Some might think that turkey bacon is just the skin of the turkey, which is the part that everyone wants at Thanksgiving. But that is not the case. Pork bacon is made from the belly fat of pigs. I’ve seen some pretty thick turkeys, but in general, turkeys don’t have belly fat. To make turkey bacon, white and dark turkey meat are chopped up and processed.
Not only are pork and turkey bacon made from different animals, but they are also different in other ways. First, turkey bacon has slightly less fat than pork bacon. That’s about 3g of fat for two slices of turkey bacon, but 4–5g of fat for two slices of pork bacon. This also changes the texture: turkey bacon doesn’t shrink when it’s cooked because it’s releasing very little fat, but pork bacon will curl and get crispy when it’s done. Turkey bacon is less caloric than pork bacon, but it also tends to have more carbohydrates and sodium.
Turkey bacon is often sold as being healthier than pork bacon, but as you can see above, that isn’t always the case. Sure, you’re getting slightly less fat, but the higher sodium and carb contents aren’t doing you any favors. Just something to keep in mind when deciding between the two.
One true benefit of turkey bacon is as a stand-in for people with pork allergies or pork-restrictive diets. Turkey bacon is both halal and kosher.
Turkey bacon has become a popular alternative to traditional pork bacon over the last few decades. But if it doesn’t come from the belly or sides of a pig like normal bacon, then where does turkey bacon come from? The origins of this crispy, salty breakfast meat may surprise you.
Turkey Bacon Is Made From Ground Turkey
While regular bacon is cut from the fatty areas of a pig turkey bacon is made by grinding up different parts of the turkey into a meat mixture. This includes
- Turkey breast meat
- Turkey thigh meat
- Turkey dark meat
- Turkey skin
- Turkey fat
Many turkey bacon brands will use a combination of white and dark turkey meat in order to mimic the marbled look of pork bacon. The ground turkey meat is combined with seasonings, oils, preservatives, and sometimes even pork fat before being shaped into slices and smoked.
So unlike normal bacon, those uniform slices and strips of turkey bacon are formed from minced and mixed turkey parts rather than being directly cut from the bird.
Why Make Bacon From Ground Turkey?
Using ground and combined turkey meat allows manufacturers to strategically shape the turkey mixture into those familiar crispy bacon slices we love. If they used turkey belly meat like pork bacon, the turkey bacon would have a much different texture and consistency.
Ground turkey also allows them to mix light and dark meat in order to achieve a streaky, marbled look reminiscent of classic bacon made from pork belly.
Turkey skin and fat are sometimes added to enhance flavor and texture as well. Ground turkey can end up quite lean but incorporating turkey fat makes it more bacon-like.
Is Turkey Bacon Healthier Than Pork Bacon?
Many people choose turkey bacon because they assume it’s a healthier alternative to pork bacon. But is this really the case?
While turkey is lower in fat than pork in its whole form, processed turkey bacon isn’t necessarily much better for you. Here’s how they compare:
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Turkey bacon is lower in calories and fat than pork bacon. About 50 calories and 3g fat per slice compared to 40 calories and 5g fat.
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But turkey bacon tends to have less protein and more added sugar and preservatives.
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They both contain nitrates, even when labeled “uncured” or “nitrate-free”.
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Turkey bacon has just as much, if not more, sodium as regular bacon.
So while turkey bacon might be slightly better in some aspects, the processing methods make both types highly processed foods that should only be eaten in moderation as part of a balanced diet.
From a health standpoint, there is no significant advantage to choosing turkey bacon over pork bacon. It’s best to enjoy both sparingly as an occasional treat.
Other Differences Between Turkey and Pork Bacon
Aside from origins and nutrition, there are some other ways that turkey bacon differs from regular pork bacon:
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Turkey bacon doesn’t shrink as much during cooking. This makes it easy to overcook and dry out.
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The low fat content also makes turkey bacon prone to sticking to pans.
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Turkey bacon has a mildly different flavor from pork — not as rich and meaty.
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The flavor and quality can vary more between turkey bacon brands.
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Turkey bacon is often a bit more expensive than pork bacon.
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Turkey bacon can be an alternative for those who don’t eat pork due to religious/dietary reasons.
So while turkey bacon makes a suitable substitute, it still has its differences from classic pork bacon in terms of preparation, taste and nutrition.
How Is Turkey Bacon Made?
