Demystifying Bacon Weights: How Many Ounces in a Strip of Tasty Bacon?

Crispy, savory bacon is a breakfast staple in many households. But when it comes to cooking or portioning it out most people don’t know exactly how much a strip of bacon weighs. Is it 1 ounce? 2 ounces? How can you accurately measure out bacon for recipes or watch your portions if you don’t know the ounces in a slice?

In this complete guide, we’ll uncover the mysteries of bacon weights. You’ll learn the average weight of different types of bacon, both raw and cooked. We’ll provide easy bacon measurement tips and share charts to help you calculate ounces and calories accurately.

Average Bacon Strip Weights

The weight of a strip of bacon depends on a few key factors

• Cut of bacon (streaky, back, etc)
• Thickness of the slice
• Raw or cooked
• Brand and quality

Here are the typical weights to expect

Raw supermarket streaky bacon – 0.55 ounces (15 grams)

Raw thick-cut artisanal bacon – 0.7 ounces (20 grams)

Raw back bacon – 1.2 ounces (34 grams)

Cooked streaky bacon – 0.35 ounces (10 grams)

Cooked back bacon – 0.8 ounces (23 grams)

As you can see, back bacon weighs nearly twice as much as streaky bacon. Thickness and quality also impact weight. Now let’s look at specific bacon types and weights in more detail.

Weights of Different Bacon Types

There are a few main varieties of bacon, each with its own distinct features. Here are the average weights per slice:

Streaky Bacon

This is the most common bacon found in supermarkets. Slices are long and thin with streaks of pink meat and white fat.

• Raw – 0.55 ounces (15 grams)
• Cooked – 0.35 ounces (10 grams)

Thick-Cut Bacon

This is streaky bacon sliced thicker, typically 1/8 inch or more.

• Raw – 0.7+ ounces (20+ grams)
• Cooked – 0.4+ ounces (12+ grams)

Back Bacon

This comes from the pork loin and has very little fat.

• Raw – 1.2 ounces (34 grams)
• Cooked – 0.8 ounces (23 grams)

Pancetta

An Italian bacon that is salt-cured but not smoked. It’s rolled up and sold in thin slices.

• Raw – 1 ounce (28 grams)
• Cooked – 0.5 ounces (15 grams)

Turkey Bacon

A lower-fat alternative made from ground turkey. The strips are wide but thin.

• Raw – 0.7 ounces (20 grams)
• Cooked – 0.3 ounces (10 grams)

Keep in mind bacon weights always vary somewhat based on brand, prep method, and other factors. But this gives a helpful baseline for estimating ounces in each slice.

How Cooking Affects Bacon Weight

When bacon is cooked, it loses a significant portion of its original raw weight. This is because the fat renders out and water cooks off during the cooking process.

On average, a strip of cooked bacon weighs 31% less than an uncooked strip of the same size.

So if you start with a 0.55 ounce raw strip of streaky bacon, it’ll shrink down to around 0.35 ounces after cooking.

To get a more visual sense of the weight change, here is a photo comparing 10 raw strips and cooked strips of streaky bacon.

[Photo of raw and cooked bacon strips on scale]

As you can see, the cooked bacon weighs considerably less. This is important to factor in when measuring bacon for recipes or tracking calorie counts.

How to Accurately Measure Bacon

If you want to know exactly how many ounces are in your bacon, the best method is using a kitchen scale. But if you don’t have one handy, here are some alternative ways to estimate:

• For raw bacon, assume approximately 1 ounce per slice for streaky bacon and 1.5 ounces for thick-cut or back bacon.

• For cooked bacon, assume around 0.75 ounces per slice for streaky and 1 ounce for back bacon.

• For diced bacon, 1 cup raw bacon pieces equals 8 ounces.

• Use nutrition info from packaging for calorie counts based on weight.

• Or enter the details into a calorie-counting app for a close estimate.

Keep in mind bacon packaging can be misleading! The nutrition facts are often based on the pre-cooked weight, so adjust accordingly. Weighing for accuracy is your best bet.

Calculating Calories in Bacon

One of the main reasons people want to know bacon weights is to calculate the calories and watch their intake. Here are some key figures:

• 2 slices of pan-fried streaky bacon = 150 calories

• 2 slices of grilled back bacon = 90 calories

• 1 ounce of cooked streaky bacon = 43 calories

• 1 ounce of cooked back bacon = 30 calories

As you can see, back bacon is significantly lower in calories than streaky per ounce. Turkey bacon is another lower-calorie option, with around 30 calories per ounce.

When cooking bacon on the stovetop or in the oven, know that using added oils or butter will increase the calorie count. If watching your calories, grill, bake or microwave bacon for a healthier cooking method.

Tips for Measuring Bacon

Follow these tips for foolproof bacon portioning every time:

• Invest in a kitchen scale for maximum accuracy

• Weigh raw bacon for recipes, cooked for other uses

• Measure thickness and adjust expected weights

• Account for shrinkage – cooked weights are lower

• Stick to single slices for portion control

• Use calorie counting apps to track intake

• Refer to packaging, USDA data or online calculators

• Store open packages of bacon in a ziplock bag

With the right info and preparation, you can easily measure bacon for any purpose. Understanding approximate weights for different types makes planning breakfasts and meals a breeze!

The Takeaway

A single strip of bacon can range from 0.5 – 1.5+ ounces depending on the cut, thickness, brand and whether it’s raw or cooked. Streaky bacon weighs around 0.55 ounces raw and 0.35 ounces cooked per slice. Back bacon is heavier at 1.2 ounces raw and 0.8 ounces cooked. Use a kitchen scale or visual estimates to measure bacon and calculate calories based on weight. Knowing bacon weights helps with meal planning, recipes and watching your diet!