Its a food that excites all the senses. You hear it sizzling and popping, see the bubbles and [. ].
Its a food that excites all the senses. You can hear it popping and sizzling, see the bubbles and steam as it gets perfectly browned, and smell the comforting but a little strong smell all over the house. When it’s done, cooled, and put on a plate, you pick it up and feel how warm, greasy, and crisp it is. Then you take a bite and taste the salty, charred flavor of this hearty breakfast. Even though this is a real cooking experience, if you’re trying to lose weight, pan-frying bacon in the morning is probably a thing of the past. Its loaded with fat and high in calories, so you try to steer clear.
If you don’t want to give up this tasty pork, just change how you cook it! Baking bacon can turn a fat-filled calorie bomb into a useful side dish or recipe ingredient; pan-frying a slice can cost you about 77 calories, but cooking it in the oven as shown below is only about 44 calories per slice. When you put a cooling rack on top of your pan with foil and bacon, the grease that drips out will fall instead of cooking the bacon in it. This reduces the amount of grease on your cooked bacon, as well as the calories. You can also get rid of extra oil and grease by letting the food cool on a paper towel and patting it dry.
To cut this tasty foods unhealthy properties even more, try buying center-cut (reduced-fat) or reduced-sodium bacon. Center-cut has fewer calories and less fat than other cuts because the slices are leaner and have been trimmed. Reduced-sodium bacon won’t help you lose weight, but it will cut most of the salt in regular bacon.
Baking your bacon not only makes your breakfast healthier, but it also makes cooking safer and cuts down on the time you need to clean up. When you pan-fry bacon, youve got to watch the stovetop closely while dodging burning, popping grease splotches. It can also easily catch fire if you dont remove the excess grease as the bacon cooks. After making the bacon, you have to clean up the greasy pan and scrub the walls, cabinets, countertops, and appliances nearby that got splattered with grease. Baking bacon makes it easy to clean up, and since it’s not cooked in the grease, it doesn’t leave behind messy grease spots in the oven. You only have to check the oven once or twice to make sure it’s done the way you like it, you can cook a lot at once, and while the bacon cooks, you can make omelets or egg whites on the stove.
But bacon isn’t just for breakfast! If you want more bacon in the middle of the day, bake it in our Chicken Alfredo Pizza for a tasty and healthy lunch or dinner. Its only 200 calories per serving and will satisfy those salty cravings.
Crispy, savory bacon is a breakfast staple for many people. While frying bacon on the stovetop is the traditional cooking method, baking bacon in the oven has become increasingly popular. Not only is oven-baked bacon easy to make, but it can also be healthier by reducing the total calories and fat.
But just how many calories are in oven-baked bacon? In this article, I’ll compare the nutrition facts of fried vs. baked bacon. I’ll also share tips on how to bake bacon to crispy perfection and make it fit your diet!
Calorie and Fat Differences Between Fried and Oven-Baked Bacon
The cooking method makes a significant difference in the calorie and fat content of bacon Here’s how fried and oven-baked bacon compare
- Fried bacon (1 slice): 43 calories, 3.5g fat
- Oven-baked bacon (1 slice): 36 calories, 2.5g fat
Baking bacon instead of frying reduces the calories by about 16% and fat by over 28% per slice While a few calories may not seem like much, they can add up if you eat multiple slices
This calorie reduction occurs because baking doesn’t require adding any butter or oil. The fat that cooks out of the bacon itself drips off onto the baking sheet.
Meanwhile, frying causes the bacon to absorb some of the oil or rendered bacon grease in the pan. So fried bacon retains more fat after cooking.
How Many Calories in Different Types of Bacon
In addition to the cooking method, the specific type of bacon makes a difference in the calorie and fat content.
Here are the calories per slice for popular bacon varieties:
- Regular sliced pork bacon: 36-43 calories
- Thick-cut bacon: 40-50 calories
- Turkey bacon: 25-35 calories
- Canadian bacon: 45-60 calories
As you can see, turkey bacon contains the fewest calories and fat, while Canadian bacon packs the most calories per slice. Thicker sliced bacon also tends to be slightly higher in calories than regular sliced bacon.
When baking bacon, be sure to check the package for nutrition facts based on the serving size and weight. This will give you the most accurate calorie count.
Nutrition Profile of Oven-Baked Bacon
Now that we know oven-baked bacon is lower in calories and fat compared to fried, let’s examine its full nutrition profile.
Here are the nutrition facts for a 1 slice (8g) serving of baked pork bacon:
- Calories: 36
- Fat: 2.5g
- Carbs: 0g
- Protein: 3g
- Sodium: 119mg
Even though it’s lower in fat than fried bacon, baked bacon still gets 71% of its calories from fat. Plus it provides no carbs, minimal protein, and 15% of the daily recommended sodium.
Bacon is mostly prized for its smoky flavor rather than its nutritional value. The curing process gives bacon its signature taste but also loads it with sodium.
