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Bought chunky bacon with high expectations, but it turned pale after cooking.
You are not alone. Anyone cooking bacon faces such problems.
Contents
Now, how much weight does bacon lose when cooked?
Different pieces of bacon have different weight loss. Generally, one pound of bacon loses three-fourths of its weight once cooked. Bacon loses water and fat while cooking, resulting in the size shrinkage of bacon and mass. In addition to that, some calories are also lost.
Well, that was just an overview. There are a lot of other factors that need consideration to understand how much weight bacon loses when it is cooked.
So ready the pan, spill some oil. Time to fry some bacon without any loss.
How Much Bacon Am I Losing
No matter how you try, there will always be some weight loss. The number can differ based on the type of bacon you are selecting. So let’s have a look at the loss of weight depending on different types.
Type 1: Streaky Chop
There are many cuts of bacon you may use.
The first one is the streaky bacon slice.
Typically, one regular chop of bacon weighs approximately 16 grams. This will reduce to 5 grams after cooking.
Not only the mass reduction of bacon but also the calorie decreases to some extent. Bacon primarily consists of fat. Once cooked, the fat gets cut so does the calorie.
Type 2: Chop Bacon
Sometimes you use chunky bacon instead of a thin slice.
The curvy portion of back bacon consists of a bit more meat than fat. Because of this, the weight loss for back chop bacon is slight. Around 13 grams of bacon loses out of 32 grams of bacon.
Since there is weight loss, the calorie also decreases a little.
Type 3: Bulky Piece
Enough slices. Let’s speak of pounds.
Generally, if you cook one pound of bacon, only one-fourth of the bacon will remain for you to eat, which means you can serve a calculated value of 0.25 pounds of bacon to the dish.
Qualities Lost While Loss of Weight in Bacon
Not only the loss of weight but other features are also lost when cooking bacon. With weight loss, bacon also loses its length and calories.
You might have to use extra cooking cream for your bacon delight. It’s because a piece of pale bacon might lack the appeal needed.
If you are running a restaurant, you might lose customers.
Shrinkage in Size
Does bacon only lose weight when cooked? No. Your bacon will lose its size as well. After cooking, a slice of bacon loses approximately 57% of its precooked version. Cooking shrinks out your bacon.
Loss of Fat
Bacon is rich in fat. Fat is the power source of bacon, contributing to the high calories.
Once you drop the bacon pieces into the pan, the fat melts and dissolves. Also, the oil gets extracted as well. So you’ll find fewer calories than the package might show you.
Loss of Appeal
Now you buy juicy bacon, and you get pale bacon after cooking. That would be pretty disappointing. Right?
That’s how the appeal of bacon fades.
Phew! One weight loss led to a lot of loss.
Why Does Bacon Lose Weight?
Many factors contribute to the bacon losing weight when cooked. We have explained the reasons below:
Due to Liquids Injected
The first and prime suspect you can consider is water. Mostly bacon gets injected with water, making the bacon look fresh, juicy, and appealing.
So, when you fry the bacon, the water dries out. So, the weight you get initially is the weight including water.
Truth be told, it’s a business strategy. Usually, shops add water to the bacon to increase the mass, enhancing the food’s appearance.
Due to the Fat Present
The fat is also responsible for the shrinkage of bacon. Bacon is filled with fat mostly. This animal fat stays stored in the raw bacon.
Once you fry the bacon, it melts to liquid. In other words, fats get dissolved. As a result, the bacon loses weight and shrinks in size.
Due to Overcooking
In the case of weight, overcooking is not an option. If you overcook bacon, it will lose more water and fat. This will result in weight loss and a loss of calories. Therefore, try to avoid overcooking the bacon.
Recommended reading – Myth Debunked: Do Potatoes Float? | Should Cod Smell Fishy
4 Ways to Minimize Weight Loss
If you want healthy bacon, then it’s time you take the proper steps.
Although losing weight on bacon is not easy, you can reduce it.
These are some key factors you can rely on.
Use Salt and Water
The best way to reduce the weight loss of bacon is to use salt and water. You can use brine in two ways.
Wet Brine
The main concept is, using water with salt. In liquid treatment or curing, the percentage of water is greater than that of salt. Just increase the water level. That’s it!
Dry Brine
It’s the opposite of the liquid one. In dry curing, increase the amount of salt instead of water. If you want, you can make salt shakers on your own.
Dry brine is a traditional method. Here the salt sucks out the water off the bacon. So, when you fry the bacon, you will find little mass difference.
Pick More Meat Than Fat
While choosing the cut for bacon, try to choose the ones that have more meat composition than fat.
So when you fry bacon, the fat loss will decrease, and your bacon will be as heavy as before!
You can use the following bacon if you want. They contain a small amount of fat.
- Bacon of the thick curve
- Bacon cut by butchers
- Bacon medallions
These bacon cuts mostly have meats.
Try Baking
So if you want to ignore the shrinkage of bacon, the best option is baking bacon in the oven.
Clean the bacon with cold water. Then put it in the oven. Set the temperature, say, about 365 degrees of Fahrenheit. Bake for almost 10 minutes.
Your bacon will be crisp and ready without shrinking.
Speaking of ovens, check out these oven sellers:
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They are best-sellers right now. Give them a try without the spray, and pray!
Buy From A Trustworthy Market
Last but not least, choose the right market to buy. Usually, markets add water to increase the weight of bacon.
Now you want to avoid falling for this trap, would you?
So, watch out for the shops. Buy from trusted shops. Check your product while buying. Only then you’ll be able to avoid inferior booby traps.
Ultimately, keep these things in mind. Then you will be able to get healthy bacon.
FAQs
Should I clean bacon?
Always clean bacon with water. If possible, use water cold as ice. Soak the bacon for around 5 minutes and dry it with a paper towel. Your bacon will be ready to fry.
Are Bacon and egg healthy if eaten together?
Yes. Eggs are full of protein. It also has minerals and anti-oxidants. So, adding an egg with bacon is a better option for any breakfast.
Is bacon available without pork?
You can make bacon without using pork as well. Bacon is a meat feature. So, you can use any type of meat.
Does bacon lose calories if smoked?
Loss in calories when smoked is the same as cooking bacon. However, an increase in calories can also be found if you add spices like maple, salt, or sugar.
Conclusion
That’s it, soldier. Hold your fire. Now you know how much weight bacon lose when cooked.
Still, if you need clarification, have a chat with your butcher.
See you soon with another article.