traditional bacon. It most often uses beef brisket that is brined smoked and sliced to resemble bacon strips. The beef is trimmed of excess fat so the finished bacon has marbling of fat within the lean beef.
Compared to pork bacon, beef bacon has a more meaty, beefy flavor and is leaner. It has a pleasantly chewy texture and holds up well when cooking. The smoky aroma and hint of saltiness from the curing process gives beef bacon a similar bacon-y flavor. When cooked up nice and crispy it provides a perfect crunch too.
Beef bacon can be used as a tasty substitute for regular bacon in any dish. It’s especially popular in breakfast foods, burgers, sandwiches, wraps, salads and more. The heartiness of beef bacon also makes it a satisfying addition to side dishes and appetizers.
Buying Beef Bacon Online
Purchasing beef bacon online is an easy way to get your hands on this delightful bacon without having to hunt down a specialty butcher shop. Online stores offer options to buy beef bacon in bulk so you can stock up and save. Here are some top online stores for buying beef bacon:
Pederson’s Natural Farms
Pederson’s Natural Farms is one of the most popular online sources for purchasing premium beef bacon. Their beef bacon is made from 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef for the most flavorful and nutritious meat. It is sugar-free, gluten-free, and contains no artificial ingredients.
Pederson’s applewood smokes their beef bacon for robust smoky flavor. You can buy packs of four strips or larger bulk packs up to 10 pounds. Their convenient subscription option allows you to receive regular shipments of beef bacon straight to your door.
Crowd Cow
Crowd Cow works directly with small family farms and ranches to provide high-quality craft meats like beef bacon. Their beef bacon comes from heritage breed pigs raised humanely on pasture. It is uncured and lightly smoked over applewood for 10 hours.
Crowd Cow offers pack sizes ranging from individual packs to 10 pounds of beef bacon. You can customize a box with just beef bacon or mix and match with other craft meats from their selection.
FarmFoods Market
FarmFoods Market specializes in grass-fed and pasture-raised meats, so their beef bacon is a tasty option. They work with family farms across the U.S. to provide pasture-raised beef for their products.
Their beef bacon is simply seasoned and wood smoked. It comes in convenient 4-strip half pound packs. You can choose between a one-time purchase of beef bacon or save 10% with a subscription option that ships every 1, 2, or 3 months.
U.S. Wellness Meats
U.S. Wellness Meats is a trusted source for grass-fed and humanely raised meats including beef bacon. Their beef bacon comes from 100% grass-fed cows that are humanely raised and pasture-finished. It is sugar-free and made without any artificial curing agents, additives or preservatives.
They offer a few different beef bacon options including original and peppered beef bacon. You can purchase it in half pound packs or bulk 1 pound packs at a discounted price.
Tendergrass Farms
Tendergrass Farms offers 100% grass-fed and grass-finished beef and bison bacon free of antibiotics, hormones and grain. Their beef bacon is lightly smoked over fruitwood and minimally seasoned.
It comes in half pound packs that can be purchased individually or in bulk boxes. You get a 5% discount when ordering the bulk box of beef bacon packs. Tendergrass Farms also has a subscription option to save 10% on regular deliveries of beef bacon.
Purchasing Beef Bacon at Retail Stores
In addition to buying beef bacon online, many grocery stores and butchers also carry beef bacon these days. Call ahead to your local specialty butcher shop or gourmet grocery store to ask if they sell beef bacon. Here are some top national retail chains that are known for carrying beef bacon:
Whole Foods
Whole Foods is a great place to check for beef bacon sold at the deli counter or bacon section. They have a huge selection of quality meats. For the best tasting beef bacon, look for options that are certified humanely raised, pasture-finished, or grass-fed.
Fresh Thyme
Fresh Thyme Market is a midwestern grocery store chain offering organic, natural, and fresh foods. Check the butcher case at Fresh Thyme for house-made beef bacon or branded beef bacon. Their meat department sources beef from producers who raise cattle humanely without antibiotics or hormones.
Earth Fare
Earth Fare is another specialty grocer with an impressive selection of natural and organic products. Their commitment to clean ingredients makes it a solid place to buy beef bacon. Look for hormone-free, pasture-raised beef bacon at Earth Fare.
New Seasons Market
New Seasons Market is a west coast grocery store chain focused on local, sustainable foods. They sell beef bacon at many locations and work with Pacific Northwest meat producers. New Seasons Label beef bacon would be a great choice.
