Bacon Snow: The Hot New Food Trend Explained

Move over unicorn frappes and rainbow bagels, there’s a new viral food trend in town – bacon snow! This unique dish is popping up on menus and food blogs everywhere. But what exactly is bacon snow? And how did it become so popular? Let’s dive into the origins, ingredients, and best uses for bacon snow.

What Is Bacon Snow?

Bacon snow refers to shreds of bacon that have been chopped into small, fluffy pieces resembling snow It provides soft texture with crispy, smoky bacon flavor that can be used as a topping or mix-in for all kinds of dishes

Some key things to know:

• It’s made by cooking bacon until very crispy, letting it cool and harden then chopping or shredding into tiny bits.

• The small pieces create fluffy, snow-like texture that’s soft rather than crunchy.

• It delivers big bacon taste without needing large slices or chunks.

• It can be used as a topping, stirred into dishes for flavor, or as a crunchy coating.

• Dishes featuring bacon snow range from salads to pizza, pasta, eggs, sandwiches, and more.

Where Did Bacon Snow Originate?

Like many food innovations, the origins of bacon snow are murky. However, credit often goes to Adam Perry Lang, a chef and cookbook author renowned for his mastery of barbecue techniques.

Lang is said to have pioneered the method of chopping cooked bacon into fluffy shreds to use as a garnish starting in the early 2000s. He reportedly came up with “bacon snow” as a fun name for the product.

The technique gained popularity at gastropubs and trendsetting restaurants in New York and Los Angeles in the early 2010s. From there, it spread thanks to foodie Instagram accounts and blogs.

Today, bacon snow is served at both hip farm-to-table eateries and mainstream chains like Denny’s. Home cooks are also embracing it as an easy way to make dishes more decadent.

Why Did It Catch On?

Bacon snow has several qualities that make it a viral food trend:

Novelty – The light, fluffy texture is unusual and eye-catching. Dishes dressed in bacon snow look fun and indulgent.

Customizable – As a topping or mix-in, it can be added to all kinds of dishes in both sweet and savory preparations.

Adaptable – Bacon snow works for appetizers, mains, side dishes, breakfast items, snacks – you name it!

Craveable – The smoky bacon flavor and crispy texture create an addictive crunch that keeps you coming back for more.

Photogenic – The snow-like appearance stands out beautifully on camera and social media.

Buzzworthy – As a new twist on a classic ingredient, bacon snow generated lots of chatter among foodies and average eaters alike.

How to Make Bacon Snow at Home

Here’s a simple process for turning regular sliced bacon into beautiful bacon snow:

Step 1: Cook the bacon until very crispy, either in a skillet on the stovetop or baked in the oven. Make sure it’s browned and hardened, not chewy.

Step 2: Allow the cooked bacon to cool and dry on paper towels or a wire rack. Drying it well prevents greasiness.

Step 3: Once cooled and dried, chop the bacon into tiny pieces about 1/8″ or smaller using a sharp knife. You can also use a food processor for finer texture.

Step 4: Fluff and break up the bits with your fingers so they resemble flurries of snow. Avoid clumps.

Step 5: Use bacon snow as desired on dishes, or store in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 weeks.

Pro tips: Choose a thick-cut bacon for better texture. Make big batches at once for ease. Save bacon grease for other recipes.

Innovative Ways to Use Bacon Snow

Once you’ve mastered the technique, get creative with recipes that highlight bacon snow! Here are some tasty ways to enjoy it:

• Pizza – Sprinkle bacon snow over your favorite pizza for smoky flavor and crunch.

• Salads – Top Caesar, wedge, spinach, and other salads with bacon snow instead of crumbles.

• Loaded fries/potatoes – For next-level loaded fries or baked potatoes, use bacon snow for coverage and crunch.

• Eggs – Adding some bacon snow to scrambled eggs or omelets pumps up bacon flavor.

• Sandwiches – Mix bacon snow into tuna or chicken salad. Top burgers and sandwiches too.

• Pasta – Toss some bacon snow into baked ziti, mac and cheese, spaghetti, or gnocchi.

• Bacon martini – Rim a glass with bacon snow for a smoky, savory martini twist.

• Cupcakes or donuts – Bacon snow brings sweet-and-salty flair when sprinkled onto baked goods.

• Popcorn topping – For movie night, sprinkle bacon snow on popcorn with Parmesan cheese for a gourmet snack.

• Salad dressings – Whisk a few pinches of bacon snow into vinaigrettes and ranch for a flavor punch.

