Bacon. It's like meat candy all on its own. Add something sweet and spicy and you have on heck of a combination. The combined saltiness and textural elements work so very well in Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky.
Taste and review
My first impressions were about how moist the product came out of the bag. No, they weren't greasy, but they weren't crisp bacon either.
There is a noticeable glaze on each strip of bacon in the bag. Usually, moisture is bad when it comes to jerky, but somehow I'm sure it's fine. Besides, this bag is so small I would be shocked if you do reseal it and save some for later.
After eating a piece you'll notice the sriracha will grab you. Before the heat kicks in you'll notice a gentle sweetness that is mixed with spices and soy. It's quite pleasant. The heat stayed on my tongue for a while so I wasn't compelled to cram the whole bag down my throat, I had to stop and savor every bite.
When you pay this much for meat, you might as well slow down and enjoy it.
This has been a favorite in my household since we first tried it. So much so that I've started to make my own.
Make this yourself
I make my own beef jerky from time to time as a matter of cost-saving. While not a copycat recipe, it manages to be sweet and spicy and keeps the ingredient list to a minimum.
Yes, that's my bacon jerky and not Trader Joe's. But if I had cut the strips in half the long way (in addition to the cut down the middle, it would be very similar).
Overall
If you do the math (yes, this works out to almost $44 a pound), you are paying the same for a 2-ounce bag as you would an uncooked 1-pound package of bacon when you consider the price here is $5.49. With a good cabinet of spices, I don't see any reason not to make something like this at home. If you have absolutely no intention of making jerky ever, yes, go buy this especially if you love bacon.
If you are like me and will make jerky at home, try it to see if you like the flavor combination, I liked it, but it packed a good amount of heat that lingered. If you have absolutely no intention of ever making jerky and you enjoy bacon, this is a wonderful buy albeit expensive for 2 ounces.
Visual rundown
The bag of Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky:
Calories and ingredients
What it looks like out of the bag:
Want to see more items I’ve reviewed from Trader Joe’s? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky
Product Name: Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky
Product Description: Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky is sweet and spicy.
Price: $5.49
Summary
Trader Joe's bacon jerky is sweet and spicy.
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Taste
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Value
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Worthy of Repurchasing
Pros
- The smell of opening the bag of Trader Joe's Sweet Sriracha Uncured Bacon Jerky was intoxicating.
- They should sell it as a fragrance.
- The taste was all bacon with a noticeable kick and a hint of sweetness.
Cons
- Jerky bags are always so small and per pound they are some of the most expensive items in the store.
- This 2 ounce package was $5.49 (or the equivalent of $43.92 per pound).
Alek says
I love it too! I warmed it up for a few seconds in the microwave and used it in breakfast sandwiches. Also it can be treated like regular bacon in many recipes. SO GOOD! Wished it was double the amount in the bag.
becomebetty says
Omg! That sounds fabulous! I never thought to microwave this item. Thanks so much for sharing!
patty morgan says
Ttey've discontinued the product! Very very sad
becomebetty says
No way!!! That's a bummer. I was wondering why I had not seen it in a while
Jennifer Struble says
I’ve found it in MN, but it’s very typical of TJ’s to discontinue good items, something is always on back order because of supplier issues or it’s seasonal. One of the 3 is always the excuse given. Now the whole “standing in line” thing….nope. Trader’s Joe’s keeps giving me reasons never to patronize their business again. Outside of your recipe, if you find an alternative, I’m totally down for purchasing!