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The Daily Horizon

Where does Kirkland get their bacon from?

Author

Matthew Wilson

Updated on January 13, 2026

Unable to find a precooked bacon of high enough quality, Costco turned to its current bacon supplier, Hormel, to make one.

Who makes Costco's Kirkland bacon?

Costco relies on Hormel for its hickory-smoked pre-cooked bacon. Costco sells several types of bacon, most of which are marketed under its Kirkland brand. But there is one exception: the store's hickory-smoked, pre-cooked bacon, which is made by — and branded as — Hormel.

What kind of bacon do they sell at Costco?

Kirkland Signature Bacon, Hickory Smoked, Sliced, 1 lb, 4-count | Costco.

Is Costco bacon a good deal?

Costco's Kirkland Signature bacon has seen a spike in demand during the pandemic. It's cheaper than its competitors at under $4 a pound for both the regular and thick-sliced strips. The regular bacon wasn't special, but the thick-sliced strips were some of the best I've tasted.

Does Costco bacon have nitrates?

Costco must haves:

Our Handcrafted Small Batch Hickory Smoked Bacon has been tumbled with a sweet and savory dry rub seasoning. There's no MSG, no gluten, no lactose, no nitrates or nitrites. Our pork is humanely raised without the use of antibiotics or growth stimulants and fed no animal by-products.

We Finally Know Why Costco's Bacon Is So Cheap

Is Costco bacon uncured?

We are excited to announce starting Wednesday, September 25th, Tender Belly No Sugar Dry-Rub Uncured Bacon will be available in select Costco Warehouse locations in the Bay Area region. Our signature dry-rub uncured bacon you have come to love, but without the sugar and Paleo + Keto Certified.

Is Kirkland bacon whole 30?

Yes – Kirkland Signature Bacon is Whole30 approved! Packaging should read as follows: Cured With Water, Salt, Sodium Phosphate, Sodium Erythorbate, Sodium Nitrate.

Why is Costco bacon so expensive?

Kirkland Signature Bacon

This price hike has been in the works since early 2021, after factors such as high demand, inflation, and swine flu caused pork to be in short supply. While Costco intended to fend off the price increases, it finally happened.

How long is Costco bacon good for after opening?

Once you open the package, the bacon should keep quality for about a week. Or less, if you've opened it after the date on the label. What is this? Once you've cooked the bacon, it can last for about 4 to 5 days in the fridge.

Do Kirkland bacon bits need to be refrigerated?

Make sure to refrigerate the bag after opening. You can add bacon crumbles to eggs, salads, potatoes, sandwiches, pasta, pizza or even on burgers instead of bacon strips.

Where is Benton's bacon made?

Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams & Bacon is in Madsonville, Tennessee. Started by the late Albert Hicks in 1947, Allan Benton and his father, B.D. Benton, took over the business in 1973 and renamed it, moving it to the current location. Benton's Smoky Mountain Country Hams are slow-cured with salt and brown sugar.

Is Kirkland bacon precooked?

THICK CUT- Fully-cooked, you can heat it up in the microwave. PORK CURED- Keep refrigerated. NATURALLY WOOD SMOKED- Traditional flavor. PREMIUM QUALITY BACON- Tasty and juicy bacon for your meals.

Does Costco meat have antibiotics and hormones?

Poultry Antibiotic Update

By the end of 2022, 95% of Kirkland Signature chicken products (defined as frozen, sold in the meat case, rotisserie and raised with No Antibiotics Ever) sold in the U.S. will be raised without routine use of antibiotics important to human medicine.

Where do Kirkland products come from?

Who Makes Kirkland Signature Products? Surprisingly, Costco does not produce, package, or manufacture anything sold through the Kirkland Signature brand. Instead, many of the Kirkland Signature products sold at Costco are manufactured by national brands such as Starbucks, Humboldt Creamery, Niagara, and Ocean Spray.

Who owns Costco Kirkland?

Kirkland Signature is owned by Costco, which makes it a private label. That means they control their prices by ruling out third-party distributors. The result? Prices that are typically 20% lower than traditional retail, which is part of what keeps customers coming back (via Business Insider).

How long does Kirkland bacon last?

The best before date on the package is about four months from the date we purchased the bacon.

Can you eat 2 year old frozen bacon?

Editor: According to the USDA, fresh or thawed bacon should be used within 7 days. Technically, frozen food will stay safe to eat nearly indefinitely, but for the sake of quality and taste we tend to freeze bacon no more than a few months.

How do you make Kirkland bacon?

  1. Preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. ...
  2. Place parchment paper over top of the aluminum foil.
  3. Lay bacon flat on baking tray, trying not to overlap the strips. ...
  4. Bake in the oven for 25 to 30 minutes, or until you've reached your desired doneness.

Can you still eat expired bacon?

You should not eat bacon that is past the “use by” date or is more than 7 days after the “sell by” date. If the date is good but you're still not sure, smell the bacon to see if it still has a fresh smell. If it smells sour or off, it's probably bad.

Did Costco bacon prices go up?

As good as Costco's thick-sliced bacon may be, it's price has gone up more than 60% since last year. In May of 2021, the Kirkland Signature thick-sliced bacon was going for $10.99 for a three pound package ($3.66 per pound), according to Insider.

Does Kirkland bacon have sugar?

Sugar free. Keep refrigerated. Trans Fat 0g per serving.

Does Costco carry organic bacon?

Pederson Natural Farms Antibiotic Free Uncured No Sugar Bacon, 10 oz, 16-pack | Costco.

Can you buy bacon without nitrates?

All bacon is nitrate free bacon.

Due to USDA labeling requirements, nitrite free bacon has been labeled as “uncured bacon.” Much of the spike took place in October 2015 when the World Health Organization declared bacon (and other cured meats) a carcinogen because of the ingredient sodium nitrate.

What is in uncured bacon?

The issue is that “uncured” bacon is actually cured. It's cured using exactly the same stuff — nitrite — used in ordinary bacon. It's just that, in the “uncured” meats, the nitrite is derived from celery or beets or some other vegetable or fruit naturally high in nitrate, which is easily converted to nitrite.

What brand of bacon is Whole30 compliant?

Wellshire Whole30 Approved Bacon

Where to buy: Wellshire is an exclusive brand to Whole Foods (store locator), but you can also order online on their website.