Bacon comes in different shapes and sizes. It’s usually cut into strips, which can be thin, plain, or thick. Bacon will be a different weight and measure when fried than it is while raw. See what measures are equivalent to bacon, bacon pieces, bacon bits, and quick substitutions such as salt pork.
Bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many for its savory smoky flavor. But when cooking or tracking nutrition, it’s helpful to know exactly how much one slice of bacon weighs. The weight can vary between raw and cooked bacon as well as by bacon type and thickness.
In this comprehensive guide, we’ll provide the average weights for different kinds of bacon so you can easily shop, cook, and calculate nutrition info Read on for full details on sizing up bacon slices
Average Weight of Raw Supermarket Bacon
The most common type of bacon is supermarket-packaged sliced bacon, either regular or thick-cut. Here are typical weights:
- Regular sliced bacon: 15-20g per slice (0.5-0.7oz)
- Thick-cut sliced bacon: 25-40g per slice (0.9-1.4oz)
Regular sliced bacon is around 1/16 inch thick. Thick-cut is approximately double the thickness at 1/8 inch.
Bacon is usually sold in 12 oz or 1 lb packs containing about 16 slices of regular cut or 8-12 slices of thick-cut.
Nutrition info is based on raw weights. For regular bacon, expect around 50 calories and 4g fat per slice. Thick-cut bacon has 70-100 calories and 6-8g fat per slice.
Average Weight of Raw Artisan Bacon
From local butchers and high-end grocers, artisan bacon tends to be thicker than commercial packs. Weights per slice are:
- Artisan regular-cut bacon: 20-25g (0.7-0.9oz)
- Artisan thick-cut bacon: 30-50g (1-1.7oz)
Since artisan bacon is hand cut, slices can vary more in size. It also tends to have a higher fat content than commercial packs. Nutrition totals about 60-80 calories and 5-7g fat per regular slice or 80-120 calories and 8-10g fat per thick slice.
Average Weight Loss When Cooking
When bacon is cooked, it loses a significant amount of fat and moisture. This causes cooked bacon to weigh about 50% less than raw.
- Regular cut – Raw: 20g, Cooked: 10g
- Thick cut – Raw: 40g, Cooked: 20g
The longer bacon is cooked, the more fat renders out and the greater the weight loss. Crispy bacon weighs less than bacon lightly pan-fried.
Factors Affecting Bacon Weight
Several factors impact the weight of a slice of bacon:
- Type of cut: Belly/streaky, back, etc
- Thickness of the slice
- Brand and quality
- Inclusion of added water or sugars
- Cooking method and duration
Higher-quality bacon with less water weight will shrink less when cooked. Avoid packs with added water or sugars that artificially increase weight.
Estimating Calories in Cooked Bacon
Since a significant amount of fat is lost when bacon is cooked, the number of calories per slice is lower in cooked vs raw bacon. However, most labels provide nutrition info for raw bacon.
As a general estimate, cooked bacon contains about 30-40% less calories than raw. So if a slice of raw bacon contains 50 calories, the cooked equivalent would have around 30-35 calories. Reduce any other nutrients like fat by a similar percentage.
For precision, you can render your own bacon and calculate the exact weight and nutrient loss. But the 30-40% estimate works well for most purposes.
Weights for Other Cuts of Bacon
In addition to regular sliced bacon, other common cuts include:
- Canadian Bacon – Sliced from the pork loin. 35-45g raw (1.2-1.5oz). Becomes very lean when cooked.
- Turkey Bacon – Typically 25-30g raw (0.9-1oz). Shrinks less than pork bacon.
- Beef Bacon – Cut from beef brisket or plate. Average 40g raw (1.4oz). Similar fat loss when cooked.
