How Many Grams are in a Slice of Bacon? A Complete Guide

Bacon is a beloved breakfast staple that has been enjoyed for centuries. With its crispy texture, smoky, salty flavor and satisfying sizzle it’s no wonder bacon has remained a morning favorite across generations.

But when cooking or eating bacon, have you ever wondered just how many grams are actually in one slice? The weight can vary substantially depending on the cut, thickness, cooking method, and other factors. Understanding the gram weight per slice can be helpful for calculating nutrition info, portioning recipes, and more.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll break down everything you need to know about the grams in a slice of bacon. We’ll look at:

• Average weight of different bacon types
• Differences in raw vs. cooked bacon
• How thickness impacts weight
• Calculating calories and fat
• Tips for measuring bacon
• Healthy ways to enjoy bacon

Let’s dive in and become bacon weight experts!

Average Weight of Different Bacon Types

Not all bacon is created equal when it comes to weight. Here are the average gram weights for different common types of bacon:

• Supermarket bacon (streaky): 15-16 grams uncooked
• Back bacon: 32-34 grams uncooked
• Slab bacon: 28-30 grams uncooked
• Thick-cut bacon: Around 23-26 grams uncooked
• Thin-cut bacon: Approximately 12-14 grams uncooked

As you can see, bacon can range quite a bit in heft depending on the cut and style. Thick-sliced artisanal bacon weighs much more than a thin, supermarket slice.

When cooking, these averages will change as moisture is lost. Let’s look closer at the differences between raw and cooked bacon.

Raw vs. Cooked: How Weight Changes

Bacon loses a significant amount of moisture during the cooking process. This causes the weight to reduce substantially when cooked.

• A 49 gram raw slice of pork belly bacon will yield a 16 gram cooked slice, losing nearly 70% of its original weight.
• The same raw slice contains 71 calories. Once cooked, that 16 gram slice will have 4.4 calories per gram, or about 71 calories total.
• So while the calorie count remains similar, the density of calories per gram increases with cooking as moisture is lost.

The amount of moisture loss will depend on factors like cooking method, thickness, and more. But in general, expect a 30-40% weight reduction between raw and cooked bacon.

How Thickness Impacts Weight

Beyond just the cut of bacon, the thickness of the slices also significantly affects gram weight. Here’s how thickness changes the grams per slice:

• Thick-cut: Approximately 0.111 inches thick with 10-14 slices per pound. The heftier thickness increases weight and reduces slice quantity. Thick slices can weigh 23-26 grams each.

• Regular cut: The typical middle-ground thickness, with about 18-22 slices per pound. Slices weigh 15-16 grams each.

• Thin-cut: Thinner than 0.056 inches with 25-30 slices per pound. Thin cuts are around 12-14 grams per slice.

As you can see, thicker bacon equals heavier bacon Thin strips are the lightest in weight and allow for enjoying the bacon flavor with less total grams consumed.

Calculating Calories and Fat

To determine the calories and fat in bacon, you’ll need to know the gram weight along with the nutrition facts panel info. Here are some stats based on approximate weight

• A 15-16 gram raw slice of streaky bacon contains 38-45 calories.

• 34.5 grams (about 3 slices) of pan-fried bacon contains 161 calories total. 108 of those calories come from fat.

• A single 16 gram slice of cooked bacon contains 71 calories, with 4.4 calories per gram. About 65% of the calories come from fat.

• 100 grams of raw bacon yields approximately 144 calories when cooked.

As you can see, the fat and calorie density is quite high in bacon. Thicker, heavier slices will pack even more calories and fat. This is important to keep in mind for your health if you eat bacon regularly.

Tips for Measuring Bacon Accurately

When trying to closely monitor your bacon intake, it can be tricky to measure the weight and servings accurately, especially when cooking. Here are some helpful tips:

• Use a kitchen scale for the most precise measurement. Weigh slices before cooking.

• Estimate weight by slice, using the general gram weights listed above.

• For crumbled bacon, measure volume. 1 cup of crumbled bacon is approximately 100 grams.

• Use measuring spoons as a guide. For example, 1 tablespoon of chopped bacon is around 5 grams.

• Remember that cooked weight will be lower than raw. Adjust your mental estimates accordingly.

• Note weight info from any nutrition labels for the bacon package you are using.

With some simple techniques, you can become a bacon weighing pro in no time!

Healthy and Moderate Bacon Enjoyment

While bacon does have some nutritional value from nutrients like zinc, iron, magnesium and potassium, it is quite high in saturated fat, sodium and cholesterol. Too much can increase risk of chronic illnesses. Here are some tips for keeping your bacon enjoyment healthy:

• Opt for turkey bacon or chicken bacon to reduce fat, calories, and sodium.

• Choose thinner sliced cuts which will have less fat and calories per slice.

• Measure portions accurately using the tips above to stay mindful of intake.

• Include veggie sides like avocado, tomatoes or spinach to balance the meal.

• Limit bacon meals to no more than once or twice per week.

• Select uncured bacon options without added nitrites or nitrates.

• Bake or air fry instead of frying to reduce overall fat and calories.

With some mindful choices, bacon can absolutely still have a place in a healthy diet. Follow the tips in this guide for understanding portion sizes, weights and nutrition info. Then relax and enjoy those tasty, crispy slices in balance and moderation. Your waistline and heart will thank you!