What is Rindless Bacon? A Guide to This Delicious Pork Product

Crispy, smoky bacon is a staple ingredient in many breakfasts, sandwiches, burgers, and more But traditional bacon slices come with an extra component you may not want – the chewy rind Rindless bacon provides all the salty, savory flavor of regular bacon without this tough exterior layer. Keep reading to learn all about this popular bacon variant.

What is Bacon Rind?

First, let’s understand what the rind on regular bacon is Bacon begins as a full pork belly with skin on one side This skin, after the curing and smoking process, becomes the rind.

It has a tough, rubbery texture that contrasts with the tender, fatty meat of the bacon. The rind also has a more intense pork flavor compared to the smoked bacon meat.

While some enjoy eating bacon rind, others find it unappealing in terms of mouthfeel and strong taste. This led to the development of rindless bacon.

Introducing Rindless Bacon

Rindless bacon, also called rind-off bacon, is simply normal cured and smoked pork belly without the rind attached. After processing, the rind or skin layer is removed completely before packaging.

This leaves just the streaky layers of fat and lean meat that bacon is prized for. Rindless bacon provides all the characteristic smoky, salty, umami flavors – without having to chew through the tough exterior rind.

How is Rindless Bacon Prepared?

To make rindless bacon, pork bellies go through the standard bacon preparation process:

• Cured with salts, sugars, and spices
• Cold smoked to impart flavor
• Chilled to firm up for slicing

Then, an additional step is added where the rind or skin is removed. This is done either by:

• Using a sharp knife to slice off the rind before cutting bacon slices
• Running the cured belly through a machine that automatically trims the rind

The result is a rind-free slab ready to be portioned into bacon slices or chops. Some rindless bacons may have a very thin sliver of rind remaining but most of the tough skin is removed.

Benefits of Rindless Bacon

There are a few advantages that rindless bacon offers compared to regular bacon:

• No chewy, rubbery rind to avoid or trim yourself
• Milder flavor closer to the bacon meat rather than intense pork rind
• More uniform appearance without rind along edges
• Smoother texture and mouthfeel
• Arguably more appetizing visual appeal

For those who find bacon rind unpalatable, rindless provides all the tasty benefits of bacon without the parts some find undesirable.

How to Cook Rindless Bacon

Rindless bacon can be prepared just like regular bacon. The cooking process doesn’t need to be altered. Some quick tips:

• Pan frying – Lay strips flat in a cold skillet, then cook over medium heat until desired doneness. Pour off grease as it accumulates.

• Baking – Place slices on a foil or parchment lined baking sheet. Bake at 400°F for 15-18 minutes, flipping halfway through.

• Microwaving – Lay strips between paper towels in a microwave-safe dish. Microwave in 30 second bursts, checking frequently to prevent burning.

• Cook until it reaches your preferred level of crispness. Enjoy rindless bacon on its own or add it to all kinds of entrees, sandwiches, salads and more!

Where to Buy Rindless Bacon

Rindless bacon may not be as readily available as regular bacon with the rind on. But you can find it in many major grocery stores, especially ones with larger specialty meat sections. Here are some places to check:

• Butcher counters or meat markets
• Farmers markets from local pork vendors
• Premium grocery stores like Whole Foods
• Online meat delivery services like ButcherBox

Rindless bacon is often sold in the pre-packaged sliced bacon section. Look for clear packaging that shows the absent rind. Prices are comparable to regular packaged bacon.

You may also be able to request custom rindless bacon from your local butcher. They can prepare pork belly exactly to your preferences.

Popular Uses for Rindless Bacon

Rindless bacon fits right in to any dish that calls for regular bacon. Here are some of the most popular ways to enjoy it:

• Breakfast plates – eggs, pancakes, hashbrowns
• BLTs and club sandwiches
• Burgers and hot dogs
• Salads – wedge, spinach, broccoli slaw
• Soups – potato, clam chowder, ramen
• Pasta dishes – carbonara, spaghetti, mac and cheese
• Brussels sprouts, roasted vegetables
• Baked potatoes, twice baked potatoes
• Appetizers – jalapeño poppers, stuffed mushrooms

And much more! Rindless bacon offers flexibility to customize your bacon experience.

Homemade Rindless Bacon

You can also easily make your own rindless bacon at home with just a few simple steps:

1. Purchase a pork belly slab and trim off the skin and any bones.

2. Make a dry cure mix (salt, sugar, spices). Generously rub cure all over meat.

3. Refrigerate pork belly in the cure mix for 5-7 days flipping occasionally.

4. Rinse cured pork belly and pat dry.

5. Smoke the belly until desired flavor develops.

6. Slice pork belly into rindless bacon slices. Enjoy!