How Many Slices Of Bacon Are In 500g? A Detailed Guide

Bacon is a delicious and versatile meat that can be enjoyed in many different ways. From a crispy complement to eggs at breakfast to a crunchy topping on burgers and salads, bacon adds great flavor and texture to various dishes.

But when cooking or meal prepping with bacon it’s helpful to know how much you’re working with. Specifically if you have a 500g package of bacon, how many slices will that contain?

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down the number of bacon slices in 500g, looking at different factors like the cut, thickness, and cooking process. We’ll also provide tips on how to accurately measure and portion bacon.

Determining The Number Of Slices In 500g Of Bacon

The number of slices in 500g of bacon can vary quite a bit depending on a few key factors:

Type/Cut of Bacon

There are a few main types of bacon cut, each with different weights per slice:

• Regular or streaky bacon – Average slice weight 15-25g
• Middle bacon – Average slice weight 25-40g
• Back or Canadian bacon – Average slice weight 30-55g
• Thick-cut bacon – Average slice weight 40-60g

As you can see, thicker sliced or meatier bacon cuts will have fewer slices per 500g.

Thickness of The Cut

Within each main type of bacon cut, the thickness can still vary. Thicker cut slices will be heavier and yield fewer total slices. Thinner cuts will have more slices in 500g.

Cooked vs. Uncooked

Bacon shrinks and loses a significant amount of fat when cooked. The same 500g of uncooked bacon will contain more slices than 500g of cooked bacon.

So the number of slices will be different depending on whether you’re measuring 500g of raw or cooked bacon

Estimating The Number of Slices In 500g

Taking into account the major factors above we can estimate the number of bacon slices you’ll get in a 500g package

• Regular or streaky bacon

  • Uncooked – 25 to 35 slices
  • Cooked – 40 to 55 slices

• Middle bacon

  • Uncooked – 15 to 20 slices
  • Cooked – 25 to 35 slices

• Back or Canadian bacon

  • Uncooked – 12 to 18 slices
  • Cooked – 20 to 30 slices

• Thick-cut bacon

  • Uncooked – 10 to 15 slices
  • Cooked – 15 to 25 slices

These ranges account for differences in thickness and shrinkage during cooking. Thinner cuts will be at the higher end while thicker cuts or styles with less shrinkage will have fewer slices.

As you can see, the cut and thickness makes a big difference in how many slices 500g contains!

Getting An Exact Slice Count

While the estimates above are helpful for planning purposes, the only way to know the exact number of slices in 500g of bacon is to:

1. Weigh the package

First weigh the unopened 500g package of bacon on a kitchen scale. This gives you the total starting weight.

2. Count the slices

Open the package and count each individual raw slice. Keep a tally as you go.

3. Weigh the slices

After counting, weigh the stack of raw bacon slices. Compare this weight to the total package weight to check your slice count.

4. Adjust if needed

If the weight of the counted slices doesn’t align with the total package weight, recount and adjust your tally. The weights should match if you have the accurate slice total.

5. Record the numbers

Write down the final tally and weight per slice for that specific package and brand. This will help you estimate future packages.

Following this weighing process is the best way to know exactly how many slices are in 500g of bacon. The count may vary across brands and packages, but at least you’ll have the right number for that particular batch.

Tips For Measuring And Portioning Bacon

Once you know the number of slices in your 500g package, here are some tips for measuring and portioning it out:

• Weigh slices individually or in groups if dividing up a batch for meal prep or recipes.

• Stack slices and count as you separate them for storage in bags or containers. Keep like numbers together (ex: bags of 5 slices).

• Note the weight of packaged slices from different brands to compare.

• For recipes, use slice counts instead of weights so portions are consistent regardless of bacon type.

• Invest in a kitchen scale for easy and accurate weighing at home.

• Freeze any unused bacon in portions wrapped in parchment paper to prevent sticking.

• Let bacon cool before freezing or storing to prevent excess moisture.

• When cooking, lay bacon slices evenly across the pan and use the same batch to keep sizes consistent.

• Bake bacon on a wire rack set on a rimmed baking sheet for even cooking.

With some preparation and planning, you can easily portion, cook and enjoy your 500g package of bacon. Just remember – the number of slices will vary based on the thickness and cut, so weigh and count your specific package to get the right quantity for your recipes. Crispy, tasty bacon awaits!