The Origins of Bacon Bits: Unraveling the History of the Beloved Bacon Innovation

Crispy salty smoky bacon bit toppings have become a ubiquitous salad bar staple and beloved bacon hack for vegetarians. But have you ever wondered who invented bacon bits and how they became so popular? Let’s delve into the fascinating history and origins of this iconic bacon product we all know and love.

The Invention of Bacon Bits

The original bacon bit was invented in the late 1950s by a man named Howard Bauman. Bauman worked for a company called Oscar Mayer as a researcher and product developer.

At the time, there was a growing trend of salad bars and salad-based meals. However, salad bars often lacked exciting protein options beyond eggs or chunks of ham. Bauman had the idea to create a crispy, shelf-stable bacon product that could be used as a salad bar topping.

After experimenting with grinding and dehydrating bacon to make crispy bits, Bacon Bits were born in 1959 Oscar Mayer launched the revolutionary product to the public in the early 1960s The nutty, salty, crunchy bits were an immediate hit. By 1965, Oscar Mayer’s Bacon Bits had grown into a multimillion dollar business.

Bauman’s ingenious invention of bacon crumbles changed the salad landscape forever and created an entirely new category in the bacon world. His Bacon Bits brought the bacon flavor people craved to veggie-based dishes in a convenient, shelf-stable way.

The Rise in Popularity of Bacon Bits

In the 1970s and 1980s, salad bars continued to grow more popular and bacon bits became a standard salad bar ingredient next to the croutons and shredded cheese. Their popularity boomed for several key reasons:

• Convenience – Pre-made bacon bits were easy to use versus frying up fresh bacon.

• Shelf life – Bacon bits last for weeks unrefrigerated versus fresh bacon’s short shelf life.

• Crunch – The crispy texture provided a nice counterpoint to cold, fresh veggies and greens.

• Savory flavor – Smoky, salty, umami bacon bits satisfied flavor cravings.

• Nutritional profile – Although high in sodium, bacon bits pack protein, vitamins, and flavor with less fat than real bacon.

• Vegetarian appeal – Bacon bits allowed non-meat eaters to enjoy “bacon” flavor on salads.

By the 1990s, bacon bits had become a ubiquitous topping next to salt and pepper shakers on dining tables across America.

The runaway success of bacon bits led to new iterations and brands entering the market. In 1985, BacOs Bits was launched by BETTERMADE Snack Foods. Unlike Oscar Mayer’s original bacon bits made from real bacon, BacOs were a textured soy protein and wheat flour imitation bacon bit aimed at the growing vegetarian and health food market.

Bac~Os became popular among those who wanted to reduce fat, processed meat or cholesterol but still craved that smoky, salty bacon taste. Thanks to Howard Bauman’s invention, now even strict vegans and vegetarians could enjoy “bacon” on their salads and baked potatoes through imitation bacon bits.

Seeing the success of BETTERMADE’s soy-based Bac~Os, other brands soon began offering their own versions of imitation or vegetable-based bacon bits. Today options include:

• Bac~Uns Bacon Bits by Boca Foods

• Frontier Co-op Fakin’ Bacon Bits

• Thompson & Morgan Veggie Bacon Bits

• Hoosier Hill Farm Soy Bacon Bits

• McCormick Bac’n Pieces Bacon Flavored Bits

Bacon Bits Today: An Enduring Innovation

Decades after their invention in the 1950s, both real and imitation bacon bits remain popular toppings on salads, baked potatoes, mac and cheese, green beans, pasta, and more. They’ve become a beloved way for anyone to add bacon flavoring without cooking up bacon.

Bacon bits are now a ubiquitous salad bar ingredient from restaurants to workplace cafeterias to potlucks. You can buy them in bulk or individual packets. Major brands like Oscar Mayer, Hormel, and McCormick continue producing traditional bacon bits made from real pork. There are even gourmet bacon bits made from thick-cut, applewood smoked bacon.

Thanks to Howard Bauman’s stroke of genius, bacon bits have cemented their status as one of the most popular and enduring bacon innovations of the 20th century. The versatility of this inventive product has allowed generations of bacon lovers to sprinkle on smoky flavor even without a slice of sizzling bacon in sight.

So next time you toss those crisp bacon bit morsels on your Cobb salad, be sure to mentally thank the creator Howard Bauman for his landmark contribution to the bacon universe that still delights us today! Bauman’s ingenuity gave us the gift of bacon…without the bother of cooking it.