Lassen’s
Lassen’s is a family-owned southern California grocery store offering organic, non-GMO, and sustainably sourced products. Check their butcher counter for house-made beef bacon options using quality beef.
Costco
Surprisingly, Costco is a good place to find beef bacon at an affordable price point. They carry major beef bacon brands like Pederson’s Farms. Look in the packaged bacon section or check for bulk packs by the fresh meats.
Key Tips for Cooking and Storing Beef Bacon
Once you’ve got your hands on some tasty beef bacon, you’ll want to make sure you handle it properly for the best results. Here are some key tips for cooking and storing beef bacon:
-
Cook it over medium to medium-low heat. The lean beef bacon needs lower heat than pork bacon to avoid overcooking.
-
Bake it in the oven on a wire rack set over a baking sheet to allow airflow around each slice for even cooking.
-
Let it rest for a few minutes after cooking before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
-
Store unused raw beef bacon in the fridge for 5-7 days or in the freezer for 2-3 months.
-
Cool leftover cooked beef bacon and store in a sealed container in the fridge for 3-4 days.
-
Add extra oil when cooking beef bacon to prevent sticking since it has less fat than pork bacon.
Beef Bacon Near MeBuy your favorite Beef Bacon online with Instacart. Order Beef Bacon from local and national retailers near you and enjoy on-demand, contactless delivery or pickup within 2 hours.
- Turning on notifications for the Instacart app
- Keeping an eye out for text messages and phone calls from your Instacart shopper
- Leaving helpful instructions for parking, gate codes, or other clues to find your home.
- Delivery fees start at $3.99 for same-day orders over $35. Fees vary for one-hour deliveries, club store deliveries, and deliveries under $35.
- Service fees vary and are subject to change based on factors like location and the number and types of items in your cart. Orders containing alcohol have a separate service fee.
- Tipping is optional but encouraged for delivery orders. It’s a great way to show your shopper appreciation and recognition for excellent service. 100% of your tip goes directly to the shopper who delivers your order.
With an optional Instacart+ membership, you can get $0 delivery fees* on every order over $35. *Service fees apply. Instacart pickup cost:
- There may be a “pickup fee” (equivalent to a delivery fee for pickup orders) on your pick up order that is typically $1.99 for non-Instacart+ members. Instacart+ membership waives this like it would a delivery fee.
- Pick up orders have no service fees, regardless of non-Instacart+ or Instacart+ membership.
- Find Best Match: By default, your shopper will use their best judgement to pick a replacement for your item.
- Pick Specific Replacement: You can pick a specific alternative for the shopper to purchase if your first choice is out-of-stock.
- Dont Replace: For items you’d rather not replace, choose “Dont replace” to get a refund if the item is out of stock.
- Missing items
- Incorrect items
- Damaged items
- Poor replacements
- Early/late orders
If an order never came, or you get someone else’s order, you can reach out to Instacart Customer Experience. Yes! You can get Beef Bacon products delivered same-day in as fast as one hour from stores near you using the Instacart app or website.
WHAT IS BEEF BACON? Beef Bacon vs Pork Bacon and how to cook it!
FAQ
Why is beef bacon hard to find?
Market Trends: Shifts in consumer preferences, such as a rise in popularity for certain types of bacon (like specialty or organic), can lead to shortages of more common varieties. Panic Buying: In times of uncertainty, consumers might stock up on items like bacon, leading to temporary shortages on store shelves.
Does anyone make a beef bacon?
As previously mentioned, beef bacon can be made from various cuts, including the belly, brisket, and round. Pederson’s Natural Farms makes its Uncured Hickory Smoked Beef Bacon from the round, a cut from the hind, and one of the leanest cuts, making beef bacon lower in fat than traditional bacon.
Can you get beef bacon?
Yes, bacon can be made from beef, commonly referred to as “beef bacon.” While traditional bacon is made from pork belly, beef bacon is made from cuts of beef, typically from the brisket or the round. It is cured and smoked similarly to pork bacon, resulting in a different flavor and texture profile.
What is beef bacon called?
The beef belly is better known by its industry term – navel. The navel cut is what the brisket joins into, just a little further down the body. Just like pork, it’s rippled with seams of fat that when cooked correctly transform to golden rendered ribbons.