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?

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

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

I rarely eat them but also think it depends on your reason to be vegan and whether you just follow a vegan diet.

@AnotherMansCause have you tried seitan? You can make it yourself either by 'washing' flour or by buying vital wheat gluten. There's a recipe in the green bosh book or there's a Facebook group called something like the seitan appreciation society. The bosh recipe is a bit like steak and it's nice - Ive been veggie for over 20 years and don't like things that are too meaty (quorn is great for me) but the fact I'd made this myself and seen all the ingredients was great. My husband is a meat eater who won't touch quorn because it's a fungus' and he also enjoyed it.
On the Facebook group people make all kinds of things - fake turkey for Christmas, fake ham

@musicalfrog

Smoked aubergine is the best alternative.

Smoked aubergine you say… right that’s dinner sorted.

Another vote for This Isn’t.

Even DH eats it (big meat eater).

@Shehasadiamondinthesky

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

Thank you - although not really what I was asking

I don’t think veganiam is a different way of eating - it’s all about consuming sufficient calories for health in an enjoyable way surely? I’m sure you didn’t mean to sound preachy but comments like this aren’t helpful to the cause surely. Some people miss certain things and if fake bacon brings them joy / makes family cooking easier then that can only be a good thing. (Also - I know I should be a better person but yr post riled me - you eat vegan mince which is surely an imitation product? It’s better to applaud an encourage then preach surely. Anyway as I say I should have been the better person and ignored yr comment - but I’m tired and grumpy and didn’t!)

I did try seitan years ago & unfortunately I found the taste & texture to be just too weird. I definitely don’t fancy having to go through the rigmarole of making it, only to discover that I still don’t like it.

I was never a tremendous fan of quorn, basically a way of getting a tolerable protein intake, & then I discovered it’s a problem for my IBS anyway so I no longer eat it. Shame as they’ve since veganised more of the range.

I did manage to find some bacon flavour powder on Amazon a while ago though. It’s not bad mixed into mayonnaise & spread on a sandwich or used for a salad but obviously there’s none of the textural element. It’s very strong, a little goes a long way & the customer feedback is to put the bag into a glass jar unless you want your entire cupboard to smell of bacon…

Have you tried fried smoked tofu 'bacon' instead? Recipe in here somewhere...

veganuary.com/ten-vegan-sandwich-fillings/

I have the fussiest kids but they demand this every Saturday lunchtime with eggs etc!

The m and s one is the best I think. But I don’t eat any of them much as none are really great.
Love the holier than thou attitude from some. Blimey, some people are trying to do their bit, maybe just be nice?

@hamstersarse I do understand the argument sometimes that ultra processed vegan food can sometimes be more unhealthy than meat - however that argument really doesn’t hold up with bacon. Really interesting article below came out a few years ago and it’s worth a read.

www.theguardian.com/news/2018/mar/01/bacon-cancer-processed-meats-nitrates-nitrites-sausages

[quote hamstersarse]@PurpleDaisies ‘proper’ bacon is 100% healthier than this fake crap. Proper meaning also non processed.

You eat food for non health reasons, that’s fine, but there are some people who chose not to use food like that and only eat food which doesn’t cause harm to your body, I’m one of them,[/quote]
Proper bacon is processed meat and we are advised to keep it to a minimum.

Not eating meat at all has helped me make much healthier choices generally so I doubt that eating a slice of crispy pea protein at 50 calories will be much of an issue.

I make my facon using this recipe and love it.

yupitsvegan.com/tofu-bacon/

Nothing will ever compare to 'real' bacon, but I am not interested in recreating that, or in many meat alternatives.

I gave up eating meat for environmental reasons mainly, health reasons secondly. Being a junk food vegan is entirely possible, esp with all these imitation meats but that is not in my personal interests.

Facon bacon is my favourite, but its hard to find and a rare treat.

I can never understand why vegans want to eat fake ultraprocessed meat. The manufacturing probably causes more pollution than the genuine bacon, if you’re going vegan eat simple unprocessed food there are plenty of options.

This Isn't is really nice. Had it over the weekend with some Quorn fillets in a nice big focaccia. Yum.

@Crazykatie

I can never understand why vegans want to eat fake ultraprocessed meat. The manufacturing probably causes more pollution than the genuine bacon, if you’re going vegan eat simple unprocessed food there are plenty of options.

I think there’s many variables and it depends on their reasons for being vegan and the situation.

@Crazykatie

I can never understand why vegans want to eat fake ultraprocessed meat. The manufacturing probably causes more pollution than the genuine bacon, if you’re going vegan eat simple unprocessed food there are plenty of options.

It’s good that people have looked at the carbon emissions etc associated with plant based foods and meat. What you’re saying doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

@Crazykatie

I can never understand why vegans want to eat fake ultraprocessed meat. The manufacturing probably causes more pollution than the genuine bacon, if you’re going vegan eat simple unprocessed food there are plenty of options.

Are you PB?

If not... off you trot. Thank you

Naked without the oink is my favourite. Never liked any others. I get it from Tesco. Or costa.

Don't ever buy Tesco Plant chef meat free ham. Tastes like chemical blotting paper. Vile.

@LadyLazarus40
Late to this thread but

Tofoo sliced thinly and marinated in smoked paprika & winiary liquid seasoning
Then fried until crispy

Can't beat it I promise

And yes it's got to be that brand of tofu

[quote Greenrubber]@LadyLazarus40
Late to this thread but

Tofoo sliced thinly and marinated in smoked paprika & winiary liquid seasoning
Then fried until crispy

Can't beat it I promise[/quote]
Thank you! Will try it out!

Agree with the vivera lovers! Any of the quorn ones are vile! My meat eating dp is converted to vivera bacon bits.

Tip is to fry them up really crispy in plenty of olive oil

I tried a recipe for "bacon" using sliced Portobello mushroom, soy sauce, Worcester sauce and smoked paprika, then oven roasted. They added that salty, meaty hit that I missed ( I'm not vegan, but trying to limit processed food)