Charts of Bacon Weights
Use these charts for quick reference of bacon weights in grams and ounces:
Regular Sliced Bacon
Raw | Cooked |
---|---|
15-20g | 8-10g |
0.5-0.7oz | 0.3-0.4oz |
Thick-Sliced Bacon
Raw | Cooked |
---|---|
25-40g | 12-20g |
0.9-1.4oz | 0.4-0.7oz |
Artisan Regular Bacon
Raw | Cooked |
---|---|
20-25g | 10-13g |
0.7-0.9oz | 0.4-0.5oz |
Artisan Thick Bacon
Raw | Cooked |
---|---|
30-50g | 15-25g |
1-1.7oz | 0.5-0.9oz |
Key Takeaways on Bacon Weights
- Regular sliced bacon is 15-20g (0.5-0.7oz) per raw slice
- Thick-cut bacon is 25-40g (0.9-1.4oz) raw per slice
- Artisan packs weigh 20-50g (0.7-1.7oz) raw depending on thickness
- Cooked bacon is about half the weight of raw
- Estimate 30-40% fewer calories in cooked vs raw bacon
- Factors like quality, cut, and cooking method impact exact weights
Knowing the typical weight of a slice of bacon makes it easy to shop, portion, and track nutrition. Follow this guide for all your bacon cooking and weighing needs!
Substituting Turkey or Vegetarian Bacon
You can substitute turkey bacon and vegetarian bacon measure for measure with pork bacon. For these alternatives, use any measure that is the same as the other one. For example, use one strip for one strip and one pound for one pound. However, you may need to make adjustments for other cousins of bacon.
Bacon Equivalents
Recipe Measurement | Equivalent or Substitute |
1 serving | 2 strips fried, baked, or broiled |
1 rasher bacon | 1 strip |
1 slice bacon | 1 tablespoon fried and chopped bacon pieces |
1 slice bacon | 2 to 3 teaspoons real bacon bits |
1 slice bacon | 2 to 3 teaspoons imitation bacon bits |
1 slice bacon | 1 thin slice pancetta (about 3/4 ounce) |
1 slice bacon | 3/4 ounce salt pork (in soups, stews, sauces) |
1 pound bacon | 35 thin strips |
1 pound bacon | 16 to 20 regular strips |
1 pound bacon | 12 to 16 thick strips |
1 pound bacon | 1 can cooked bacon (18 to 20 slices) |
1 pound bacon | 1 cup bacon fat |
1 pound bacon | 1 1/2 cup fried and chopped bacon pieces |
1 pound bacon | 3/4 cup bacon bits |
1 1/2 pounds bacon | 3 ounces bacon bits |
1/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 4 slices |
1/3 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 5 slices |
1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 8 slices |
2/3 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 10 slices |
3/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 12 slices |
1 cup crumbled cooked bacon | 16 slices (about 1 pound) |
1/4 pound back bacon | 1 cup cracklings |
Diced, raw bacon is roughly the same weight for cup measure as liquids. A cup is about 8 ounces (225 grams), a half cup is about 4 ounces (115 grams), a quarter cup is about 2 ounces (55 grams), and so on.
What If You Eat BACON Every Day For 30 Days?
FAQ
How many slices is 8 ounces of bacon?
What is 4 oz of bacon?
How many slices of bacon are in a pound?
How much does 2 bacon weigh?
Typical Values
|
Per 100g
|
2 rashers (60g)
|
Fibre
|
0g
|
0g
|
Protein
|
17.0g
|
10.2g
|
Salt
|
2.80g
|
1.68g
|
* Reference intake of an average adult (8400 kJ / 2000 kcal)
|
–
|
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How much does uncooked bacon weigh?
An average slice of uncooked supermarket streaky bacon typically weighs between 15-16 grams (0.53-0.56 ounces). Conversely, a slice of uncooked back bacon, which is often leaner, generally weighs slightly more, coming in at about 32-34 grams (1.13-1.2 ounces). These weights provide a guideline for culinary preparations and nutritional calculations.
How much does a slice of bacon weigh?
On average, a single slice of bacon weighs about 12 – 14 grams. If you have a slightly thicker slice, it could then weigh in between 20 – 40 grams. How long is a slice of bacon? Most of the bacon you buy from the supermarkets are anywhere from 6 – 8 inches long.
How many ounces are in a cup of bacon?
When measuring diced, raw bacon, it’s helpful to know that one cup is approximately 8 ounces or 225 grams, half a cup is about 4 ounces or 115 grams, and a quarter cup is about 2 ounces or 55 grams. If you’re trying to keep track of your calorie intake, it’s important to know the calorie count for different weights of bacon slices.
How thick is a pound of bacon?
Thick cut bacon, for example, is typically 0.111 inches thick and has only 10-14 slices per pound. Its thickness increases its weight and reduces its quantity. This means that while thick cut bacon may be more satisfying to eat, it also contains more calories and fat per slice compared to thinner cuts.