How Many Calories Are in 2 Rashers of Bacon?

Bacon is a popular breakfast food that many people enjoy. However, it is also high in calories and fat. If you are watching your calorie intake, you may be wondering how many calories are in 2 rashes of bacon. In this article, we will break down the calorie count in bacon rashers and give you tips for enjoying bacon as part of a healthy diet.

What is a Rasher of Bacon?

First, let’s define what a rasher of bacon is. A rasher refers to a single slice of bacon. The thickness and size can vary slightly depending on the brand. On average, one rasher or slice of bacon is around 25 grams or 0.9 ounces before cooking.

So when a nutrition label refers to calories per rasher, it is talking about the calorie count in one average slice of bacon weighing 25 grams. Two rashers would be 50 grams or around 2 ounces of bacon.

Calorie Count Per Rasher

The number of calories in a rasher of bacon depends on a few factors:

• Type of bacon (back, streaky, turkey, etc.)
• Cooked or raw
• Cooking method (pan-fried, grilled, baked, etc.)

On average, a single rasher or slice of grilled back bacon contains about 72 calories.

Here is a calories per rasher breakdown for different types of bacon:

• Grilled back bacon: 72 calories per rasher
• Pan-fried streaky bacon: 42 calories per raw rasher, 119 calories per cooked rasher
• Turkey bacon: 33 calories per rasher

Bacon loses some fat when grilled compared to frying, resulting in fewer calories per rasher. Turkey bacon has the fewest calories because it contains less fat than pork bacon

Total Calories in 2 Rashers of Bacon

Knowing this baseline calories per rasher info we can calculate the total calories in 2 rashers of different types of bacon

• 2 rashers grilled back bacon: 144 calories
• 2 rashers pan-fried streaky bacon: 238 calories
• 2 rashers turkey bacon: 66 calories

As you can see, 2 slices of grilled back bacon contains 144 calories, while 2 slices of pan-fried streaky bacon contains almost double at 238 calories. The calorie count for turkey bacon is significantly less at just 66 calories for 2 rashers.

The cooking method makes a major difference in the calorie count for streaky bacon. Pan-frying causes the bacon to absorb more fat, while grilling allows some of the fat to drip off.

Calorie Density of Bacon

In addition to counting calories per rasher, looking at the calorie density of bacon can give you a better sense of its nutritional value.

Calorie density is the number of calories in a given weight of food. Here is the calorie density for different types of bacon:

• Grilled back bacon: 287 calories per 100g
• Pan-fried streaky bacon: 476 calories per 100g
• Turkey bacon: 132 calories per 100g

The calorie density of bacon is quite high compared to many other protein foods. Even grilled back bacon packs nearly 300 calories into every 100 grams.

This illustrates why bacon is considered a high-calorie food. The high fat content increases the total calories per serving and calorie density.

Ways to Enjoy Bacon as Part of a Healthy Diet

Bacon may be high in calories, but you can still enjoy it in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Here are some tips:

• Choose lower-calorie turkey bacon or grilled back bacon over pan-fried streaky bacon.
• Eat only 1-2 rashers as a side rather than half a pack.
• Incorporate it into recipes like a small part of a breakfast hash or salad topping rather than eating it alone.
• Pair it with low-calorie foods like vegetables to balance your meal.
• Limit how often you eat it to once a week or so.

While bacon does contain a lot of saturated fat and sodium, it can fit into a healthy diet in small amounts. Be mindful of portion sizes and how often you eat it.

Focus on getting plenty of lean proteins, whole grains, fruits and vegetables at other meals and snacks throughout the week. This helps ensure you get balanced nutrition while still allowing room for occasional treats like bacon.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories in 2 rashers of bacon? The total can range from 66 calories for 2 slices of turkey bacon up to 238 calories for 2 rashers of pan-fried streaky bacon.

To keep the calories moderate, opt for grilled back bacon or turkey bacon rather than higher-calorie pan-fried streaky bacon. Enjoy bacon in moderation as part of an overall healthy diet, and be mindful of portion sizes to keep calories in check.

With some smart choices about preparation method, portion size and frequency, you can still enjoy the smoky flavor of bacon without going overboard on calories.