What is thick cut bacon?

Thick-cut bacon is roughly one-eighth of an inch thick with 10 to 14 slices per pound. Needless to say, even one slice of thick-cut bacon will pack a lot of fat and calories. You can improve the nutritional value of thick-cut bacon by baking it on a rack in the oven to render some of the fat.

Is thick cut bacon better?

Thick cut means more bacon in fewer slices. That means more sodium, more fat, more calories. One thing to watch with thick bacon is how you're cooking it. Don't crank up the heat super high for long periods, which can form more nitrosamines (the compounds WHO warns us about).

What is another name for thick bacon?

One of the most common types of American-style bacon is Virginia bacon. American-style bacon is cut in a variety of thicknesses: thin, regular, thick, and extra thick (sometimes referred to as bacon steak).

Whats the difference between center cut and thick cut bacon?

So what exactly does distinguish center-cut bacon from the ordinary kind? As it turns out, not much. Center-cut bacon is nothing more than regular bacon with the fatty ends cut off. If you're looking for bacon with less fat, by all means go for center-cut strips.

How do you make thick cut bacon?

Bake regular bacon for 12-20 minutes, until your desired crispness is reached. For thick cut bacon, bake for 10 minutes, flip it, and continue baking for 15-20 minutes, until the edges are crisp and the centers are cooked to your preferred doneness.

Gordon's Guide To Bacon

How thick is thick cut bacon?

Thick-cut bacon is roughly one-eighth of an inch thick with 10 to 14 slices per pound. Needless to say, even one slice of thick-cut bacon will pack a lot of fat and calories. You can improve the nutritional value of thick-cut bacon by baking it on a rack in the oven to render some of the fat.

What is the standard thickness of bacon?

Regular bacon is sliced about 1/16 inch thick. It's all-purpose — great for frying in single strips and for most other applications.

Which cut of bacon is best?

The large, lean 'eye' comes from the back of the pig, and the skinnier 'tail' is from the side or belly of the pig. When preparing for a crowd, this cut of bacon is the best of both worlds, where those partial to streaky bacon can have their fill and those who prefer shortcut bacon don't miss out.

What kind of bacon is the best?

What is the tastiest bacon?

Are there different grades of bacon?

All sliced bacon regardless of type is sold in two grades, number one and number two. Number one grade bacon is sliced and inspected for quality assurance as it is being processed. Bacon that does not meet the number one grade minimum specifications is sold as grade number two.

How many types of bacon cuts are there?

There are 5 different bacon cuts

As with any meat, different parts of the animal produce different textures and flavours. And again as with any meat, fat equals flavour. Your preference on what bacon cut tastes the best will lie in where you sit in the balance between meat (texture) versus fat (flavour).

What are the different types of bacon?

What is the healthiest bacon you can eat?

Buy uncured bacon

The first thing I want to look for when trying to eat healthier bacon is to buy uncured bacon. This is bacon that has not had any added sodium nitrate to it. This is what most bacon makers as to their bacon to preserve and color the bacon - gives it that nice bright pink color.

Is thick cut bacon salty?

Bacon typically has quite a lot of salt, which is critical for preserving and for providing some of bacon's characteristic flavor; it's the second ingredient listed for all the products in our lineup. On average, most products had around 250 milligrams of sodium per slice, but the problematic bacon had 309 milligrams.

Why is center cut bacon better?

Janeal Yancey: “Center-cut bacon is leaner. It has more protein and less fat. When you compare it to regular bacon from the same company, it has about 10 fewer calories per serving, and 15 fewer calories from fat.”

Why is Oscar Mayer bacon so good?

Oscar Mayer's package is especially precarious. Notice that the way it is layered emphasizes the meaty side of the bacon. The strips are cut in a way so that one edge is very meaty. Then this edge is displayed in a way to make the consumer think they are getting a great package of bacon when in fact they are not.

Which bacon has the most fat?

Side bacon, or streaky bacon, comes from pork belly. It is very fatty with long layers of fat running parallel to the rind. This is the most common form of bacon in the United States. Pancetta is Italian side bacon, smoked or "aqua" (unsmoked), with a strong flavor.

Can you freeze bacon?

Their recommendation is that unopened bacon only be frozen up to one month. To freeze unopened bacon, overwrap the store package with heavy duty foil or other freezer wrapping, being sure to push all the air out of the package and tightly close the wrapping around the inside package.

How is English bacon different from American bacon?

American bacon comes from pork belly, which is a much fattier cut of meat. British bacon, on the other hand, comes from the loin which is a much leaner cut. In fact, British bacon is from the same cut as pork tenderloin. This is also where bacon gets its name; it is cut from the back of the animal (think "back-on").

What part of the pig is bacon made out of?

After the loin, ribs and skin have been removed there is a flat rectangular section, called the belly. Bellies need to be trimmed so they are straight on all sides; this provides the uniformity to the bacon. The bellies could be sold at this point in the process and would be marketed as pork belly or fresh pork belly.

Is back bacon better than streaky bacon?

Back bacon is less fatty than streaky bacon, as it is mostly from the loin of the pig with just a little from the belly. Whereas streaky bacon comes entirely from the belly and has layers of fat running through it.

How can you tell if bacon is good?

Look for Center Cut Bacon

When you do purchase bacon from the refrigerated section of the store, look for bacon that is labeled center cut. This bacon comes from the leaner and more meaty section of the pork belly. More meat and less fat is a good thing. Most major bacon producers will have a center cut version.

What is chewy bacon called?

American-style bacon

If someone asked you what a traditional American breakfast was, this is the bacon you'd picture next to a short stack of pancakes or a few eggs — long, narrow strips that are cooked crispy or chewy depending on your personal preference. It comes from the pork's belly and produces a lot of greases.

What do they call bacon in England?

American bacon is generally served in crispy strips, streaked with fat, while British bacon, also known as rashers, is chewier and thicker, served in round slices; it's closer to a slice of grilled deli meat than what an American would traditionally call “bacon.” But what, exactly, causes the difference between British ...