We Tried The Most Popular Bacon Brands–These Are 10 Of Our Favorites

Consider this your guide to the best breakfast meats.

Ah, bacon. Sweet, salty, savory, smoky, beautiful bacon.

Bacon is a Southern cooking staple, but choosing the right bacon at the supermarket can be a bit overwhelming. Standing in front of a refrigerator full of seemingly identical packages of bacon that have all sorts of different labels can be intimidating.

What's the difference in natural and organic? Is double smoked better than smoked? What in the world is a center cut? You could spend a lot of time mulling over your choices, so to save some of it for you, we've rounded up few mainstay types of bacon you might see at the store and explained them for you.

From thick cut to uncured and dry rubbed, here's your guide to the best bacons at the supermarket. Plus, we're sharing our favorite pick in each category. We're even letting you in on a little secret by sharing the Southern Living Test Kitchen's favorite bacon.

As a little bonus, we're sharing our favorite mail-order bacon, too—it's the ultimate splurge for special occasions.

Thick Cut

What it means: Hefty, meaty slices. The thickness varies depending on the brand.
Best for: Sprinkling on soups and salads
Our pick: Hormel Black Label Original Thick Cut Bacon
Taster notes: "Really love the thick meatiness of this bacon...made me think of eating steak for breakfast!"

Center Cut

What it means: This bacon comes from the middle portion of the pork belly. The fatty ends of the bacon have been trimmed, making leaner (and smaller) slices.
Best for: Topping hamburgers and BLTs
Our pick: Oscar Mayer Center Cut Bacon
Taster notes: "I know bacon is definitely not a health food, but I appreciate this cut that is less fatty."

Double Smoked

What it means: Deeper, richer flavor. Look for "naturally smoked" on the label, indicating that the bacon spent time in an actual smoker.
Best for: Adding to recipes like spaghetti carbonara
Our pick: Wright Brand Double Smoked Bacon, an SL Test Kitchen favorite
Taster notes: "My parents turned me on to this brand. It's a splurge, but it fries up beautifully and is super smoky."

Specialty Smoked (Hardwood, Hickory, Applewood, Mesquite, etc.)

What it means: This lets you know what kind of wood generated the smoke, which can lend different flavors to the bacon. Reminder: Don't forget to look for the word "naturally."
Best for: Any bacon needs—all-purpose
Our pick: Farmland Naturally Hickory Smoked Bacon
Taster notes: "I can taste artificial smoke a smile away—this bacon is the real deal."

Dry Rubbed

What it means: As you can assume, dry rubbed, sometimes called dry cured, bacon is rubbed with a blend of spices, rather than smoked, to harvest flavor.
Best for: Barbecue lovers
Our pick: Wellshire Black Forest All Natural Thick Sliced Dry Rubbed Uncured Bacon
Taster notes: "Most folks love smoke, but it's overpowering to my tastebuds. This bacon really lets the pork flavor shine on its own."

Organic

What it means: Yes, bacon can be organic. According to the USDA, if the bacon is made from certified organic meat or poultry (they've been fed certified organic feed and haven't been given antibiotics or growth hormones), then the bacon itself is organic.
Best for: People focused on good flavor and healthier farming practices
Our pick: Applegate Organics Hickory Smoked Uncured Sunday Bacon
Taster notes: "I try to eat healthy, and eating bacon always made me feel guilty. With fewer additives and ingredients I can actually pronouce, this brain eases my conscience."

Maple

What it means: Maple bacon means that maple syrup was used during the curing process. This type of bacon will have a sweeter side to it, which can balance out smoky and salty flavors.
Best for: Serving with savory breakfast dishes
Our pick: Niman Ranch Uncured Center-Cut Maple Bacon
Taster notes: "I love sweet and salty together, so this bacon is right up my alley. Bring on the pancakes!"

Bonus: Best Mail-Order Bacon

What it means: Ordering bacon by mail may seem extravagant, but sometimes it's fun to splurge on the best.
Best for: Brunches or holiday breakfasts when you want a big-impact bacon
Our pick: Benton's Country Bacon
Why: This small-batch bacon is smoked in Tennessee by Allan Benton and his family-owned company that have been smoking hams since 1947. The bacon is dry-cured and smoked, so it ships without refrigeration. We've never tasted bacon this smoky and delicious!
Taster notes: "I order this bacon every Christmas, like a Christmas present to myself. You can actually smell the smoke from the cardboard box! Every time I cook it, I feel like I'm giving everyone who eats it a little extra happiness."

Best Store-Brand Thick Cut

What it means: When you want the best bacon all the time, but you're trying to trim your budget a little.
Best for: Because it's thicker, this bacon can stand in for fancier, pricer brands at weekend breakfasts and brunch.
Our pick: Kroger Thick Cut Bacon
Why: Bacon aficionados may be able to taste the difference but the average bacon lover will appreciate this thick, meaty bacon just as much as the pricier brands.
Taster notes: "This is a great thick-cut staple to have on hand that won't break the bank.:"

Best Store-Brand Center Cut

What it means: There's a time to splurge and there's a time to save; this bacon is a top-notch daily workhorse that satisfies your cravings with a reasonable price tag.
Best for: Weekday breakfasts and any BLT that needs some B
Our pick: Publix Center Cut Bacon
Why: With a nice smoky flavor at a great price, this bacon is a great refrigerator staple. Plus, it's often on BOGO!
Taster notes: "This is my go-to bacon for cooking; it has a great classic bacon flavor at a great price."

Bacon preference is a highly personal choice. We tried to taste every one on the market, but if we missed your favorite, let us know so we can fry up a slice!

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Read the original article on Southern Living.