Trader Joe's blog and cooking.
I bought the bacon (as well as other pork products) and I reviewed them to help guide your shopping. Quality can vary, fortunately, that's why you have this site!
From to the Apple Smoked Bacon to their very holiday Porchetta Roast to their delicious Sriracha Bacon Jerky, you'll find dozens of reviews of Trader Joe's Bacon and Pork products and see which ones are worth your time and which ones you may want to consider leaving on the shelf!
The pros: Trader Joe’s Pork Belly was tender, flavorful fully cooked piece of meat ready in about 15 minutes. Subtle seasoning and nothing overpowering other than a nice pork flavor.
The cons: You should take this out for about half and hour before you want to prepare this to make sure its closer to room temperature before browning it.
The verdict: …
The pros: Trader Joe’s Tarte d’Alsace with Ham, Onions, and Gruyere will remind you of a croque monsieur with a pie crust instead of toasted bread. If you are saying “what the hell is croque monsieur?” It’s a ham and cheese sandwich. The caramelized onions were a nice touch. It might also remind you of a Hawaiian pizza minus the pineapple.
The cons: I wished there were no calories in this. Sorry,hard to come up with one. I really enjoyed this.
The verdict: …
Like pizza but don’t like red sauce? Trader Joe’s Burrata, Prosciutto and Arugula Flatbread might be for you. Yes, it’s advertised as a flatbread with all these toppings, but it really might as well be called pizza. If they did call it pizza it might get lost in the freezer section.
Pros: Very tasty and good value considering you get a small package of prosciutto with this. Looks as good as the picture on the box.
Cons: Sitting down and eating this whole thing is just about 900 calories so plan accordingly.
The verdict: …
The Pros: Trader Joe’s Uncured Black Forrest Bacon is delicious, has a good balance of salt and sweet, thick cut, and meaty.
The Cons: Why do they sell it as a 12 ounce package? That’s a tease. Eating 2 of these makes me a fatty.
The Verdict: …
The traditional Cubano is swiss, ham, pork, mustard and dill pickles on a buttered roll that has been pressed for your culinary senses. Trader Joe’s Cubano Seasoned Wrap takes the same concept and throws in on a tortilla and called it a wrap. While it’s in the refrigerated case, it should be heated up somehow to get the cheese a bit melted (either with a panini grill or microwave). It’s awesome as long as you don’t look at the calorie count. It is among some of the most caloric of the wraps. For $3.99 you’ll be hard pressed to find a sanwich this cheap at your local deli.
The Pros: So many porky levels of delicious.
The Cons: The calorie count. If you are dieting this could wipe out a third to half of your calories a day. If you are not counting calories, the con would be they are frequently sold out. It is on the salty side.
Verdict: …
Bacon has evolved since I was a kid. I remember looking forward to Saturday morning cartoons and not having to rush through breakfast. And oh yes the bacon. As an adult either my taste buds have changed drastically or bacon isn’t the same. I’m going to blame the bacon. When I had Trader Joe’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon, I was taken back to my childhood. For $4.49 it was a fair price for what you are getting.
The pros: The taste. Trader Joe’s Uncured Apple Smoked Bacon is the most bacon-y bacon I’ve had since I was a kid. I’ve been getting by on Costco bacon. This blows that out of the water. This is now the only bacon I’ll buy. Thick cut.
The cons: 12 ounce package. This is “snack” sized in my household. My household is 2 people so if you are cooking for more than that please keep this in mind.
The verdict: …
Sometimes I actually buy items from Trader Joes that aren’t in the freezer section. Fresh pasta is absolutely awesome, but is messy and sometimes can be time consuming at home if it is stuffed with anything (think ravioli). Well, Trader Joe’s Perline Pasta and Prosciutto has had some staying power and food good reason, for $2.99 it is much cheaper than what you will find in the same section of a mass market grocery store….
