Bringing up the rear (but definitely not the worst because there are a number of brands that didn’t make the cut) is Hormel’s Black Label Thick Cut Bacon.

The flavor of the thick cut Hormel bacon strips is above average, but not as good as I had hoped.  Hormel bacon is a little higher than usual in cost, but not as expensive as Wright’s bacon or other premium bacon.  For that cost, you won’t receive nearly as much satisfaction as you would like.

The taste is on the saltier side.  The cuts are nice and thick, but there is some inconsistency in size and thickness, which results in uneven cooking between strips if you leave them on for the same amount of time (which some might see as a benefit when cooking for large groups, as people always want different levels of crispiness).  I found the flavor to be very rich, but the saltiness was very much the front-end flavor.  I would have preferred a little more variety in flavor. Texture was solid and meaty, and not too “cheap” feeling.  But we did have trouble getting the bacon to cook through without burning on just medium heat.

Overall, I was fairly pleased with Hormel’s Thick Cut Original bacon strips.  I wouldn’t put it up against the best bacon out there, and so far, Carolina Pride is my personal LOCAL favorite for flavor, texture, and ease of cooking (but read on to see where it lands in our Top 10!).  Hormel Thick Cut Original still satisfies the hungriest bacon-lovers, and the extra salty flavor might be just what you need to counterbalance that sweet Orange Juice you’re drinking!

Nerd Hint: When cooked to full or extra crispiness, this bacon crumbles very well and that extra saltiness tastes great crumbled over some hash browns with melted cheese and ketchup.

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