The pros:Â Trader Joe's Uncured Bacon Wrapped Porchetta Pork Roast is a great seasonal find that makes for a presentable roast.
The cons:Â This is a seasonal item so if you want to try it, grab one as soon as possible because when they are gone they are gone.
The verdict:  This post contains affiliate links which means I will earn a commission if you purchase through those links. It is at no additional cost to you.
So when the Fearless Flyer landed I was excited to see some holiday roasts. But they flyer landed on the 28th of November this year and wouldn't have these roasts in until December 6th. That's a long time to have people hanging. I'm not the type to try something new on a holiday. I always want to do a recipe before serving it to anyone. Well, fear not. I tried it. I think I'll be picking up another one for the freezer. Sadly, this is a seasonal item, but would make for a nice Sunday dinner any time. It's perfect for the pork lovers in your life.
Making this required some minor kitchen equipment. A roasting rack, a baking sheet, and a meat thermometer are what is needed. I used a standard cooling rack to lift my roast about the cookie sheet. It lead to a perfectly crisp exterior all the way around and allowed for the excess fat to drain away. Now, if you've read any of my other posts on meats, I have an iDevices thermometer that pairs with my phone via bluetooth. How many roasts have I burned or overcooked since getting the device? Zero. Gone are the moments of forgetting to set a timer, or worse sitting for what seems like a moment and then wondering, "what's that smell?" As your thermometer is placed in the center, then you'll have an accurate read and be able to remove your meat at the precise temperature without opening and closing the oven door.
The directions on this are fairly straight forward. Let this sit for 30 minutes at room temperature. If you are like me and have an electric oven, then this is your standard wait time to get and maintain an oven at 500F. After 25 minutes, the oven was turned down and cooking continued until it reached 145F. I know the directions say 150F. The USDA says 145F is safe, therefore I want my meat to be safe but moist. And moist it was. The bacon was perfectly crisp. The netting allowed it to conform to the shape of the meat. When the netting was removed, it was easy with a pair of scissors. After waiting around for this roast to cool enough to slice into it, I had perfectly cooked moist pork. That was accented by the thin slice of bacon that wrapped it and there was a fine layer of herbs. All of which would make any pork lover happy.
For $6.99 per pound or $18.31 for the one I reached for, it made for 7 nice sized slices. There is some shrinkage in the oven, so plan accordingly. This was not greasy in anyway. The bacon ensured that the meat stayed moist. My husband and I enjoyed this. I'd pick up another before they are gone for the season. It's a roast that isn't much effort. This is a safe bet if you are thinking about reaching for this for the holidays. It's only a bummer to think about the fact that this would make a lovely Sunday dinner regardless of the season.
Here is the visual run down of what you get if you buy this product:
The package of Trader Joe's Uncured Bacon Wrapped Porchetta Pork Roast:
The nutritional information:
The ingredients of Trader Joe's Uncured Bacon Wrapped Porchetta Pork Roast:
What Porchetta is and how to prepare:
Watching the temperature rise (on my phone) on my roast. And since it doesn't mention it, yes, this roast will take about an hour of just cooking time. Yes, set my timer for 145F to remove it as that is what the USDA says is the safe temperature for pork. The temperature did continue to rise after it left the oven. The red line is where the alarm on my phone went off to remind me that it was done.
After being cooked you get:
Would I buy this again? Yes, I would buy Trader Joe's Uncured Bacon Wrapped Porchetta Pork Roast again. Even if it's just for the freezer, this item is well priced and very good.
Want to see more items I've reviewed from Trader Joe's? Click on Thoughts & Reviews of Trader Joe’s for a searchable list.
Did you try it? Let me know what you think in the comments section!
Diane says
Sorry if this is a stupid question but do you cook the roast with the netting on? Thanks!
becomebetty says
Not a stupid question at all. The answer is cook with it on. It keeps the bacon on the roast and allows the roast to stay moist and juicy. After you allow it to cool then take scissors and remove prior to slicing. I hope that helps!
judilyn says
You are definitely correct! This pork roast is much appealing than the marinated beef roast. I'm with you on cooked pesto!
Virtual hugs,
Judie
becomebetty says
Hey Judie! I don't know why people insist on cooking such a fresh and delicate item. Hope all is well with you. As always, thank you so much for taking the time to share your thoughts!
Runt Dastardly says
Thanks so much for this post! I thought this sounded WAY better than the usual (small) glazed ham I cook for myself & my dad (my hubs is vegan so I make him something else) on Christmas, but the Fearless Flyer & website were really short on details.
I wanted to know things like size/yield, price range, cook time & level of effort before I pulled the trigger, and you provided ALL of those helpful details. Now I know I've got dinner handled, as well as the ability to send my dad home with a whole extra meal, and plenty left over for Cuban sandwiches the next day for me and a couple friends that stop by for post-xmas drinks & snacks decompression.
Thanks again for the excellent post & Happy Holidays to you!
becomebetty says
Hey Runt! Thanks so much for your kind words! I'd love to know how it turns out! Thanks so much for taking the time out of your day to stop by!
Sandra Dent says
Doing this for New Year's. This site has been very helpful.
becomebetty says
Hey Sandra! Glad I could help! I'd love to know how it turned out!
Constance says
I was thinking of tossing this in my instaPot. What do you think? I had bought mine before Christmas along with one of their Bourbon hams. My daughter wanted to cook the ham for Christmas. After the fact I saw this one had use or freeze by Dec24th date. well I tossed in in the freezer on the 27. and put in in the fridge last night hopefully we don’t all die cause I am cooking that sucker up one way or the other haha! Ya having any thoughts? I will write back if we are still alive!
Auntie Grandma Constance
Charles Kwaske says
The herb and salt mix was so strong that my kids wouldn’t even eat it. I ended up putting it in a water bath and scrubbing it with a brush to wash off the salt and herbs. It was edible after that, but still had a lingering sage flavor. Yuk. I covered it in bbq sauce and it hid the flavor enough to make it edible.
I really feel that the seasoning ruined a good piece of meat.
becomebetty says
Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this!
LMP says
This is a fabulous roast. It is not always available. When I see them I buy 3 or 4 and freeze them. They are delicious even months later in the freezer. Ymmmmeeeee.