Kirkland Bacon

From Breakfast Table to Culinary Star: Why Costco’s House Brand Bacon Deserves the Spotlight

When it comes to breakfast staples, few things rival the intoxicating aroma of sizzling bacon wafting through the kitchen on a lazy Sunday morning. As a self-proclaimed bacon enthusiast who has sampled more varieties than I care to admit, I’ve developed something of an obsession with finding the perfect balance of smoky, salty, and savory. And time after time, I find myself reaching for the familiar red packaging of Kirkland Signature bacon at Costco.

But what exactly makes this warehouse store’s house brand worthy of your shopping cart? Is it truly a cut above the rest, or just another bacon option in a sea of pork products? Today, I’m diving deep into everything Kirkland bacon—from varieties and cooking methods to nutritional information and value comparisons. Consider this your definitive guide to Kirkland Signature bacon: Costco’s unsung hero of the breakfast aisle.

The Kirkland Bacon Family: More Variety Than You Might Expect

If you’ve only noticed one type of Kirkland bacon during your Costco runs, you’re missing out on the full lineup. Costco’s house brand actually offers several bacon varieties to suit different preferences and dietary needs.

The flagship product is their traditional Kirkland Signature Regular Sliced Bacon, which comes in those iconic 4-pound packages (typically containing four 1-pound individually wrapped portions). This is their standard cut, offering a perfect middle-ground thickness that works well for most cooking applications.

For those who prefer a heartier bite, Kirkland Signature Thick-Cut Bacon delivers exactly what the name promises. The thicker slices stand up beautifully to cooking methods that might render regular bacon too crispy, making them ideal for burgers, sandwiches, and recipes where you want the bacon to make a substantial textural statement.

Health-conscious shoppers will appreciate the Kirkland Signature No Sugar Added Bacon, which eliminates added sweeteners while maintaining that classic bacon taste. This variety has become particularly popular with those following keto or low-carb diets.

Perhaps the most premium offering in the lineup is the Kirkland Signature Applewood Smoked Bacon. The applewood smoking process imparts a slightly sweeter, more complex flavor profile that elevates this bacon above the standard varieties.

For the nitrate-averse, Kirkland also produces an Uncured Bacon option that uses natural preservatives rather than conventional nitrates and nitrites. While still containing naturally occurring nitrates from celery powder, this option appeals to those looking to avoid synthetic preservatives.

The Cooking Question: Is Kirkland Bacon Pre-Cooked?

Let’s clear up a common misconception right away: No, Kirkland bacon is not pre-cooked. All varieties come raw and require cooking before consumption. This is actually a good thing for bacon lovers, as cooking from raw allows you to control exactly how crispy (or chewy) your bacon turns out.

Value Proposition: Breaking Down the Bacon Economics

One of the most compelling reasons people keep returning to Kirkland bacon is the price point. At approximately $17-22 for a 4-pound package (prices vary by location and over time), you’re looking at roughly $4.25-5.50 per pound. Compare this to other premium bacon brands that often retail for $8-10 per pound, and the value becomes immediately apparent.

Even more impressive is that this price advantage doesn’t come with a quality sacrifice. In fact, many bacon connoisseurs consider Kirkland bacon to be on par with or superior to more expensive name brands.

The bulk packaging also offers convenience beyond the initial cost savings. With four individually wrapped 1-pound sections, you can easily freeze portions for later use without having to repackage them.

The Nitrate Debate: What’s Really in Your Bacon?

The question of nitrates in bacon has become increasingly important to health-conscious consumers. Traditional Kirkland Signature bacon does contain sodium nitrite as a preservative, which is standard for most conventional bacon products.

For those concerned about nitrates, Kirkland’s uncured bacon option uses naturally derived preservatives like celery powder, which contains naturally occurring nitrates. It’s worth noting that whether the nitrates come from celery powder or are added as sodium nitrite, the chemical compound ultimately present in the bacon is essentially the same. However, many consumers prefer the “natural” preservation method for peace of mind.

Ingredient Transparency: What Goes Into Kirkland Bacon?

The traditional Kirkland Signature bacon contains a fairly standard ingredient list for commercial bacon: pork, water, salt, sugar, sodium phosphates, sodium erythorbate, and sodium nitrite. The applewood smoked variety adds natural applewood smoke flavoring to this base.

