Bacon Bargains: Just How Cheap is Aldi’s Bacon?

Crispy, salty, smoky bacon is a breakfast staple for many But with rising food costs, finding affordable bacon can be a challenge This is where Aldi comes in – the German discount grocery chain is known for its incredibly low prices. But does Aldi’s bacon live up to the hype when it comes to value? Let’s break down the bacon options at Aldi and see just how cheap you can get sizzling strips of pork belly.

Aldi’s Bacon Brands and Selection

Walk down the refrigerated section at Aldi and you’ll find bacon sold under a couple different brand names

• Appleton Farms – Aldi’s standard house brand bacon comes in several varieties like smoked thick-cut center cut, and low sodium. Appleton Farms accounts for most of Aldi’s bacon selection.

• Never Any! – Aldi’s antibiotic-free bacon range also includes unique flavors like Brown Sugar. As a premium line, Never Any is priced slightly higher than Appleton Farms.

• Jamestown Brand – The only national brand bacon carried at select Aldi locations. Jamestown bacon provides another pork option beyond the Aldi private labels.

Overall, Aldi has a decent bacon assortment covering various tastes, budgets, and dietary needs. While limited compared to a traditional supermarket, there are still plenty of packages to choose from.

How Much Does Aldi Bacon Cost?

Aldi promises prices up to 50% lower than national brands. But does bacon specifically live up to these savings? Let’s compare:

• Appleton Farms Thick Cut Bacon (16 oz): $4.29
• Oscar Mayer Thick Cut Bacon (16 oz): $6.79

The name brand Oscar Mayer bacon costs $2.50 more than Aldi’s Appleton Farms. Over 50% savings, just as advertised!

Similarly, the Appleton Farms center cut bacon rings up at $3.79 for a 12 oz package compared to $5.99 for a similar Hormel Black Label pack elsewhere. That’s a 37% discount.

Across all varieties, Aldi’s store brand bacon consistently undercuts the national brands by $2-3 per pack. Even the premium Never Any line prices below name brands like Nueske’s.

Why is Aldi Bacon So Cheap?

These impressive bacon bargains stem from Aldi’s unique business model:

• Minimal advertising – Aldi doesn’t run TV commercials or print flyers with high advertising rates. These costs aren’t passed on to customers.

• Limited selection – Aldi only stocks best-selling items. By limiting product range, Aldi can order huge quantities and get better rates from suppliers.

• Store brands – 90% of products at Aldi are private label. Manufacturing their own brands cuts out the middleman and markup of big bacon brands.

• No frills stores – Aldi’s no-fuss store layouts and minimal décor keep overhead low. The savings get handed down to shoppers.

• Quarter carts – Want a shopping cart? Just deposit a quarter. Aldi keeps cart theft down without paying employees to wrangle them all day.

Thanks to its unique cost-cutting model, Aldi sells its bacon for 30-50% less than the big guys.

Is Aldi’s Cheap Bacon Still Good Quality?

Cheap bacon makes sense in theory, but how does the taste and quality stack up? Unfortunately, reviews of Aldi’s bacon are very mixed:

• “Floppy and fatty” – Many customers complain Appleton Farms bacon is overly fatty and impossible to cook properly. The thin slices stick together in a blob of grease.

• “Tough and dry” – On the flip side, some find Appleton Farms too dry or tough when cooked instead of nice and crispy. Quality control seems to be lacking.

• “Weird white spots” – Several shoppers mentioned white or yellowish pigmentation on the raw bacon slices – not very appetizing!

The bottom line is you get what you pay for with discount groceries. To hit these prices, quality is clearly being sacrificed. There’s a reason the national brands cost more.

However, Aldi’s Never Any line seems to fare better than the standard Appleton Farms. The antibiotic-free, vegetarian-fed pigs apparently produce better bacon. If choosing Aldi, it may be worth paying a bit more for the Never Any bacon.

Tips for Buying Bacon at Aldi

To score the best bacon deals at Aldi, keep these shopping tips in mind:

• Stick to middle shelf packages – top or bottom rows tend to sit longer

• Check dates – choose packages with furthest from expiration dates

• Inspect closely – avoid packs with off-color spots or oxidation

• Consider thicker slices – these tend to cook more evenly than thin bacon

• Buy Never Any if available – costs a bit more but higher quality

• Buy in bulk – save more when purchasing family packs or multiple packages

• Freeze extras – freeze any unopened packs for longer storage

The Verdict: Is Aldi Worth It for Bacon?

There’s no denying you’ll pay far less for bacon at Aldi compared to big supermarkets. But once cooked up, the disappointing quality and inconsistency may have you running back to the national brands.

If you’re really pinching pennies, Aldi bacon can fill the breakfast bill. Just inspect packages closely and adjust cooking times as needed. But those who prioritize taste and quality over bargain basement prices are probably better off spending a bit more for bacon that reliably hits the spot.

At the end of the day, Aldi bacon comes down to a classic case of getting what you pay for!