If you’re watching your sodium intake, be mindful of your portion sizes when eating baked bacon. Limiting it to 1-2 slices per serving can help avoid excess sodium.
Tips for Oven-Baking Bacon Perfectly
Cooking bacon in the oven takes a little practice to get just right. Here are some tips:
- Use thick-cut bacon for crispier results
- Place bacon slices on a wire rack over a foil-lined pan
- Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes
- Flip bacon halfway through
- Blot grease with paper towels after baking
Baking on a wire rack allows the fat to drip down without bacon sitting in grease. Using foil makes cleanup easy.
I recommend thick-cut bacon because the higher fat content prevents it from drying out or burning in the oven. Thinner bacon needs closer monitoring.
Check for doneness after 15 minutes, and continue cooking until the bacon reaches your desired crispness.
Calories in Full Portion of Baked Bacon
While a single slice of baked bacon is minimal in calories, a full serving of bacon may contain:
- 2-3 slices = 70-110 calories
- 4-6 slices = 140-220 calories
- 8-10 slices = 280-360 calories
I recommend limiting your portion to 2-4 slices of bacon at a time for a meal. This keeps the calorie count reasonable while still letting you enjoy its flavor.
For additional calories, pair bacon with eggs, toast, pancakes or baked goods rather than eating a huge pile of bacon alone.
Is Bacon Good or Bad For You?
Lately bacon has gotten a bad rap for being high in fat, sodium and preservatives like nitrates. However, when eaten in moderation, it can reasonably fit into a healthy diet.
Here are some benefits as well as downsides to eating bacon:
Benefits:
- High in protein and nutrients like B vitamins, selenium and zinc
- Contains monounsaturated fats from oleic acid
- Can boost satiety and energy levels
Downsides:
- High in sodium, which can increase blood pressure
- Contains nitrates/nitrites that may raise cancer risk
- Fried bacon contains carcinogens like PAHs
- Processed meat is linked to heart disease and diabetes
Overall, enjoying a few slices of bacon here and there is unlikely to negatively impact health. But regularly eating large amounts, especially if fried, could contribute to problems over time.
Moderation is key, so be mindful of portion sizes if you indulge in bacon. Limit it to special occasions rather than an everyday breakfast food.
Healthier Ways to Eat Bacon
If you don’t want to fully give up bacon but aim to eat healthier, here are some suggestions:
- Choose oven-baked or turkey bacon more often
- Use just 1-2 slices as a flavoring in recipes
- Add bacon bits/crumbles instead of strips
- Try bacon-flavored seasoning on vegetables
- Make a BLT instead of a bacon cheeseburger
- Crumble a slice over a salad instead of multiple slices
You can still get that smoky bacon flavor without overdoing your portions. Use it as more of a light seasoning than the main ingredient or protein source.
The Bottom Line
So how many calories are in oven-baked bacon? One slice of pork bacon cooked in the oven contains about 36 calories and 2.5g of fat. This is lower than fried bacon at 43 calories and 3.5g of fat per slice.
Baking bacon leads to less fat absorption since no oil or butter is added. While bacon is high in fat and sodium, eating 1-2 slices in moderation can reasonably fit into a balanced diet.
To lighten up bacon, choose turkey or Canadian bacon, use just a few slices as a topping, or sprinkle on bacon bits instead of whole slices.
While not the healthiest choice out there, oven-baked bacon can add flavor and satisfaction in moderation. Just be mindful of portions to keep calories in check.
HOW TO COOK BACON IN THE OVEN | easy, crispy and no mess!
FAQ
How many calories are in 2 slices of baked bacon?
How many calories are in 4 slices of baked bacon?
How many calories are in 3 slices of baked bacon?
Is cooking bacon in the oven healthier?
How many calories are in a ounce of cooked bacon?
There are 151 calories in 1 ounce of cooked Bacon. Calorie breakdown: 71% fat, 1% carbs, 28% protein. There are 151 calories in 1 ounce of cooked Bacon. Get full nutrition facts and other common serving sizes of Bacon including 1 thin slice and 1 medium slice.
How long do you cook bacon on a baking sheet?
Lay as many slices of bacon as you’d like to cook in a single layer on the baking sheet. You should be able to fit about 12 slices (try to keep them from overlapping). Bake 14 to 18 minutes for regular bacon and 18 to 20 minutes for thick-cut bacon, carefully rotating the baking sheet from front to back about halfway through cooking.
How many calories are in a slice of bacon?
Selenium is vital for thyroid gland function, reproduction, and protection from cell damage from free radicals. Phosphorous is essential for bone health, making energy, and chemical processes. Three slices of bacon, or 34.5 grams, contain 161 calories. That one serving has 108 calories from fat, 2.4 from carbs, and 48 from protein.
How many slices of bacon can you cook on a baking sheet?
Clean-up is a breeze. With this method, you can cook about 12 slices of bacon on a single baking sheet. To make more than that, just use two baking sheets and increase the cooking time by a few minutes. Most supermarkets carry regular and thick-cut bacon.