How Much Bacon Bits Equals a Pound of Bacon?

Crispy, salty bacon bits are a popular topping for salads, baked potatoes, casseroles, and more Their smoky bacon flavor takes dishes to the next level without having to cook up whole slices But when a recipe calls for bacon bits, how much do you need to equal a pound of cooked bacon?

Bacon shrinks significantly when cooked – starting as long, limp slices and transforming into crispy, crumbled bits. This reduction in size can make it tricky to substitute bacon bits for sliced bacon.

Below, we’ll explain exactly how much bacon bits equates to a pound of uncooked bacon based on common conversions.

How Many Slices in a Pound of Bacon

The number of raw bacon slices in a one-pound package depends on the cut

• Thick-cut bacon: Approximately 10 to 12 slices
• Regular-cut bacon: Approximately 16 to 20 slices
• Thin-cut bacon: Approximately 25 to 30 slices

Thicker slices contain less bacon by number of slices, but more bacon by weight since each slice is heftier. The important thing is that a 1-pound package in any cut contains about 1 pound of raw bacon before cooking.

Converting Bacon Slices to Bits

When bacon is cooked, it shrinks and crisps up. The cooked bits take up a lot less space than the raw strips.

As a general rule:

• 1 pound of raw bacon = about 3/4 cup of bacon bits

So if you have a 16-ounce package of regular-cut bacon, you’ll end up with around 3/4 cup of bacon bits after cooking and crumbling it.

You can also estimate:

• 4 slices of bacon = 1/4 cup bacon bits
• 5 slices of bacon = 1/3 cup bacon bits
• 16 slices bacon = 1 cup bacon bits

These conversions depend on how finely you crumble the bacon after cooking. The more broken down the bits are, the more they will fit into a measuring cup.

Accounting for Thickness

Remember that bacon slice thickness affects the conversions. Here’s how to adapt the general conversions:

• Thick-cut bacon: Use fewer slices per cup of bits. You may get only 3/4 cup bits from a 1-pound package.

• Thin-cut bacon: You’ll get more cups of bits per pound. A 1-pound pack may yield 1 to 1 1/4 cups bits.

• Turkey or beef bacon: Typically thinner than pork, so follow thin-cut ratios.

To be most accurate, fry up the bacon first, then crumble and measure the bits. Adjust the slice-to-bits ratios as needed.

Cooking Methods

How you cook the bacon also impacts the crumble-ability and bits yield.

• Baking crisps up bacon evenly without curling it. The flat strips crumble easily into bits.

• Pan-frying can cause bacon to curl and stick together in crunchy clusters. This makes it harder to crumble into fine bits.

• Microwaving doesn’t crisp up the bacon as much, so it may not break down well into bits. The yield is less.

• Overcooked bacon becomes crispy and brittle, crumbling into very small bits that pack down into cups.

For optimum yield and texture, bake bacon on a sheet until uniformly crispy. Avoid overcooking to the point of burning.

Storing and Using Bacon Bits

You can make your own bacon bits to add to recipes. Here are some storage tips:

• Store cooled bacon bits in an airtight container in the fridge for 1 week.

• For longer storage, freeze bits in portions on a baking sheet before transferring to bags/containers.

• To use frozen bits, spread on a baking sheet and re-crisp in a 400°F oven for 5 minutes.

• Add bacon bits near the end of cooking since they need little time to warm through and crisp up.

• For salads, add crispy bacon bits just before serving so they don’t get soggy.

With the right ratios, you can easily substitute packaged or homemade bacon bits in any recipe that calls for bacon by the pound.

Sample Recipes with Bacon Bits

Here are a couple recipe ideas using bacon bits:

• Loaded Baked Potato: Top a baked russet with 3/4 cup bacon bits, 1 cup cheddar, and 1/4 cup green onion. Sour cream optional.

• BLT Salad: Toss 6-8 cups romaine with 1/4 cup bacon bits, 1 cup halved cherry tomatoes, 1 cup croutons. Top with dressing.

• Bacon Ranch Pasta: Toss 8 ounces cooked pasta with 1/4 cup bacon bits, 1/4 cup parsley, 1/2 cup ranch dressing, salt and pepper.

With the right ratios, it’s easy to recreate classic bacon flavor using convenient bacon bits instead of cooking and crumbling whole slices.

So next time a recipe calls for a pound of bacon, use about 3/4 cup bacon bits for an easy substitution without all the hassle.