Now that we know what parts of the turkey go into turkey bacon, let’s look at how it’s actually produced:
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Turkey meat, skin, and fat are ground, chopped, or minced.
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The ground turkey is mixed with salt, sugars, seasonings and curing agents like sodium nitrate.
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The turkey mixture is smoked or flavored with liquids to achieve a bacon-like taste.
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The seasoned ground turkey is pressed and shaped into slices designed to look like pork bacon.
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The formed turkey bacon slices are cooked, cooled and packaged.
So while turkey bacon may seem quite similar to traditional bacon, its made through a very different process. This production method allows for a bacon-like product made from the leaner and milder ground turkey meat.
Is Turkey Bacon Made Of Meat Glue?
You may hear claims that turkey bacon is made using a substance called meat glue rather than being properly formed slices of meat.
This is not accurate. Meat glue is an enzyme that binds proteins together. Turkey bacon slices maintain their shape because the ground meat mixture is pressed into a mold before cooking.
While meat glue is sometimes used for certain meat products, it is not an ingredient in the typical mass-produced turkey bacons. The slices will stay together on their own thanks to the pressing process.
How To Cook Turkey Bacon
Turkey bacon can be prepared just like pork bacon, but its leanness makes it cook a bit differently. Here are some tips:
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Use a non-stick pan to reduce sticking. Don’t crowd the pan.
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Cook over medium to medium-low heat to prevent burning.
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Bake it in the oven for easy cooking without curling.
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Don’t flip it too often. Let it brown a bit before flipping.
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Remove it just before it reaches your desired crispiness. It will continue to crisp as it cools.
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Make a turkey BLT! The classic sandwich lends itself well to the milder turkey bacon taste.
With its differences from pork belly bacon, turkey bacon makes an interesting alternative that many people enjoy for its convenience, taste or dietary restrictions. While not exactly a health food, it can be a leaner bacon option when enjoyed responsibly.
So next time you eat a crispy, salty strip of turkey bacon, remember where it came from and how it was made. The process may be quite different from pork bacon, but the end result is a tasty, bacon-y treat!
How is turkey bacon made?
Producers finely chop turkey meat, then season it with spices, oil, sometimes sugar, and preservatives. They form the meat into a block and thinly slice it into bacon-shaped strips. A lot of commercial brands of turkey bacon will add a white bar to this block of meat to make it look a little like pork bacon fat. This bar is usually the white meat of the turkey.
How Turkey Bacon Is Made
Is turkey bacon halal?
Turkey bacon is a meat prepared from chopped, formed, cured, and smoked turkey, commonly marketed as a low-fat alternative to pork bacon; it may also be used as a substitute for bacon where religious dietary laws (for example halal in Islam and kashrut in Judaism) forbid the consumption of pork products. Turkey bacon cooking in skillet.
Where does turkey bacon come from?
Bacon, by definition, is fatty meat that typically comes from the belly or sides of the pig which is salt-cured and cut into those fryable strips we know so well. So naturally, you might assume that turkey bacon derives from a similar cut of meat along the sides of the bird. But as logical as that conclusion is, it’s incorrect.
How is turkey bacon made?
Healthline explains that turkey bacon is generally made using a mix of chopped up light and dark turkey meat, as well as the skin. Verywell Fit adds that turkey bacon can also be made using only dark meat. The different parts are combined with seasonings, oil, and preservatives, and then shaped into a mass that is later sliced (via Healthline).
Does turkey bacon have thigh meat?
Here’s everything you need to know. While some turkey bacon brands will claim 100% thigh meat or breast meat in their bacon, most of the packages that you buy at the grocery store are made by mincing meat from various parts of the turkey, and many brands will use a mix of light and dark meat to mimic the marbled, streaky look of classic bacon.
What’s the difference between Turkey bacon & turkey bacon?
Traditional bacon is made from the fatty area of the pork belly, but the same can’t be said about turkey bacon. Healthline explains that turkey bacon is generally made using a mix of chopped up light and dark turkey meat, as well as the skin. Verywell Fit adds that turkey bacon can also be made using only dark meat.
Is turkey bacon healthier than pork bacon?
The bottom line is both products are processed meats, and neither is healthy. Turkey is certainly a leaner meat, so turkey bacon does tend to have less fat and calories, but it also has less protein and more carbs than pork bacon — and often more added sugar to make up for its lack of natural flavor.