As a beloved breakfast staple and popular burger topping, bacon holds a special place in many people’s hearts (and stomachs!). But when it comes to cooking and calorie counting, it can be tricky to figure out exact bacon weights. Slices come in all different shapes and thicknesses, plus bacon shrinks as it cooks. So how much does a slice of bacon actually weigh in grams?
In this article, we’ll break down the weights for different types of bacon to give you a detailed understanding of how much a slice weighs Whether you’re meal prepping, tracking macros, or just curious, we’ve got the bacon weight answers you need!
Average Bacon Slice Weights
Let’s start with some averages for the most common supermarket bacon varieties
- Regular sliced bacon – 15-16 grams per raw slice
- Thick sliced bacon – 20-25 grams per raw slice
- Regular back bacon – 32-34 grams per raw slice
These weights can fluctuate slightly based on the brand, thickness, and curing process. Thinner slices will be on the lighter end of the range, while thicker cuts weigh more
As a general rule, streaky bacon slices are thinner and weigh less than back bacon slices. Streaky bacon has more fat, while back bacon is leaner.
Weights for Raw vs. Cooked Bacon
It’s important to note that the weights above are for raw bacon. Once cooked, bacon loses about half its weight as the fat renders out.
Here are the approximate weights for cooked bacon:
- Regular sliced bacon – 6-8 grams per cooked slice
- Thick sliced bacon – 10-13 grams per cooked slice
- Regular back bacon – 14-17 grams per cooked slice
When counting calories, I recommend using the raw weights since that accounts for all the fat initially present. Cooked weights may be useful for recipe planning so you know how much bacon to buy.
Comparing Different Bacon Cuts and Brands
Not all bacon is created equal! Here are some more specific weights for different cuts and brands:
- Oscar Mayer bacon – 17 grams per raw slice
- Hormel Black Label bacon – 14 grams per raw slice
- Kirkland Signature Bacon – 25 grams per raw slice
- Wright® bacon – 18 grams per raw slice
- Smithfield Thick Cut bacon – 28 grams per raw slice
- Nueske’s applewood smoked bacon – 25 grams per raw slice
As you can see, thick cut bacon weighs nearly twice as much as regular sliced. Premium artisanal bacons also tend to be on the heavier side.
For back bacon, here are some weights:
- Oscar Mayer Canadian Bacon – 34 grams per raw slice
- Wellshire Farms Uncured Back Bacon – 28 grams per raw slice
- Kirkland Signature Canadian Bacon – 40 grams per raw slice
Back bacon is leaner and meatier than streaky bacon, so the slices weigh more.
Weights for Multiple Bacon Slices
If you’re cooking up a pack of bacon, here are some handy weights for multiple slices:
Raw Regular Sliced Bacon
- 2 slices = 30-32g
- 4 slices = 60-64g
- 6 slices = 90-96g
- 8 slices = 120-128g
- 10 slices = 150-160g
- 12 slices = 180-192g
Raw Thick Sliced Bacon
- 2 slices = 40-50g
- 4 slices = 80-100g
- 6 slices = 120-150g
- 8 slices = 160-200g
- 10 slices = 200-250g
- 12 slices = 240-300g
Raw Regular Back Bacon
- 2 slices = 64-68g
- 4 slices = 128-136g
- 6 slices = 192-204g
- 8 slices = 256-272g
- 10 slices = 320-340g
- 12 slices = 384-408g
You can reference these numbers when portioning out bacon for meal prep, recipes, and more.
Factors That Affect Bacon Weight
There are a few key factors that determine the weight of a bacon slice:
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Type of cut – Back bacon weighs more than streaky bacon.
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Thickness – Thick cut bacon weighs nearly twice as much as regular sliced.
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Brand – Premium artisanal bacons weigh more than standard supermarket varieties.
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Cooking method – Pan-frying causes more fat rendering (and weight loss) than baking.
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Doneness – The longer bacon cooks, the more fat renders out and the lighter it gets.
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Curing process – Some bacons are pumped with water which adds weight. Look for dry cured.
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Portion size – Restaurants may serve larger slices than what you cook at home.
Overall, for most regular sliced bacon, 15-17 grams per raw slice is a good estimate. Weigh your bacon to be sure if you need precision!
Bacon Nutrition and Calorie Density
Now that we know bacon weights, let’s discuss the nutrition specifics. Two raw slices of bacon (about 30 grams) contain:
- Calories: 68
- Fat: 5g
- Carbs: 0g
- Protein: 5g
Bacon is high in fat, but also delivers a decent hit of protein. It packs a whopping 115 calories per ounce when raw. Since it loses half its weight when cooked, the calorie density increases to about 208 calories per cooked ounce.
So while the fat renders out during cooking, the calories condense. You can use the raw or cooked calorie count depending on your needs.
Real-World Bacon Weight Scenarios
To put bacon weights into context, here are some real-world examples:
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Making a BLT sandwich? You’ll need about 3 raw slices which weighs 45-48 grams.
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Meal prepping bacon for the week? For 12 cooked slices (a typical 1 pound pack), plan on cooking 24 raw slices weighing 360-384 grams.
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Adding crumbled bacon to a salad? One raw slice makes about 1 tablespoon crumbled, or 8-10 grams.
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Topping baked potatoes? 1-2 tablespoons of cooked, crumbled bacon per potato is plenty. That’s about 15-20 grams.
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Making bacon bits from a 1 pound pack? You’ll end up with about 3/4 cups or 170 grams.
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Adding bacon to biscuits and gravy? Count on cooking at least 4 slices, or 60-64 grams raw.
Hopefully these examples provide some practical context on how bacon weights apply to everyday cooking and eating!
Get Out Your Scale and Weigh Your Bacon!
When it comes to getting precise with bacon weights, nothing beats actually weighing it yourself. The weights can vary depending on so many factors, as we discussed above.
I recommend taking a few minutes to weigh the raw bacon you have at home. Note the weight per slice so you can refer back to it. Weigh it cooked as well so you know how much it shrinks.
This will give you the customized data you need for your specific type of bacon. Then you’ll know exactly how many grams are in each slice when cooking and calorie counting.
Some other tips when weighing bacon:
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Always weigh it raw since weights vary less.
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Use a food scale that measures in grams for the most precision.
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Weigh the bacon just before cooking for the most accurate weight.
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Write the weight on your bacon pack in marker so it’s handy.
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Re-weigh periodically since bacon weights fluctuate over time.
So for a definitive answer to “how much does a slice of bacon weigh in grams”, nothing beats weighing it yourself! Then you’ll have the customized bacon weights that work for your cooking.
The Takeaway – Bacon Weights Vary
While we’ve provided some general averages for bacon gram weights, the reality is that the weights can vary quite a bit based on the factors discussed.
Your specific bacon may weigh slightly more or less. Just 15 grams difference per slice can really add up if you’re cooking a whole pack.
For accuracy in recipes and calorie tracking, weigh your bacon and note the gram weights. Take detailed notes on the weights of different brands, thicknesses, etc. as well.
Understanding exactly how much a slice of bacon weighs in grams takes the guesswork out of cooking and makes nutrition tracking easier. So take the time to weigh your bacon and compute the customized gram weights. Then you’ll really know how much bacon you’re working with!
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