How Much Crumbled Bacon Equals a Slice? Bacon Measurement Equivalents Explained

Bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many. The salty, smoky flavor it adds makes everything better – from burgers to baked beans. However, recipes don’t always specify the form of bacon to use. You may see “1 slice of bacon” or “2 tablespoons crumbled bacon” called for. So how much crumbled bacon equals a slice? Read on for a complete guide to bacon equivalents.

Bacon Basics

Bacon comes from the belly of a pig and is cured, smoked, and sliced before being packaged and sold. The most common forms are:

• Bacon strips – long, thin slices of variable thickness. Can be regular, thin, or thick cut.

• Bacon pieces – chopped up bacon strips, usually pre-cooked.

• Bacon bits – small, crumbled bits of bacon. Can be real bacon or imitation bacon bits made from soy.

When measuring bacon for recipes, it helps to know approximate equivalents for these different forms. Here are some common bacon measurements and what they equal:

• 1 slice of bacon = 1 tablespoon crumbled, cooked bacon pieces

• 1 slice of bacon = 2-3 teaspoons real bacon bits

• 1 slice of bacon = 2-3 teaspoons imitation bacon bits

• 1 slice of bacon ≈ 1 thin slice of pancetta (about 3/4 ounce)

So generally speaking, one tablespoon of crumbled up bacon pieces substitutes for a slice of bacon. Two to three teaspoons of either real or imitation bacon bits also substitutes for one slice.

More Bacon Equivalents

Bacon equivalents vary slightly depending on whether the bacon is raw or cooked. Here are some other useful equivalents:

Raw bacon

• 1 pound bacon = about 16-20 regular slices
• 1/2 cup diced raw bacon = 4 ounces or 115 grams
• 1/4 cup diced raw bacon = 2 ounces or 55 grams

Cooked bacon

• 2 slices bacon = 1 serving
• 1 pound bacon = about 12-16 slices cooked
• 1 cup crumbled, cooked bacon = 16 slices (about 1 pound)
• 1/4 cup cooked, crumbled bacon = 4 slices
• 1/3 cup cooked, crumbled bacon = 5 slices
• 1/2 cup cooked, crumbled bacon = 8 slices

As you can see, bacon shrinks quite a bit when cooked. 1 pound raw yields about 16-20 slices but only 12-16 slices cooked.

This reduction in volume means you get more crumbled bacon pieces from a fixed number of raw slices. So 1/4 cup of crumbled cooked bacon comes from about 4 raw slices. But 1/4 cup of raw bacon pieces equals only 2 ounces or 55 grams.

Bacon Substitutes

While nothing beats real bacon flavor, there are some decent stand-ins:

• Turkey bacon – Replace regular bacon 1:1.

• Vegetarian bacon – Use measure for measure as regular bacon.

• Salt pork – Fattier and unsmoked but can work in some recipes needing bacon flavor.

• Pancetta – Italian cured pork, can provide bacon-like flavor but not smokiness.

• Bacon bits – Real or imitation bits can season things when slices aren’t practical.

Storing Bacon

To get the most out of your bacon:

• Store unopened packages of raw bacon in the fridge up to 2 weeks past the sell-by date.

• Once opened, rewrap tightly in plastic wrap and use within 1 week.

• Cooked bacon keeps up to 1 week in a sealed container in the fridge.

• Freeze bacon long-term by wrapping tightly in foil or plastic wrap. Keeps 6 months to 1 year frozen.

Tips for Cooking Bacon

To turn out perfectly cooked, crispy bacon every time:

• Choose thick cut bacon, which crisps up better than thin.

• Cook on medium heat – not so hot it burns.

• Use a bacon press or weigh strips down with a metal spatula to get them flat.

• Cook until deep brown but not blackened.

• Drain on paper towels before crumbling or chopping.

So now you know approximately how much crumbled bacon you need to substitute for sliced bacon when cooking. Learning bacon equivalents helps you adapt recipes and use up leftover bacon creatively. Crispy, salty bacon makes everything tastier.