How Many Calories Are in Two Pieces of Turkey Bacon?

Turkey bacon is often praised as healthier than pork bacon. While it does contain less fat and fewer calories, it’s still highly processed. It may also contain ingredients that aren’t ideal for health if eaten in large amounts.

Turkey that has been finely chopped and seasoned is used to make Turkeu bacon, which is then cut into strips that look like regular bacon.

This article reviews the nutritional profile of turkey bacon, determining whether it’s truly a healthier choice.

To make it, you chop or grind turkey meat, add spices and preservatives, and then press the mixture into strips that look like bacon.

Some manufacturers even use stripes of light and dark meat to mimic the look of traditional bacon pieces.

You can cook it the same way as traditional bacon. It’s typically pan-fried, microwaved or baked in the oven until golden and crispy.

Here’s a comparison of the nutrient content of one microwaved slice of turkey and pork bacon (2, 3):

Because turkey is leaner than pork belly, turkey bacon contains fewer calories and less fat than pork bacon.

Since both are made from animal proteins, they are pretty good sources of minerals and B vitamins, such as zinc, selenium, and phosphorus.

One slice of turkey bacon has the daily value for all the vitamins and minerals listed below. However, because bacon is usually eaten in small amounts, none of these amounts are met.

Also, unless it says “no sugar added,” most bacon, whether it’s made from turkey or pork, has sugar added to it. ”.

Turkey and pork bacon also have preservatives in them, mostly nitrates or nitrites, which keep the meat from going bad, make it pinker, and improve the taste (4).

Since natural or organic products can’t use man-made preservatives, they often use celery powder, which is a natural source of nitrates, as an alternative.

Turkey bacon can be a good fit for some people, especially those with special dietary needs.

Turkey bacon has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pork bacon. With its lower fat content, turkey bacon is often seen as a healthier choice. But is it significantly lower in calories than regular bacon? Let’s take a look at the nutrition facts and find out just how many calories are in two pieces of turkey bacon.

Calorie Content of Turkey Bacon

The calorie content of turkey bacon can vary somewhat depending on the brand, ingredients, cooking method, and thickness of the slices. However, on average, two regular slices of pan-fried turkey bacon contain about 80-90 calories.

Here is the typical calorie count for two pieces of cooked turkey bacon from various brands

Jennie-O Extra Lean Turkey Bacon – 90 calories
Hormel Black Label Turkey Bacon – 80 calories
Applegate Naturals Turkey Bacon – 80 calories
Oscar Mayer Turkey Bacon – 80 calories
Butterball Everyday Thick Cut Turkey Bacon – 90 calories

So as you can see, the calorie range for two average slices of turkey bacon is 80-90 calories Thinner or thicker slices will have slightly fewer or more calories.

Comparing to Pork Bacon

Now let’s compare that to traditional pork bacon. Two regular slices of pork bacon typically contain about 80-120 calories. So pork bacon has a wider range of calories, but the average is around 100 calories for two slices.

Therefore, turkey bacon is very similar or only slightly lower in calories than regular pork bacon. The small difference is that turkey is a leaner meat than pork.

Here is a calorie comparison of two slices of some popular pork bacon brands:

Oscar Mayer Bacon – 80 calories
Hormel Black Label Bacon – 80 calories
Smithfield Thick Sliced Bacon – 100 calories
Farmland Hickory Smoked Bacon – 120 calories

So on average, two slices of pork bacon contain about 20 more calories than turkey bacon. But there is overlap in the ranges.

Nutrition Facts for Turkey Bacon

Let’s take a closer look at the full nutrition facts for two slices of turkey bacon:

Calories: 80-90
Fat: Approximately 6g
Saturated fat: 2g
Protein: 7g
Sodium: 500-600mg

Turkey bacon is significantly leaner than pork bacon. Two slices of pork can contain 9-15g of fat with 3-5g saturated fat.

Turkey bacon is also a good source of protein, with 7g per serving. It does still contain a high amount of sodium though, similar to regular bacon.

Factors That Affect Calories

A few factors account for the range of calories in turkey bacon:

Turkey cut: Bacon made from turkey breast meat is leaner and lower in fat than bacon containing dark turkey meat.
Cooking method: Pan-frying causes more fat to render out than baking, resulting in more calories.
Thickness: Thicker slices contain more meat and fat compared to thin slices.
Additives: Flavored turkey bacons with sugars and curing agents tend to be slightly higher in calories.
Portion size: The nutrition info is for 2 average slices. Smaller or larger portions will have fewer or more calories.