The no-sugar variety eliminates the sugar component while keeping the other ingredients intact, making it suitable for keto dieters looking to minimize carbohydrates.

For those with dietary restrictions, it’s worth noting that all Kirkland bacon varieties are gluten-free, containing no wheat or grain-based ingredients. This makes them a safe choice for those with celiac disease or gluten sensitivity.

Farm to Table: Where Kirkland Bacon Comes From

Costco sources their Kirkland bacon from various pork producers, primarily in the United States. Unlike some products that prominently advertise their specific origin farms, Kirkland bacon is more focused on consistent quality than promoting a single source.

The pork used in Kirkland bacon meets Costco’s general quality standards, though it’s not specifically marketed as organic, pastured, or humanely raised. For consumers particularly concerned about these aspects, there may be other specialty bacon brands that better align with these priorities, albeit at a higher price point.

The Art of Bacon Preparation: Getting the Most From Your Kirkland Purchase

The beauty of Kirkland bacon lies partly in its versatility. Whether you’re a crispy bacon devotee or prefer a chewier texture, the right cooking method can deliver your perfect slice. Here are the primary methods to consider:

Stovetop Skillet Method

The classic approach involves laying bacon strips in a cold skillet (cast iron works beautifully), then turning the heat to medium-low. Starting with a cold pan allows the fat to render gradually, resulting in more evenly cooked bacon. Flip occasionally until you reach your desired crispness, then transfer to paper towels to drain.

Oven-Baked Perfection

My personal favorite method involves lining a rimmed baking sheet with foil, placing a cooling rack on top, and arranging bacon strips on the rack. Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes (longer for thick-cut). The elevated position allows fat to drip away, resulting in beautifully crisp bacon without the need for monitoring or flipping.

Microwave Method

For quick bacon fixes, lay strips between paper towels on a microwave-safe plate and cook for approximately 1 minute per slice. While convenient, this method doesn’t produce quite the same texture as traditional cooking methods.

Air Fryer Innovation

The newest bacon-cooking trend utilizes air fryers, cooking at 350°F for 8-10 minutes. This method creates incredibly crispy bacon with minimal mess and excellent fat drainage.

For Kirkland’s thick-cut bacon specifically, I recommend either the oven method with an extended cooking time or a skillet over lower heat to ensure the thicker slices cook through without burning.

Thick Cut vs. Regular: Finding Your Ideal Slice

The difference between Kirkland’s regular and thick-cut options goes beyond just dimension. The thickness affects everything from cooking time to texture and application.

Regular sliced Kirkland bacon cooks more quickly and tends to become crispier, making it ideal for breakfast sides, crumbling into salads, or wrapping around more delicate items.

The thick-cut variety, measuring approximately twice the thickness of regular slices, retains more chew even when fully cooked. This makes it spectacular for BLTs, burgers, and applications where you want the bacon to be a substantial textural component rather than a crispy garnish.

Quality Assessment: How Kirkland Bacon Measures Up

In blind taste tests and consumer reviews, Kirkland bacon consistently scores impressively against competitors costing significantly more. The meat-to-fat ratio is well-balanced, with enough fat to create that signature bacon flavor without being excessively greasy.

The smoking process produces a depth of flavor that many mass-market brands lack, particularly in the applewood smoked variety. The cure is also well-balanced—salty enough to enhance the pork’s natural flavor without overwhelming it.

Perhaps most importantly, Kirkland bacon cooks consistently, without the excessive shrinkage that plagues some lesser brands. There’s nothing more disappointing than watching your bacon reduce to tiny slivers during cooking, a problem that Kirkland largely avoids.

Brand Showdown: Kirkland vs. The Competition

When compared to other popular bacon brands, Kirkland holds its own remarkably well:

Against Oscar Mayer, Kirkland offers thicker slices and better meat-to-fat ratio at a lower per-pound cost.

Compared to premium brands like Nueske’s or Benton’s, Kirkland may lack some of the artisanal quality and distinctive smoking methods, but delivers 80% of the experience at 50% of the cost.

When matched against other store brands like Great Value (Walmart) or Farmer John, Kirkland consistently offers superior thickness, flavor, and cooking performance.

