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Move Over Bacon: With Pork Shortage Arriving, Try These Fake Bacons
By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Sep 25, 2012
Modified Sep 25, 2012
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This morning's bacon may not have been your last, but it may have been one of the last times you'll so easily and cheaply land sizzling pork on your plate—as we heard earlier, Britain's National Pig Association says "a world shortage of pork and bacon next year is now unavoidable." But fear not, THERE IS ALWAYS FAKE BACON, and it is 100% less fleshy and just as good. Seriously, in the world of fake grocery store meats, it's the bacon that really excels, and here are some that you should stock in your bacon bunker for when the End Of Days arrives.
MORNINGSTAR VEGGIE BACON STRIPS: This is hands down the best fake bacon out there. You can microwave it, you can put it on a skillet... either way it comes out crispy! And it makes your kitchen smell like real bacon. (Note: the author of this post hasn't eaten real bacon for decades and probably doesn't know what it actually smells like.) You can always find this at Trader Joe's in the freezer section, and many smaller markets also carry it.
LIGHTLIFE SMART BACON: It's no Morningstar, but it'll do in a pinch. Lightlife does most fake meat products well, and this is no exception. We would recommend cooking these up on a skillet until they get crispy, otherwise they'll just fall limp and be a little too Canadian-bacon-like (not that there's anything wrong with that). Drizzle a little wax from that edible bacon candle on top, and you're good to go.
TEMPEH BACON: The texture is not at all bacon-like with tempeh, but some actually prefer that. These strips are also courtesy of Lightlife (though other brands make them as well), who describe their Fakin' Bacon product as having "a rich, bold flavor [that] brings that smoky, savory flavor to sandwiches, salads, or baked as a main course." These really are best enjoyed on a vegetarian BLT.
And if you really want to go crazy raw vegan with this, try the COCONUT MEAT technique:
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bacon
fake bacon
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lightlife
morningstar
pork shortage
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Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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