How Many Grams Are in a Slice of Bacon? A Detailed Look at Weights and Calories

Crispy, savory bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many But when counting calories or following a recipe, it can be tricky to know exactly how much bacon you’re working with. In this article, we’ll break down the average weight and calorie counts for different types and cuts of bacon.

Whether you’re a bacon lover looking to enjoy in moderation or simply want to measure it accurately for cooking, read on to find out everything you need to know about grams of bacon per slice.

Average Weight of a Bacon Slice

The weight of a bacon slice can vary quite a bit based on the cut and thickness. Here are some general guidelines for average slice weights:

• Supermarket streaky bacon: 15-16g (0.53-0.56oz)

• Back bacon: 32-34g (1.13-1.2oz)

• Artisanal slab bacon: 28-30g (0.99-1.06oz)

• Thin cut or shingled bacon: 12-14g (0.42-0.49oz)

As you can see, back bacon and slab bacon tend to be thicker cuts resulting in heavier slices. Regular supermarket bacon is medium thickness, while shingled or thin cut bacon is the lightest option.

It’s important to note that these numbers represent the weight before cooking Since bacon loses moisture when cooked, the weight decreases. An uncooked slice weighting 15g would yield a cooked slice around 8-10g depending on cooking method

Why Weight Varies Between Bacon Types

There are a few main factors that affect the weight and thickness of a bacon slice

• Cut of pork: Bacon can come from different cuts like pork belly, pork loin, etc. Belly bacon tends to be fattier with more marbling.

• Curing method: Some bacon is dry cured by rubbing salt and spices into the meat while others use a wet brine. Dry cured bacon shrinks more as it loses moisture.

• Slicing: Industrial slicers produce very uniform thin slices. Hand sliced artisanal bacon will have more variation in slice thickness.

• Packing density: Machine tightly packed bacon weighs more per slice compared to less densely packed hand sliced varieties.

• Water content: Injected water or “added solutions” increase weight but decrease flavor. Check labels for added water.

So a hand sliced dry cured bacon will generally weigh less than a wet cured, machine packed supermarket bacon even if from the same pork belly.

Calorie Count of Bacon per Slice

In addition to the weight, understanding the calorie content of bacon can help with meal planning and moderation. Here are some estimates:

• A typical 15g slice of raw supermarket bacon contains about 43 calories, with about 36 from fat.

• Cooked bacon contains roughly double the calories per gram – so that 15g slice yields 8 cooked grams with around 33 calories.

• Thicker specialty bacon packs more calories per slice. A 30g raw slice could have 90 calories, with 72 from fat.

• The same weight of turkey bacon has 25-40% less calories than pork bacon.

As you can see, portion control is key with bacon’s high fat and calorie density, even in small slices. Three 15g raw slices would contain nearly 130 calories – and that’s before cooking concentrates the calories.

Comparing Calories in Different Types of Bacon

Here’s how the calorie count of different types of bacon stacks up:

• Pork bacon: 43 calories per slice (15g raw)

• Turkey bacon: 25 calories per slice (15g raw)

• Beef bacon: 47 calories per slice (15g raw)

• Thick-cut bacon: 60-90 calories per slice (30g raw)

• Center-cut bacon: 30 calories per slice (15g raw)

• Canadian Bacon: 25 calories per slice (15g raw)

As you can see, turkey, center-cut, and Canadian styles have the lowest calorie counts per slice. Thick-cut pork bacon packs the most calories.

What Affects Calories in Bacon?

A few factors influence the calorie density of bacon:

• Type of pork: Pork belly is fattier than loin.

• Breed: Heritage breeds have more marbling than commercial hogs.

• Cure ingredients: Added sugars increase calories.

• Cooking method: Frying adds more fat than baking.

• Portion size: More slices mean more calories.

• Thickness: Thicker slices contain more fat & calories.

To lighten up your bacon, opt for center-cut, turkey, or Canadian bacon, bake instead of fry, choose thinner slices, and of course control portions.

Nutrition Info Per Slice of Bacon

In addition to calories and fat, here is the full nutrition information per 15g slice of pan-fried pork bacon:

• Calories: 43
• Fat: 3.5g (5g for thick cut)
• Saturated Fat: 1.3g
• Cholesterol: 13mg
• Sodium: 188mg
• Carbs: 0g
• Protein: 3g

As you can see, each slice packs a good amount of cholesterol and sodium along with the saturated fat. The protein is minimal at just a few grams per slice.

Serving Size Guidelines

To keep bacon as part of a healthy diet, it’s best to stick to recommended serving sizes. The American Heart Association advises no more than 2-3 slices per day as part of a heart-healthy diet. The World Cancer Research Fund recommends consuming very little processed meat like bacon.

For a single serving, 1-2 slices of bacon is a reasonable portion. This fits into a balanced breakfast or BLT sandwich while limiting sodium, saturated fat, and calories. Of course, moderation is key – don’t make a whole platter of bacon a daily habit!

Tips for Measuring Bacon

If you want to measure your bacon portions accurately, here are some handy tips:

• Invest in a food scale and weigh raw bacon slices or pieces to the gram.

• Count slices – just keep in mind thickness impacts weight.

• Roughly estimate using measuring spoons (1Tbsp crumbled bacon = 5g).

• For recipes, it’s usually best to specify bacon amounts in grams or ounces for consistency.

• Be aware that cooked bacon weighs about 30% less than the raw starting weight.

• To measure diced bacon, the cup measures are similar to liquid measures (e.g. 1 cup = 225g).

The Takeaway

While nutrition stats can vary slightly by brand, knowing the average weight and calorie content per slice makes it easier to enjoy bacon in moderation as part of a balanced diet. Take the time to measure and calculate bacon portions accurately. And when cooking, remember that raw slice weights differ quite a bit from cooked weights after factoring in moisture loss.