Fake bacon - is it all horrid?

[LadyLazarus40]

Dd is working hard towards becoming a vegan - we tried some fake bacon today and it looked and tasted unpleasant- her comment was it was like a bad frazzle! I was a vegetarian for 20+ years but never ate imitation meat (or whatever it’s called).

Are there any fake bacon products which have a decent taste / texture or should we give up the search?

Bacon is still processed. Eating too much processed meat is linked with bowel cancer.

www.nhs.uk/live-well/eat-well/red-meat-and-the-risk-of-bowel-cancer/

I've given up with the fake meats so watching with interest.

I quite like crispy onion bits to get a crunch in a salad or sandwich. And smoked paprika in a tomato sauce to give the smokeyness.

I bought it for DD. I can't remember what brand but it was the one with best ratings. Oh it was vile. I am not a big fan of real bacon anyway and smoked meats in general make me heave. The fake bacon was overly 'smoked'. Like they really focussed on the 'woodsmoke' flavour to make it as bacony as possible. I've only ever really eaten unsmoked rashers/streaky bacon on the very odd occasion.
I don't know if all fake bacon is overly 'smoked', but it was just nauseating. DD hated it. Fortunately, we're not bacon lovers. I don't know why I bought fake bacon since we hardly ever at the real stuff.

Bad science there @PurpleDaisies

Basic intuition tells you these fake foods aren’t good for you…the minute it hits your mouth. But you carry on eating your Frankenstein food if it makes you happy, no issues from me, it’s a free world.

I’ve just recently stopped eating pork products and am trying out alternatives. I tried the ‘This Isn’t Bacon’ yesterday in a sandwich. I really didn’t enjoy it.
It tasted like smokey bacon crisps and I didn’t like the texture.

I think I may not bother with the bacon side of things. There are lots of veg sausages that I like so may stick with those. Glad to have found this thread!

I'll tell you what is decent- not the bomb, but pretty alright in a lot of gravy with some decent mash- are Richmond vegan sausages. My kids like those ones. I have always preferred the Linda McCartney ones. I get both. I am not vegan but I was for years in my 20s until I moved to Paris and discovered steak frites. Now at 50, I'm back to being a part-time vegetarian and with a vegan DD, I have to rediscover that whole world. It's very different than the 'and what shall we do with lentils and rice today' approach I took years ago.

'this isn't bacon' is the best one I've tried.

Still haven't found a nice vegan cheese though

I'm with your DD. I do not share MN's Richmond love, both bacon and sausages are truly awful.
Imo there is nothing she can use as a substitute and bacon is one thing many vegetarians/vegans have to resign themselves to missing.

@hamstersarse

Bad science there *@PurpleDaisies*

Basic intuition tells you these fake foods aren’t good for you…the minute it hits your mouth. But you carry on eating your Frankenstein food if it makes you happy, no issues from me, it’s a free world.

But joins thread 😂😂🧐as can’t help self.

I've not found one that doesn't have a really artificial, smoky taste. Oomph! used to sell frozen bacon bits that were ok for things like pasta dishes but I haven't seen them on sale for a while.
I haven't tried Richmond but I thought the sausages were absolutely rank, so that has put me off trying anything else by them.

I don’t mind it in a roll but also add a large grilled portobello mushroom and garlic vegan mayo

I'm veggie and have found a favourite product to replace burgers, sausages, chicken, even the Quorn 'steaks' I quite like. Bacon, no. DH eats the Richmond and Naked ones which he says are the best of a bad bunch but they taste so horribly fake and smoky to me. The This Isn't Bacon one I couldn't face at all, it was vile.

There is a recipe to make 'bacon' out of aubergine that I keep meaning to try but not got round to it yet.

Smoked aubergine is the best alternative.

My daughter only eats the Richmond one, I agree it's better when cooked for longer.

I don't think any of them are that nice though, DD took me to a vegan cafe and the food was really good, but even there the fake bacon wasn't very nice.

Not bacon related but one a meat eater and yesterday I tried the mcplant burger. Texture and taste is just like a burger, although thicker than a McDonald’s one. The cheese you could really taste much.

I would definitely recommend and would have again!

@IntendingWell

The vivera bacon bits are really nice.

I can’t get enough of these, they are one of my favourite meat free items. Use them in so many things.

I never eat imitation products. Vegan is a totally different way of eating from meat eating and vegetarianism.

I had the vegan bacon roll from Costa Coffee and found it nice but not sure if what they use is for sale separately in supermarkets etc

@Sleepless234

The "This Isn't" bacon is the best of the ones Ive tried. It doesn't try to look like a rasher, but it has a great flavour and texture for sandwiches etc. Fry it till crispy.

DW cant stand the smell of them cooking though unfortunately.

Dh swears by this stuff. I don’t like any fake meats but can confirm it smells quite bacon-y when fried We get it in our local sainsburys

@MimiDaisy11 Costa use NakedOink bacon in their rolls.

Been vegan for years and tried lots of different ones. I haven’t found any that are particularly close to real bacon in taste and texture, but for me that is a good thing. I was disappointed with the Richmond rashers as I love their sausages. NakedOink is quite nice. My favourite is This Isn’t Bacon: texture is completely different but it does have a lovely flavour.

I am a meat eater but think that griddled halloumi has the taste and texture of bacon and goes well for breakfast with runny egg, tomatoes and mushrooms.

@KimWexlersPonyTail

I am a meat eater but think that griddled halloumi has the taste and texture of bacon and goes well for breakfast with runny egg, tomatoes and mushrooms.

That’s not vegan

DP informs me that it all tastes like smoked cardboard. Actually, his description is usually much, much longer and more detailed. It's like an episode of Masterchef. Every time I spot a new version, I bring it home (bring home the bacon, ha!) in the hope that this will be the one he likes. He hasn't liked any.

You must be very proud of yourself @Shehasadiamondinthesky. Your 'different' way of eating food and all that.

I like the quorn one, the frozen one not the refrigerated one - they don't look or taste the same for some reason.