Frequently Asked Questions

Share our insanely high standards for quality and want to be a supplier to Tender Belly? Send us an email to info@tenderbelly.com and we'll connect you to our purchasing team to determine if we have any needs.

We'd love to sell Tender Belly at your local grocery store. If you can't find us on our Where to Buy page, and you want your local store to carry us, chances are they could make a special order for you. Ask the store manager the next time you're grocery shopping and can't find us. To get them to carry us on a regular basis takes a little more work, but we are actively contacting grocery and retail buyers asking them to carry our Certified Awesome products. Spread the word and hopefully you'll see us in your local store soon.

Curing is a process used to preserve food. It also can add flavor. Curing can be done by smoking meat or packing them with salt. A combination of salt, sugar, and other flavors tastes better though. Cured bacon is preserved with a preparation of salt and sodium nitrites. Nitrites are additives that are responsible for giving bacon its pink color. Uncured bacon is bacon that hasn't been cured with sodium nitrites. Usually, it's cured with a form celery powder, which contains natural nitrites, and plain old sea salt. Uncured bacon has to be labeled: Uncured bacon. No nitrates or nitrites added. So -- our products still have nitrates and nitrites which help preserve the meat but they are derived from natural ingredients.

Our cured bacon has a shelf life of 90 days from pack date fresh and 360 days frozen. Our uncured bacon has a shelf life of 60 days from pack date fresh and 360 days frozen.

Our hams have a shelf life of 90 days from pack date fresh and 360 days frozen.

Tender Belly is not organic. But, we are always focused on doing things better. We pay serious attention to where food is raised or grown and how it's processed. From our pork itself to the other spices and ingredients we use to create our premium products, we make sure everything is sourced with care. We make every effort to be humane and environmentally conscious. We choose farms close to our processing plants to cut down on unnecessary transportation. We promote feed that is good for the environment, much of which comes from the same farmers that raise our hogs.

We can ship fresh product only on special request, but otherwise it is shipped frozen.

Visit the Where to Buy page on our website and search for Tender Belly products near you. Enter your zip code in the locator and find the closest store.

Yes, Tender Belly products are available wholesale and are available for retail and foodservice customers. For more information, visit our Wholesale page and fill out the request form. One of our pork purveyors will get back to you. You may also contact us by sending us and email at info@tenderbelly.com.

To get the latest Tender Belly updates, recipes and Certified Awesome offers, sign up for our email newsletter by entering your email in the Sign up for Sizzle box at the bottom of our web site. If you are more of a social follower, check us out on Instagram , like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.

Tender Belly represents a commitment to push boundaries and challenge conventions in order to redefine expectations. It's why all of our pork products come from animals raised without any antibiotics, ever, vegetarian fed and crate-free*. It's why you see us celebrating chefs who are redefining modern cuisine and championing athletes who are reaching new heights. It's why you can count on anything with Tender Belly’s name on it to be #crazytasty. *No Tender Belly hogs are ever confined in a crate.

Our Heritage Breed hogs are fed a vegetarian diet, meaning they eat grains and grasses.

Not all of our products are. If they are they will be be clearly noted on the label or package.

Yes, our No Sugar Dry-Rub Uncured Bacon is.

Yes, our No Sugar Dry-Rub Uncured Bacon is.

When it comes to bacon, the Duffys know best. They recommend cooking Tender Belly bacon in a cold cast iron skillet, over a medium heat. Brown until slighly crispy , flipping the bacon once, about 4-5 minutes per side. It's how you get that delicious, caramelized flavor that makes bacon the best meat ever invented.

Our Honey Glazed Uncured Sprial Hams come fully cooked. Pre-heat your oven to 275 degrees F. Leave the foil on the ham and place the defrosted ham on the flat side in a roasting pan. Heat the ham to an internal temperature of 120 degrees F. Roasting time is generally 6-8 minutes per pound.

All of our retail pork products are gluten free.

Unfortunately, nightshades can be tricky to avoid as most spice blends contain peppers. Our Signature Dry-Rub spices used in many of our products contain a variety of spices, including chili pepper flakes.

Yes, our No Sugar Dry-Rub Uncured Bacon and No Sugar Added Signature Pork Jerky are both Paleo Certified. Both are great options for the paleo-vore on the hunt for paleo options.

Yes, our No Sugar Dry-Rub Uncured Bacon and No Sugar Added Signature Pork Jerky are both Keto Certified.

If you are a retailer, distributor, pork wholesaler or a company looking to make a large purchase of Tender Belly, simply contact us at wholesale@tenderbelly.com. One of our pork purveyors will get back to you with more information and have you on your way to sharing Tender Belly goodness with your customers.

If you are looking to serve Tender Belly at your restaurant, simply contact us at info@tenderbelly.com. One of our pork purveyors will get back to you with more information and have you on your way to sharing Tender Belly goodness with your customers.

For media or press inquiries, please submit your request to us by sending an email to info@tenderbelly.com. Please include your name, organization name, deadline, email address and nature of your inquiry and we'll be sure to follow-up with more information.

Our Athlete Ambassador program is designed to fuel those tough enough to pursue their passions at the highest level of their sport. We’re talking true badasses of their game. Our athlete ambassadors are professionals who make a living competing and producing elite level results. Off the field, our athletes are highly engaged and involved as leaders in their community and they foster a well-developed and active social media presence. Each year, we support a handful of athletes and ambassadors that represent all things Certified Awesome - the relentless pursuit of better. Shoot us an email to info@tenderbelly.com and tell us your story.

While we would love to support all of the amazing organizations and causes, we currently focus our charitable giving on partnerships and organizations that work to end childhood hunger. If your group matches this tenet and you'd like to learn more about how Tender Belly can support your fundraiser, please send us a request to info@tenderbelly.com. Requests must be received at least four (4) weeks prior to the event/donation date in order to be considered.