Is Subway Bacon Precooked? Get the Facts on Their Bacon Preparation

As one of the most popular sandwich chains in the world, Subway restaurants serve up millions of subs every day packed with meats, cheeses, vegetables, and condiments Bacon is a top choice among meat-lovers for adding some smoky, salty crunch to their sandwich or wrap. But an important question for health and safety is – is Subway bacon precooked before it’s served?

In this article, we’ll provide a detailed look at how Subway prepares and cooks bacon for their sandwiches. We’ll examine everything from ingredients, nutrition, food safety protocols, and prep methods. You’ll get the complete facts on whether Subway bacon arrives precooked or raw.

Overview of Subway’s Bacon Offerings

Subway provides a few different bacon options on their extensive menu:

• Applewood Smoked Bacon – Thick-cut smoked bacon slices

• Bacon Strips – Thinner cut bacon slices.

• Canadian Bacon – Round sliced ham/bacon hybrid.

• Turkey Bacon – Lower fat turkey bacon slices.

Bacon can be added to any sandwich or wrap combination. Some popular choices are:

• BLT – Bacon, lettuce, tomato.

• Club – Bacon, ham, turkey, cheese.

• Bacon Egg & Cheese – Breakfast sandwich.

• Chopped Salads – With bacon bits.

Subway also offers a premade Bacon, Egg, and Cheese on a Croissant sandwich for breakfast.

Now let’s look at the all-important preparation and cooking process for these bacon menu items.

Is Subway Bacon Precooked Already?

According to Subway’s own website and training materials, all bacon served at Subway arrives precooked and is simply heated in the restaurant. Raw or undercooked bacon is never served to customers.

Specifically, the Applewood Smoked Bacon is provided fully cooked from the supplier. It is then prepared by microwaving until hot and placed on sandwiches. Any bacon bits or crumbles added to salads are also fully cooked before sending to stores.

The precooking process allows Subway to ensure food safety and consistent quality. It gives them control over the proper cooking temperature and texture of their bacon rather than leaving it up to individual locations.

Why Does Subway Precook Their Bacon?

There are a few benefits to Subway precooking all bacon in their restaurants:

• Food safety – Precooking eliminates the risk of undercooked bacon containing harmful bacteria.

• Consistent texture – Every Subway has the same crispy, thick-cut applewood smoked bacon.

• Speed – Precooked bacon just needs quick reheating to serve.

• Shelf life – Properly precooked and packaged bacon lasts longer.

• Versatility – Precooked bacon can be chopped, microwaved, or pan-fried.

Subway’s choice to use precooked bacon aligns with their commitment to serve fresh, customizable subs and salads with speed. It allows them to deliver a consistent product with food safety top of mind.

What is Subway’s Bacon Cooking Process?

Although precooked, Subway doesn’t just serve the cold bacon right out of the package. They follow a specific microwave heating process to give it the warm, crispy texture their customers expect.

Here are the general steps:

• Bacon arrives at stores fully cooked in sealed packages.
• Employees wash hands and change gloves before handling.
• Bacon is removed from packaging using sanitized tongs.
• Slices are placed evenly between layers of paper towels.
• Bacon is microwaved on the “Bacon” setting for 18 seconds.
• After microwaving, bacon is immediately assembled into sandwiches.
• Any leftover bacon is discarded rather than re-refrigerating.

Proper microwave heating is key. Their training states undercooked bacon should never be served. Following these safety steps allows Subway to quickly prepare sandwiches with heated precooked bacon.

How Does Subway’s Bacon Compare Nutritionally?

From a nutrition standpoint, Subway’s Applewood Smoked Bacon stacks up closely with other major precooked bacon brands serving the food industry:

• Oscar Mayer – 80 calories, 7g fat per slice
• Hormel – 60 calories, 5g fat per slice
• Subway – 70 calories, 6g fat per slice

As you can see, Subway’s nutritional values fall nicely in line with top national precooked bacon providers. Given the similarities, customers can feel good about the food quality.

Going with turkey bacon instead can further reduce the calories and fat. Overall, Subway’s precooked bacon meets expectations for this popular sandwich shop.

Is Precooked Bacon as Good as “Fresh” Bacon?

While traditionalists may argue that precooked bacon loses some flavor and texture versus fresh-cooked, Subway’s heating process helps minimize differences. By taking thick-cut Applewood smoked bacon and microwaving to add crispiness, it comes out tasting like high-quality bacon.

The convenience and food safety of precooked bacon outweighs any small losses in taste or texture. Subway focuses on speedy service and customization, not made-from-scratch cooking at each store. For a quick and tasty bacon sandwich on the go, Subway delivers the goods.

Can You Order Uncooked Raw Bacon at Subway?

Given the safety and operational benefits of precooked bacon, Subway does not deviate from using fully cooked bacon in all locations. Customers cannot request or order uncooked raw bacon on sandwiches. Any modifications or substitutions would still involve precooked bacon.

While some local sandwich shops may cook raw bacon for specialty sandwiches, Subway’s commitment to food safety overrules custom orders of uncooked meats. For customers wanting a unique bacon experience, Subway aims to satisfy through abundant toppings and sauces instead.

Is Subway Changing Their Bacon Cooking Methods?

Subway has used precooked bacon in their restaurants since the beginning. They have found this process reliably satisfies customers and aligns with their fresh, fast service model.

Barring any supply chain issues or new operational enhancements, Subway is likely to continue utilizing high-quality precooked bacon. The proof is in the billions of bacon-packed sandwiches they sell each year!

Can You Microwave Subway’s Bacon at Home?

Nothing beats the taste of a freshly made Subway sandwich. But when dining at home, you can come close by mimicking their bacon reheating process.

Start with a high-quality precooked bacon like Oscar Mayer or Hormel. Layer slices between paper towels and microwave in 30 second increments until hot and slightly crispy. Assemble into your favorite submarine sandwich with all the fixings.

Add veggies, sauce, cheese, and meats for the complete at-home Subway flavor. While it won’t be exactly the same, you can create a satisfying bacon sub by following their precooked bacon prep method.

The Takeaway on Subway’s Bacon Prep

At Subway, safety comes first. That’s why all bacon – including Applewood Smoked Bacon, bacon strips, and turkey bacon – arrives at restaurants fully cooked and is simply reheated before serving.

Their commitment to food safety and excellent operational practices requires precooked bacon. Beyond creating a consistent product, it eliminates concerns over raw bacon and provides speedy sandwich assembly.

While precooking may disqualify Subway’s bacon as “fresh” in the traditional sense, their preparation and heating procedures ensure you get a tasty, crispy bacon topping for your sub.

So savor a mouths-watering bacon creation at Subway next time hunger strikes for this popular pork treat!