So when comparing brands, be sure to note any differences in these factors that may impact the calorie counts.

Ways to Reduce Calories in Turkey Bacon

If you’re looking to further reduce the calories in turkey bacon, here are a few tips:

Choose turkey bacon made only from breast meat.
Opt for thin slices rather than thick cut.
Bake the bacon on a rack at 400°F rather than frying in a pan.
Limit portion size to 1-2 slices rather than 4-6 slices.
Opt for low-sodium turkey bacon when possible.
Compare brands and flavors and select the one lowest in calories and fat.

Health Impact of Turkey Bacon

While turkey bacon is slightly leaner than pork bacon, both are high in sodium. Consuming high amounts of sodium has been linked to high blood pressure and heart disease.

The World Health Organization recommends limiting sodium intake to 2,000 mg per day. Just two slices of turkey bacon contain 500-600 mg sodium, which is 25-30% of the daily limit.

Turkey bacon is also high in saturated fat, which can raise LDL (bad) cholesterol levels when consumed in excess. Current American Heart Association guidelines recommend limiting saturated fat to 5-6% of total daily calories.

So while turkey bacon may be a leaner option compared to pork bacon, it should still be eaten in moderation as part of a healthy diet. Consuming turkey bacon occasionally or in small portions can allow you to enjoy the flavor while limiting the less healthy components.

Cooking and Serving Tips

When cooking turkey bacon, follow package instructions carefully, as turkey bacon tends to cook faster than pork bacon. Avoid overcooking it to prevent a dry, tough texture.

Here are some healthy ways to enjoy turkey bacon:

Use it as a crispy topping on salads or soups.
Make a BLT sandwich with turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, and avocado.
Wrap boiled new potatoes in turkey bacon with rosemary and bake.
Add some crumbled turkey bacon to scrambled eggs or an omelet.
Mix chopped turkey bacon into bean chili or cooked rice for extra flavor.

Turkey bacon can make a tasty, protein-packed addition to many recipes and meals. Just be mindful of portion sizes to keep calories in check.

The Bottom Line

So how many calories are in two pieces of turkey bacon? On average, two regular slices of pan-fried turkey bacon contain 80-90 calories. This is very similar to or only slightly less than traditional pork bacon.

While turkey bacon may be a leaner choice, it is still high in sodium and saturated fat. Enjoying turkey bacon occasionally in moderation along with an overall balanced diet can allow you to savor the flavor while maintaining good health.

how many calories in two pieces of turkey bacon

A good option for those who don’t eat pork

Few people eat pork. This includes people who are allergic to or intolerant of pork and people who don’t eat it for health or religious reasons.

If you avoid pork, turkey bacon can be a good substitute.

Pork bacon tastes and feels different from turkey bacon, but many people still like the smoky, salty, meaty flavor of turkey bacon.

While turkey bacon can be a good option for some, be aware of the following potential downsides.

Fewer calories and fat than pork bacon

Turkey bacon has roughly 25% fewer calories and 35% less saturated fat than pork bacon (2, 3).

This makes it a popular choice for people watching their calorie or fat intake.

It does have a lot of calories, though—30 calories per slice, with more than half of those calories coming from fat.

While turkey bacon may be lower in calories than pork bacon, you should still eat it in moderation.

Is Turkey Bacon Healthy? Nutrition, Calories and More

FAQ

How many calories are in 2 slices of cooked turkey bacon?

According to the USDA, two slices of turkey bacon cooked in the microwave provide: 60 calories. 4.2 g fat. 1 g saturated fat.

How many calories are in a single slice of turkey bacon?

This makes it a popular choice for people watching their calorie or fat intake. However, it’s still a relatively high-calorie food, with 30 calories per slice — more than half of which comes from fat. While turkey bacon may be lower in calories than pork bacon, you should still eat it in moderation.

Is turkey bacon ok for weight loss?

Fewer Calories: Because it has less fat, turkey bacon usually has fewer calories per serving than pork bacon, which can be beneficial for weight management. Lower Cholesterol: Turkey bacon generally has lower cholesterol levels than pork bacon, making it a heart-healthier choice for some individuals.

How many calories are in 2 pieces of butterball turkey bacon?

Per Serving: 30 calories; 140 mg sodium; 2 g protein. Gluten free. 40% less sodium than USDA data for cooked pork bacon*.