Is Uncured Bacon Considered Processed Meat?

Bacon is a beloved breakfast food for many, adding a savory, salty crunch to sandwiches and burgers. But it’s also well-known as an unhealthy processed meat. So what about uncured bacon – is that also processed?

The quick answer is yes While subtle marketing terms may imply otherwise, uncured bacon goes through much of the same processing as regular cured bacon It’s still high in sodium, fat and preservatives too.

In this article, we’ll break down what makes bacon a processed meat, whether uncured variations are any healthier, and how to enjoy bacon more mindfully as part of a balanced diet.

What Makes Bacon a Processed Meat?

Let’s start with a refresher on what exactly classifies bacon as a processed meat. There are two key factors at play:

1. Bacon comes from pork, which is preserved through curing, smoking or salting.

Pork bellies are first cured in a salty brine solution, sometimes involving sodium nitrites for color and flavor. Then the pork goes through a smoking process at low heat, which cooks the meat while infusing a smoky taste.

2 Bacon is flavored and colored with artificial ingredients

Natural flavorings, sweeteners like brown sugar, and coloring agents are added to boost bacon’s smoky, salty, sweet taste. Preservatives stop bacterial growth too.

So while tasty, these processing steps remove most nutrients while packing in high amounts of sodium, saturated fat and chemical additives.

How Uncured Bacon Is Processed

Now let’s examine uncured bacon specifically. Manufacturers promote it as a more natural, less processed alternative. But this requires some decoding.

Uncured bacon still undergoes curing and smoking.

Rather than using artificial sodium nitrites, uncured bacon relies on “natural” curing agents like celery juice powder, which contains nitrates that convert to nitrites. The curing and smoking process remains largely the same.

Uncured bacon also contains other added ingredients.

Even without artificial preservatives, uncured bacon formulations include “natural” antimicrobials and flavorings. The use of alternative curing agents doesn’t equate to a lack of processing.

Nutritionally, uncured and cured bacon are quite similar.

They’re both high in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol while being low in vitamins, minerals and fiber. Uncured bacon has slightly less sodium but roughly the same amount of calories and fat.

So in essence, uncured bacon is processed in nearly the same way as cured varieties. The only difference lies in the use of curing agents derived from plants instead of synthetic nitrites.

Health Concerns Around Processed Meats

Understanding why processed meats like bacon may be unhealthy can help guide your consumption choices. Here are two main areas of concern:

Cancer risk

Frequent intake of processed meats is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer. This may be due to nitrites forming carcinogenic compounds during high-heat cooking.

Heart disease risk

The high sodium content of processed meats can raise blood pressure, while saturated fat contributes to artery-clogging LDL cholesterol levels. This may increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Moderating your processed meat intake and choosing leaner, lower sodium options when possible can help minimize these potential health risks.

Should You Choose Uncured or Cured Bacon?

Given the dubious health halo surrounding uncured bacon, is it actually any better for you than regular cured bacon? Here are a few key considerations:

• Ingredients: Uncured bacon has slightly fewer artificial additives, but still contains plenty of flavorings, coloring and antimicrobials. It uses alternative curing agents but undergoes similar processing.

• Nutrition: The fat, sodium, cholesterol and calorie content of uncured and cured bacon is comparable. Neither provides much nutritional value.

• Safety: Research hasn’t confirmed that uncured bacon is safer. Nitrates from plants may still convert to carcinogenic nitrites when cooked.

• Taste: Both provide the characteristic smoky, salty flavor of bacon. Individual preferences will vary.

• Price: Uncured bacon is often more expensive with minimal health advantages. Traditional cured bacon may be the better value.

Given the lack of nutritional or safety differences, choosing between uncured and cured bacon comes down to personal preference around flavor and price. But moderation is still key for both.

Healthy Ways to Enjoy Bacon

Just because bacon is an unhealthy processed meat doesn’t mean you have to avoid it completely. Here are some tips for enjoying bacon in moderation as part of a balanced diet:

• Use bacon as a flavoring rather than the main protein source. Add small amounts to sandwiches, salads, baked beans or omelets.

• Look for lower sodium bacon options to help control your salt intake.

• Choose bacon made from heritage pork breeds which may be lower in saturated fat.

• Consider turkey bacon or soy-based bacon alternatives to decrease calories, fat and sodium.

• Cook bacon in the oven on a wire rack which allows fat to drip off rather than frying.

• Crumble bacon over dishes as an infrequent garnish instead of eating multiple whole slices.

• Balance any bacon-containing meal with plenty of vegetables, fruits, whole grains and plant proteins.

By being mindful about portion sizes and preparation methods, you can still enjoy the rich, smoky flavor of bacon while limiting its potential health risks.

The Takeaway on Uncured Bacon

While clever marketing makes uncured bacon seem like a less processed alternative, it undergoes nearly the same sodium-laden curing and smoking steps as regular cured bacon. The only difference lies in the use of alternative plant-derived curing agents.

But nutritionally, uncured bacon is almost identical to cured bacon in its high amounts of sodium, saturated fat and preservatives. It provides little nutritional value compared to its potential health risks.

Rather than getting hung up on whether bacon contains artificial or natural nitrites, it’s best to moderate your overall processed meat intake while balancing it with more wholesome, nourishing foods. This allows you to enjoy the occasional bacon cheeseburger or BLT guilt-free!