How Much Does a Slice of Bacon Weigh in Grams?

Bacon is a beloved breakfast food for many adding a savory salty crunch to dishes like eggs, pancakes, sandwiches and more. But when cooking with bacon or watching your calories, it helps to know exactly how much a slice weighs. The weight of a slice of bacon can vary quite a bit based on the cut, thickness, brand and cooking method. Read on for a complete guide to bacon slice weights in grams.

Typical Raw Bacon Slice Weights

The typical weight of an uncooked slice of bacon can range from as little as 12 grams up to as much as 50 grams depending on the cut and thickness Here are some general guidelines

• A very thin-cut breakfast bacon slice weighs approximately 12-15 grams

• Regular cut bacon slices are around 15-25 grams.

• Thick-cut bacon slices weigh 25-35 grams.

• Extra thick specialty bacon can be 35-50 grams per slice.

So thinner cut bacon slices will be on the lighter end of the spectrum, while thick-cut bacon packs more weight and meat per slice. Brand, curing method, and amount of fat left on will also cause weights to vary between packs.

Common Bacon Cuts and Their Typical Weights

There are a few main kinds of bacon cuts, each with their own average slice weights:

• Streaky bacon – The most common grocery store bacon. Weighs ~15-25 g per thin or regular slice.

• Back bacon – Comes from the pork loin. Slices are ~25-50 g.

• Pancetta – An unsmoked Italian bacon. Slices are ~30-60 g.

• Turkey bacon – Usually around 15-20 g per slice.

• Prosciutto – Dry-cured ham slices, not bacon. Around 25-35 g per slice.

So bacon type makes a difference, with belly cuts lighter than loin bacon. Cured hams are often confused for bacon but weigh slightly more per slice.

How Cooking Affects Bacon Weight

It’s important to know that the weight of cooked bacon is always lower than the raw starting weight. This is because bacon loses a significant amount of water in the cooking process.

• Raw bacon can lose 15-40% of its weight when cooked.

• Most bacon shrinks by 25-35% during frying or baking.

• A 50 gram raw slice may weigh just 30-35 grams cooked.

• The more the bacon curls and crisps, the more moisture is lost.

So weigh bacon slices before cooking to be most accurate. If tracking calories, use the raw weight and calorie counts. pre-cook amounts whenever possible.

Factors That Influence Bacon Slice Weight

Many variables impact the weight of bacon slices. Here are the key factors:

• Cut and thickness – Belly bacon is thinner than loin cuts. Thick slices are heavier.

• Amount of fat/meat – More fat and meat equals greater weight.

• Curing method – Injected cures add moisture and weight. Dry cured loses moisture.

• Brand – Weights vary brand to brand based on their cuts and processes.

• Cooking method – Grilling, broiling, and microwaving make bacon lose more moisture and weight.

• Portion size – Partial slices or pieces weigh less than full slices.

• Butcher trimming – Excess fat or meat cut off lightens weight.

So two bacon packages can have very different slice weights. Check labels closely or weigh slices yourself for accuracy.

Calculating Calories and Nutrition

To determine the calories and nutrition information in bacon, you need to know the gram weight and fat content. Here is how to calculate:

• Weigh slices before cooking. Average is about 15-25 g per thin slice.

• Multiply weight by fat grams per serving info on package.

• Fat has 9 calories per gram. Carbs and protein have 4 calories per gram.

• Add all calories together for total. Divide by weight for calories per gram.

• For example: 25 g slice with 5 g fat = 45 calories total. 45/25 = 1.8 calories per gram.

• Use raw weight. Cooked weight changes but calories remain the same.

This provides a more accurate calorie count than package data which is based on varied slice sizes and thicknesses. Compare brands using calories per gram.

Serving and Portion Sizes

How much bacon should you cook per person? Recommended serving sizes are:

• 2-3 slices of thin breakfast bacon

• 2 slices of thick-cut bacon

• 1-2 slices bacon as a side dish or topping

• 1 slice per bacon wrapped food like scallops

• 1⁄4 cup of crumbled bacon equals about 1 slice

• Limit processed meats like bacon to less than 18 g (one slice) per day

Adjust amounts based on appetite and dietary needs. Baseline is about 1 ounce or 28 grams of bacon per serving. Stick within daily sodium and saturated fat limits.

Tips for Measuring Bacon

Follow these tips for weighing and measuring bacon with accuracy:

• Use a food scale for most precision. Weigh slices or pieces separately.

• Compare weights on packaging to actually weighed amounts.

• Count slices and multiply by average weight.

• Measure crumbled bacon by the tablespoon (8 g each).

• Note weights before and after cooking to determine moisture loss.

• Keep a cooking journal to track bacon weights for future.

• Buy pre-portioned bacon ends or bits to control servings.

Weighing with a food scale helps get perfect bacon amounts for recipes and tracking intake. Calculate raw weights first for calorie counting, then weigh after cooking to impress friends with your bacon cooking skills!

Bacon slice weights can range widely from 12 grams for thin breakfast slices up to 50 grams for extra thick specialty bacon. To determine weight, consider the cut, thickness, brand, cooking method and serving size. Weigh raw bacon for the most accurate calorie counts, and remember cooked bacon weighs about 25-35% less due to moisture loss. With the right techniques, you can precisely measure bacon weights and portions for any recipe or diet plan.