There’s nothing quite like bacon. That smoky smell. The crispy texture. The tantalising mix of savoury and sweet.
It is why many of us just can’t give up meat for good. So, it’s no surprise manufacturers have been working to create a meat-free substitute — made from everything from coconut to fungus to pea protein — to satisfy the most determined carnivores (and vegans with withdrawal symptoms).
Plant-based bacon is often better for our health, too. Processed meats having been labelled a class one carcinogen by the World Health Organization. The NHS also recommends cutting down.
Vegan Tanith Carey and her husband carnivore Anthony, gave their verdict on a selection of meat-free bacon including Wheaty Vegan Bacon (pictured)
UK consumers seem to be embracing meat-free meals. One in six food products launched last year contained no animal ingredients — a higher proportion than in any other country — according to market research company Mintel.
As a vegan of four years it won’t take much to convince me to give meat-free bacon a try. But can the fake bacon or ‘facon’ convince my carnivore husband Anthony?
Bacon made from wheat
Wheaty Vegan Bacon (£1.79 for 5 rashers, thevegankindsupermarket.com)
What is it? The pack doesn’t look promising. Inside there are five stubby strips made of seitan, a wheat protein.
The vegan’s verdict: It’s been a long time since I’ve had bacon, but this slightly rubbery texture isn’t taking me back. It has 35.3g of protein, enough to silence any pesky meat-eater asking: ‘Where do you get your protein from?’
The carnivore’s verdict: The main flavour is onion, summoning up memories of the stuffing I’d have with Christmas dinner, rather than a full English. While tasty, it looks nothing like the real thing.
Bacon rating: 2/5
Maple syrup strips
Tofurky Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Strips (£4.59 for 15, ocado.com)
Tanith says Tofurky Treehouse Tempeh Smoky Maple Bacon Marinated Strips (pictured) don’t look like real bacon
What is it? At first glance, this is baffling as in the packet it looks like vacuum-packed mince. The weird-looking finger-like pieces are made of grains of tempeh, a type of fermented soy bean, marinated in maple syrup.
The vegan’s verdict: These don’t look like anything I’ve seen in my life. They look like little seeds glued together and crumble in the frying pan. This will never convince Anthony to go vegan.
The carnivore’s verdict: This is intensely smoky in flavour, but not bacon as I’ve ever experienced it. Still, at 115 calories per 100g, a quarter of the amount found in many bacons, I could forsake my rashers for these for my arteries’ sake. 3/5
Smoked with beech
Sgaia Mheat Streaky Rashers (£4.15 for four, thevegankindsupermarket.com)
Anthony says he wouldn’t have initially spotted that Sgaia Mheat Streaky Rashers (pictured) isn’t real bacon
What is it? A blend of soya and protein, and flavoured with beechwood liquid smoke, as well as onion, garlic, beetroot and molasses.
The vegan’s verdict: It looks like the real thing and cooks and sizzles like bacon, but the beech-wood gives the game away.
The carnivore’s verdict: I don’t think I could have told this facon wasn’t made of pig meat at first sight, though the taste might have alerted me. At just 1.4g total fat, my arteries would have appreciated it though. 4/5
Pea protein rashers
This Isn’t Bacon Plant-based Rashers (£3.19 for 10, ocado.com)
Tanith and Anthony were both impressed with This Isn’t Bacon Plant-based Rashers (pictured) for its taste and appearance
What is it? Radish, carrot and paprika give this the bacon’s pink hue. The rashers are made of pea and soya protein, so it’s very high in protein, with 24.5g per 100g.
The vegan’s verdict: The rashers looked like slimy kippers but fry it and something magical happens. It gets crispy and streaky, turning into an eerily convincing re-creation of the real thing.
The carnivore’s verdict: This facon could lure me to the vegan side. It’s so finely sliced it became crunchy when cooked, exactly mimicking the real thing. 5/5
Fungus the bacon
Quorn Vegetarian Bacon (£1.75 for eight, ocado.com)
Tanith says she wouldn’t eat Quorn Vegetarian Bacon (pictured) because it contains egg, but she’s glad it’s available
What is it? This is made from mycoprotein, a high-protein fungus, which is then fermented, dried and mixed with egg.
The vegan’s verdict: This facon comes as pink oblong strips. As it contains egg, it’s off the menu for me. Regardless, I am still glad it’s out there as it takes 90 per cent less land and water to make than using pigs.
The carnivore’s verdict: I haven’t seen meat this pink and fake-looking since Spam at school. This one tasted too sugary and lacked the smoky notes of its rivals. 1/5
More than 30 ingredients
Vegan Cartel Vegan Bacon (£4.20 for 12, thevegankind supermarket.com)
Anthony says Vegan Cartel Vegan Bacon (pictured) is sweet, smoky, and every bit as decadent tasting as real bacon
What is it? To recreate the ‘cured’ flavour of bacon, more than 30 extra ingredients have been added to the wheat gluten base.
The vegan’s verdict: Excellent bacon replica, though it has around the same amount of calories as the real thing. It’s delicious, convincing in taste and appearance.
The carnivore’s verdict: Salty, sweet and smoky, this is every bit as decadent tasting as real bacon. Our dog Honey couldn’t tell the difference either. 4/5
Red with added iron
Vbites Cheatin’ Rashers (£2.30 for 7, Morrisons)
Tanithy and Anthony say Vbites Cheatin’ Rashers (pictured) doesn’t remind them of bacon and has a robust texture
What is it? A blend of soya, wheat gluten and vegetable fat ‘formed’ into bacon-flavour rashers, then coloured with iron oxide to give a red hue.
The vegan’s verdict: This is like no bacon I remember. Still, its robust texture means it would be a good addition to pasta sauce or used instead of pepperoni on a pizza.
The carnivore’s verdict: It lost its spam-like hue when fried and had the consistency of lightly browned leather. It tasted like salted cardboard. 1/5