The most comparable competitor might be Wright brand bacon, which similarly offers thick-cut quality at a premium price point. However, Kirkland matches Wright’s quality while maintaining a significant price advantage when purchased in the 4-pound package.

Keto Considerations: Kirkland Bacon for Low-Carb Lifestyles

For those following ketogenic or low-carb diets, bacon is often considered a staple protein source. Kirkland’s regular bacon contains approximately 0.5g of carbohydrates per serving, primarily from the sugar used in curing.

The Kirkland No Sugar Added variety reduces this further, making it an ideal choice for strict keto dieters looking to minimize every gram of carbohydrate. With zero carbs, substantial fat content, and moderate protein, this variety fits perfectly into ketogenic macronutrient requirements.

Nutritional Breakdown: What’s in Your Bacon?

A typical 2-slice serving (about 16g) of Kirkland regular sliced bacon contains:

• Calories: 80
• Total Fat: 6g
• Saturated Fat: 2g
• Cholesterol: 15mg
• Sodium: 270mg
• Carbohydrates: 0.5g
• Protein: 5g

The thick-cut variety naturally contains more calories and fat per slice, as the slices are simply larger. The no-sugar variety reduces carbohydrates to zero while maintaining similar values for other nutrients.

While bacon is certainly not a health food by conventional standards, it can be enjoyed in moderation as part of a balanced diet. The protein content provides satiety, though the sodium and saturated fat content are worth considering for those monitoring these dietary components.

The Smoky Sensation: Applewood Smoked Kirkland Bacon

The applewood smoked variety deserves special mention for its distinctive flavor profile. Unlike hickory smoke, which delivers a more assertive, traditional smokiness, applewood imparts a milder, slightly sweeter character that many find more sophisticated.

This subtle difference makes the applewood variety particularly well-suited to recipes where you want the bacon to complement rather than dominate other flavors. It pairs beautifully with sweeter ingredients like maple, fruit, or caramelized onions, creating more complex flavor combinations.

Storage Solutions: Freezing and Preserving Your Bacon Investment

One of the advantages of Kirkland’s 4-pound package is the individual 1-pound sections, which make freezing exceptionally convenient. The unopened portions can go directly into the freezer in their original packaging.

For opened packages, I recommend separating the slices with parchment paper before freezing to allow for easy removal of individual slices. Properly frozen bacon maintains quality for up to 6 months.

In the refrigerator, unopened Kirkland bacon typically maintains freshness until the sell-by date printed on the package. Once opened, it’s best consumed within 7 days for optimal quality.

Shelf Life Considerations: Maximizing Freshness

The typical shelf life for unopened Kirkland bacon is approximately 2-3 weeks when refrigerated. The use-by date on the package offers a reliable guideline, though visual inspection is always wise.

Quality bacon should appear moist but not slimy, with fat that’s white or cream-colored rather than yellow or gray. Any sour smell or tacky texture indicates the bacon has begun to spoil and should be discarded.

Customer Consensus: What Bacon Lovers Are Saying

Across various consumer review platforms, Kirkland bacon consistently receives ratings between 4 and 5 stars. Reviewers particularly praise:

• The value proposition and bulk packaging
• Consistency in slice thickness and quality
• Superior flavor compared to similarly priced competitors
• Versatility across various cooking methods
• Reduced shrinkage compared to other brands

The few criticisms typically center around:

• Occasional packaging issues
• Some batches being saltier than others
• The need for freezer space to store the bulk package

The Uncured Option: Natural Preservation Methods

Kirkland’s uncured bacon represents a response to growing consumer demand for products with fewer synthetic additives. Instead of sodium nitrite, this variety uses celery powder and sea salt to preserve the meat.

It’s worth understanding that “uncured” is somewhat of a misnomer—the bacon is still cured, just with naturally occurring nitrates from celery rather than added sodium nitrite. From a chemical perspective, the end result is similar, though some consumers prefer the natural source.

The flavor profile of the uncured variety tends to be slightly milder and less “hammy” than traditional bacon, with a more straightforward pork flavor. Some connoisseurs prefer this cleaner taste, while others miss the distinctive cured flavor that conventional bacon provides.

Bulk Buying: The Costco Advantage

The 4-pound package format is one of Kirkland bacon’s most distinctive features. Each package contains four individually wrapped 1-pound sections, creating a perfect balance between bulk savings and practical usage.

