Umaro Applewood Smoke Plant-Based Vegan Bacon

Yes, it's expensive, the package is pretty small, and it's definitely not a health-food, but then again, people don't eat real bacon for the nutritional profile either. I cooked this bacon in the air fryer according to the package instructions (it cooks fast-- only takes a couple of minutes) and it turned out so good. The crispiness level is like what you get when you cook real bacon for a long time-- totally crispy through and through. There is a really nice, but not overwhelming smokiness to the bacon, and it honestly smells like I remember real bacon smelling. If you eat it plain, you can tell that it's mostly made of oil and starches, but the flavor and crispiness are so good that even my omnivore husband called it "amazing." I don't necessarily think it would impress meat eaters as just "bacon" to have with breakfast, but it is perfect for putting in sandwiches, or crumbling it as a topping. We had the bacon on Beyond burgers, and it was seriously so good that my husband raved about them for days. This is also the first vegan bacon I've tried that is also perfect for BLTs, as all the seitan or mushroom based bacons are too chewy. I am absolutely ecstatic to have finally found a vegan bacon that is up to the task.

It’s a true find. I like it better than real Bacon. I cook what I need in my little air fryer (with a liner in the air fryer to collect oil - reduces need to wash air fryer pan). Cook at 350-400 for 4 minutes and it’s perfect. Cook it longer for a more crunchy texture. Less for chewier texture. Taste is just as good and more consistent! Highly recommend!

Ok, I was really excited to try this based on reviews. Here's a tip, DO NOT fry in oil. It's oily enough so there is no need for extra oil. Crisps up fine without it. I have fried it, microwaved it and eaten unheated right out of the package. The description clearly states that there are 27 servings per package and 3 strips are considered a serving. That would indicate that there are 81 strips. There isn't, there are only about 9 strips or so. Taste is good. I like it. Definitely not healthy. Number 1 ingredient is oil. How is that even possible? Because of the high oil content it doesn't really spoul quickly and is shelf stable. You can even eat it right out of the bag. I do use a paper towel to pat it dry to absorb some of the oil. You can practically ring oil out of them. Texture is interesting, kinda like a firm foam. Not bad, I like it. It would be nice if the strips came out of the bag flat and not all curled up. Makes them hard to cook evenly. I won't buy again only because the price for what you get. $9 for a little over 2oz.... yikes!

Update second package wasn’t crispy so I assume the seal was broken on package one. It was easier to cook and eat! Wasn’t shards of it more like flexible strips. Ok a little breakdown that I hope helps Yes it’s oily/greasy kind of, but not nearly as greasy as the real deal I don’t know how it would be as a side dish by itself but on sandwiches/burgers/breakfast stuff it’s phenomenal It’s sold by weight ultimately so counts may vary My package had easily enough for 4 BLTs like the one in my photo It cooks FAST so keep flipping it and watching it in the pan do not do anything else but babysit this while it cooks up My non vegan family was literally mind blown by the taste of this product and I genuinely enjoyed having such a savory salty smoky BLT again Even your pets will be fooled as my dog stared at me the whole time I was eating as you can see in my photo All in all it was a great treat and a great value when you break down the cost per serving and I have already re ordered it

I have never been a huge fan of veggie bacon. This one looked suspicious when I pulled it out and tried to cook it but it actually tasted pretty good! It was pretty salty.

This bacon is for real. I remain stunned at how they've gotten the crispy texture right. I've cooked it in a pan as well as in the air fryer. It comes out perfect in the air fryer. What I love about the air fryer is that the oil falls through the crisper try to the bottom of the basket, leaving just perfectly crispy, and less oily, bacon. I like mine cooked a little more than recommended, so in my Cosori air fryer I go at 365 for five minutes. This is perfect for me and my partner. We've been using this in all sorts of recipes: breakfast sandwiches, breakfast quesadillas, salads, baked potatoes, etc. It's best when added just before eating, though you do have a decent runway before it begins to take on moisture from the rest of the recipe depending on what you're cooking. This bacon is perfect. They've really outdone themselves at Umaro. Remember, you're eating bacon here, and while it's not the apex of healthy food, it's a lot better health-wise, and kinder than traditional pig meat.

I was looking forward to trying a crispy vegan bacon. It did crisp up and flavor was okay, but the extremely oily taste (even after blotting it with paper towels) was unappealing.

I cut these strips in half and heated them in the air fryer, 350° for 2-3 minutes. Added this to toasted sourdough with v mayo, lettuce and tomato and wow was this delicious, really hit that BLT spot. I would never eat this as a standalone, it's a weird texture and it looks odd as well but it works amazingly in a BLT sandwich and deserves a 4 star rating for that alone. It's got a thick greasiness when it comes out of the package but if you look at the ingredients you can see why. My daughter tried this also and she liked it very much as well. This is shelf stable which is nice, you need less than you think for a sandwich. I used almost half a package for a large BLT, I could have been more frugal and gotten 4 BLTs out of this whole pack which would have totally made it worth the cost. I'll grab extra on S&S to keep on hand.