Demystifying the Rasher: How Many Grams are in a Slice of Bacon?

Bacon is one of those foods that seems simple on the surface, but can get confusing when you dig deeper Most of us just grab a few slices from the pack without thinking twice. But have you ever wondered exactly how big a “rasher” of bacon is? Or how many grams are in your average slice?

In this article, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the size and weight of everyone’s favorite pork belly treat. Let’s start rashering up some bacon knowledge!

What is a Rasher of Bacon?

The main source of confusion comes from the term “rasher” itself. It’s a traditional British and Irish way of referring to a slice or serving of bacon But the problem is, it doesn’t specify any particular weight or size

According to ChefsResource, a rasher is commonly used to mean a single thin slice of bacon. However, dictionaries also give a second definition of “several slices” or a “serving.” So a rasher could be one slice or many, with no standard size.

To avoid confusion, it’s easier to talk in specific weights and grams rather than the vague “rasher.” Let’s look at how that breaks down…

Average Gram Weight of a Slice of Bacon

The most common ** packaged bacon** in U.S. grocery stores is the thin-sliced variety. Each slice in a typical 1 pound pack weighs around 17-22 grams on average.

So if you were making a bacon sandwich with two pieces, you’d have 34-44 grams total between the top and bottom slice.

Thicker sliced or artisanal bacons may range from 25-40 grams per slice since they are cut wider and thicker than regular grocery store bacon.

Pre-cooked or “ready crispy” bacons are at the lighter end of the scale at 10-15 grams per slice since they are pressed thin and cooked down.

Comparing Smoked vs Unsmoked Bacon

Traditional American style bacon is cured smoked, and sliced from the fatty belly portion of pork. It has a distinctive smoky flavor and marries beautifully with maple syrup and burgers.

British or Irish bacon often mixes meat from the pork belly with the leaner back loin. It is typically unsmoked, giving it a meatier ham flavor. Back bacon slices tend to be thicker and larger than American.

So while an American rasher may be only 15 grams, don’t expect a huge 35 gram Irish rasher if you order abroad! The term is still vague across cultures.

Buying Bacon – Slices vs Packages

When purchasing bacon in the grocery store, you’ll usually see it sold a few different ways:

• Individual slices – Grab a few loose slices straight from the butcher counter. This gives you flexibility on portion sizes.

• Full 1 pound pack – The most common packaging. Expect 16-22 slices depending on thickness.

• Half pound pack – Good for smaller households. Contains around 8-12 slices.

• 300 gram pack – Popular in the UK, Australia, Canada. Similar to a half pound.

• Thick cut packs – Shorter packs with fewer slices that are cut thicker.

The biggest factor affecting gram weight per slice is the thickness, rather than packaging size. Thin cut bacon slices will be lighter.

Weight Matters When Cooking

Paying attention to the grams and weight of bacon makes a difference depending on your intended use. Here are a few examples:

• Sandwiches – A few thin slices totalling 20-30 grams is plenty for a BLT.

• Burgers – Aim for 25-50 grams (1-2 slices) to get crispy bacon without overpowering the patty.

• Meal prep – Calculate around 4-8 grams per portion when adding bacon to meal prep recipes.

• Salads – Crumble at least 20-40 grams over a salad to satisfy bacon cravings.

• Appetizers – Need a crowd-pleasing bacon appetizer? Allow for 60-100 grams of cooked bacon pieces.

• Baking – Add bacon bits, chunks or slices to baked goods. For strong bacon flavor, use 50-150 grams.

Now that you know how to “talk bacon” like a pro, you can perfectly portion out crispy pork goodness in any dish. Bring on the bacon!