For larger families or serious bacon enthusiasts, this format eliminates frequent purchases. For smaller households, the individually wrapped portions make it easy to freeze what you won’t use immediately without repackaging.

Occasionally, Costco also offers promotional multipacks that bundle two 4-pound packages together for additional savings. These special offers typically appear several times a year and represent the absolute peak of bacon value.

Culinary Applications: Beyond the Breakfast Plate

While bacon and eggs remain an iconic pairing, Kirkland bacon’s quality makes it suitable for countless culinary applications:

Wrapped Delights

The regular sliced variety works beautifully wrapped around asparagus, scallops, or dates for elegant appetizers. The flexibility of the slices allows for tight wrapping without breaking.

Flavor Foundation

Rendering bacon fat to use as a cooking medium adds tremendous depth to everything from sautéed vegetables to cornbread. Kirkland’s well-balanced fat content makes it ideal for this purpose.

Savory Baking

Incorporating chopped Kirkland bacon into biscuits, scones, or bread creates savory baked goods with pockets of smoky goodness. The thick-cut variety works particularly well here, maintaining texture and flavor through the baking process.

Ultimate BLT

The thick-cut option creates the foundation for what many consider the perfect BLT sandwich, offering substantial bacon presence that stands up to fresh tomatoes and crisp lettuce.

Candied Bacon

Brushing Kirkland bacon (particularly the applewood smoked variety) with maple syrup and brown sugar before baking creates an irresistible sweet-savory treat that works as an appetizer, salad topping, or even dessert garnish.

Five Standout Recipes Showcasing Kirkland Bacon

1. Bacon Jam Extraordinaire

This spreadable bacon condiment has become a cult favorite for good reason. Slowly caramelize diced Kirkland bacon with onions, coffee, maple syrup, and vinegar until it reduces to a thick, savory-sweet spread perfect for burgers, cheese boards, or simply slathered on crusty bread.

2. Kirkland Bacon Carbonara

The traditional Italian pasta preparation takes on new life with quality bacon. Render chopped Kirkland thick-cut bacon until crisp, then toss with hot pasta, eggs, Parmesan, and plenty of black pepper for a silky, indulgent dish.

3. Bacon-Wrapped Stuffed Chicken Breasts

Pound chicken breasts thin, fill with a mixture of cream cheese, spinach, and garlic, then wrap completely in overlapping slices of Kirkland bacon. Bake until the chicken is cooked through and the bacon is crisp for an impressive yet simple main course.

4. Ultimate Loaded Potato Soup

Start by rendering chopped Kirkland bacon, then use the flavorful fat to sauté onions and garlic. Add potatoes, broth, and cream, simmering until tender. Blend partially for texture, then top each bowl with crumbled bacon, cheese, and chives for a hearty meal.

5. Maple-Bacon Cinnamon Rolls

Roll strips of partially cooked Kirkland bacon into cinnamon roll dough before baking, then drizzle with a maple-infused glaze for a sweet-savory breakfast creation that will earn you legendary status among friends and family.

Final Verdict: Is Kirkland Bacon Worth Your Loyalty?

After exploring every aspect of Kirkland bacon—from varieties and cooking methods to nutritional information and culinary applications—the verdict is clear: Kirkland Signature bacon represents one of the best values in the meat department, delivering premium quality at a warehouse price.

The combination of consistent quality, variety of options, and significant cost savings makes Kirkland bacon worthy of its cult following. Whether you’re a casual bacon enjoyer or a dedicated enthusiast, the red-packaged bacon in Costco’s refrigerated section deserves a place in your shopping cart.

For those new to Costco or considering a membership, the exceptional quality-to-price ratio of Kirkland bacon alone might justify the annual membership fee for serious bacon lovers. When calculated across a year of bacon consumption, the savings compared to supermarket brands can easily exceed the cost of membership.

In a world of mass-produced bacon that often disappoints, Kirkland Signature stands as proof that quality and value can coexist. From its perfect sizzle to its versatile applications, this warehouse store staple has earned its place as the thinking bacon lover’s choice.

So next time you’re wheeling that oversized cart through Costco, make your way to the refrigerated section and grab that familiar red package. Your breakfast table—and your wallet—will thank you.