• Baked potatoes – Loaded baked potatoes become even more drool-worthy with a blizzard of bacon snow on top.

Is the Bacon Snow Trend Here to Stay?

Like many viral food fads, it’s hard to predict if bacon snow has staying power or if it’s just a fleeting fad. Some signs point to its ongoing popularity:

• Bacon itself has proven to have enduring appeal, even through health trends.

• Using bacon as a topping provides flavor while allowing easily controlling portions.

• The technique and application is highly customizable based on trends.

• Instagrammable dishes get more engagement, so visual appeal matters.

• Consumers crave novelty, and bacon snow transforms a familiar ingredient.

• Today’s emphasis on shareable appetizers and snacks fits bacon snow’s role as a topping.

On the other hand, some signs point to potential fading popularity:

• Foodies eventually tire of widespread trends and move onto the next new thing.

• Health concerns about processed meat may deter some consumers over time.

• Regular bacon bits can provide similar crunch without specialized preparation.

• The texture may seem overly dry or strange to some who are not fans of crispy bacon.

• Bacon snow doesn’t work as seamlessly in all cuisines and dishes.

Overall, bacon snow rises above many gimmicky food trends with its tasty flavor profile and textural appeal. Time will tell, but the signs point to bacon snow sticking around on menus and food blogs as more than just a passing fad.

A Brief History of Bacon Itself

To better understand modern bacon snow, it helps to learn how bacon became a staple meat globally over centuries:

• 1500 BCE – Bacon origins trace to China where pork belly was cured with salt.

• 1500 BCE – Pigs were first domesticated as livestock in Europe.

• 100 BCE – The Roman Empire advanced preservation and trade of cured pork known as petaso.

• 1500s – Francis Bacon popularized bacon curing and advanced preservation methods.

• 1700s – American colonists brought bacon-curing traditions and popularized bacon for breakfast.

• 1800s – Large Midwest meatpacking centers mass-produced bacon via new technologies.

• 1940s – Manufacturing of bacon bits took off, thanks to Oscar Mayer marketing.

• 1980s – Concerns arose over nitrates/nitrites used in curing bacon. Alternatives emerged.

• 2000s – Artisanal bacon surged in popularity, featuring specialty breeds, woods for smoking, etc.

• Today – Bacon remains beloved, but also faces health concerns over processed meats.

Is Eating Bacon Snow Healthy?

Should you worry about health risks with trendy bacon snow? Here’s a balanced look at the pros and cons:

Potential Benefits:

• Provides protein, amino acids, and some B vitamins.
• Contains bioavailable iron, zinc, magnesium, potassium as minerals.
• Adds lots of flavor, so less salt/oil may be needed in a dish.
• Keeps bacon crisp which reduces fat versus chewy bacon.
• Toppings allow eating just a small amount of bacon as flavor accent.

Potential Concerns:

• High in saturated fat, which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.
• Contains sodium from the curing process, which can contribute to high blood pressure.
• Processed meats like bacon are tied to increased cancer risk, especially bowel cancer.
• Nitrites used to cure bacon are linked to some cancers and other health issues.
• Can still contribute significant calories, especially if overused as topping.

Bottom Line: Enjoy bacon snow moderately as part of an overall balanced diet emphasizing whole, minimally processed foods. Limit processed meat intake to small servings here and there, not daily.

Creative Substitutions for Bacon Snow

If you’re looking to cut back on bacon or prefer vegetarian options, there are tasty ways to mimic bacon snow texture and flavor:

• Smoked coconut flakes
• Smoked, crushed almonds
• Sauteed mushrooms, finely chopped
• Caramelized onion, minced
• Nutritional yeast
• Smoked paprika mixed with panko breadcrumbs
• Minced eggplant bacon
• Finely shredded tempeh
• Crispy roasted chickpeas, crushed
• Sauteed shiitake mushrooms, chopped

Experiment to find your favorite substitute to sprinkle in lieu of bacon snow as a healthier, plant-based alternative. You can still get tempting crunch and savory qualities without actual bacon.

In Closing

From its origins with chef Adam Perry Lang to taking over Instagram feeds, bacon snow has proven far more than just another food fad. This creative bacon technique provides new ways to enjoy a universally loved ingredient. While health must be kept in mind, embracing bacon snow in moderation offers fun new culinary possibilities. So don’t be afraid to get a bit frosty with recipes featuring bacon snow. Just be warned – once you try it, you might find the cravings hard to stop!