How Many Slices of Bacon Make a Cup? A Guide to Bacon Measurements

Bacon is a breakfast staple and beloved ingredient in many savory dishes Its smoky, salty, umami flavor takes eggs, sandwiches, salads, pastas, and more to the next level When a recipe calls for a certain amount of cooked, crumbled bacon, it can be tricky to figure out how much raw bacon you need to start with. This handy guide provides conversions so you’ll know exactly how many slices of bacon make a cup.

Why Measuring Bacon is Tricky

Measuring bacon isn’t as straightforward as measuring a dry ingredient like flour or sugar. Here’s why determining cup equivalents can be tricky:

• Inconsistent bacon sizes: Bacon slice sizes vary depending on the brand, type (regular, thick-cut, etc.), and whether it’s artisanal or mass-produced. The same volume may require more or fewer slices depending on the bacon.

• Shrinkage: Raw bacon shrinks quite a bit when cooked. The amount of shrinkage depends on the cooking method. Pan-fried bacon shrinks more than bacon cooked in the oven.

• Fat content: Lower-fat bacon won’t render out as much fat, so the cooked volume may be greater than fattier bacon.

• Cooking method: Bacon cooked in the oven on a wire rack will likely yield more fat than pan-fried, resulting in a smaller crumbled volume.

• Crumb size: Finely diced bacon fills more volume than bacon chopped into larger pieces.

So while cup measurements for cooked bacon can’t be 100% precise, they still provide a useful benchmark for planning purposes. The following conversions account for average shrinkage and fat rendering.

Handy Bacon Measurement Conversions

Here are some common bacon recipe measurements converted to approximate raw bacon slice amounts:

• 1/2 cup crumbled cooked bacon = 8 slices
• 2/3 cup crumbled cooked bacon = 10 slices
• 3/4 cup crumbled cooked bacon = 12 slices
• 1 cup crumbled cooked bacon = 16 slices (about 1 pound)

These conversions are based on average thick-cut bacon. If using thinner bacon slices, you may need 1-2 more slices. For thick-cut artisanal bacon, you may need 1-2 fewer slices due to the larger slice sizes and greater shrinkage.

When in doubt, it’s better to err on the side of using more bacon if you’re not constrained by heart health or dietary restrictions Leftover cooked bacon keeps well in the refrigerator for up to a week and is easy to incorporate into other recipes.

Tips for Measuring Bacon

Here are some best practices for getting accurate bacon measurements:

• Weigh raw bacon on a food scale for the most precision The recipe conversions above are based on typical 3-4 ounce bacon slices

• Lay raw slices flat and lined up next to each other in the pan for even cooking.

• Cook until crispy to account for maximum shrinkage. Undercooked bacon won’t release all its fat.

• Let bacon drain on paper towels after cooking to absorb excess grease.

• Chop cooked bacon into roughly 1/4 to 1/2 inch pieces before measuring for consistency.

• Pack down crumbled bacon lightly when measuring to remove air pockets.

• Measure in a dry measuring cup for best results. Bacon bits stick less to dry tools.

• When counting slices, lay them flat and side-by-side instead of in a stack which can compress their size.

Substituting Real Bacon Bits

You can use real bacon bits as a substitute for crumbled cooked bacon. Here are the approx conversions:

• 1 slice bacon = 2 teaspoons bacon bits
• 1.5 slices bacon = 1 tablespoon bacon bits
• 1/4 cup bacon bits = 6 slices bacon
• 1/2 cup bacon bits = 12 slices bacon
• 3/4 cup bacon bits = 18 slices bacon
• 1 cup bacon bits = 24 slices bacon

Note that packaged real bacon bits are made from fully cooked bacon that’s been dehydrated. As such, they don’t need to be cooked further prior to use. Also, the nutrition will differ from fresh cooked bacon.

For a vegetarian alternative, use soy-based bacon bits. Their flavor won’t be as authentic, but they’ll provide a similar crunch.

Key Takeaways

• Raw bacon shrinks significantly when cooked – a 1 pound package yields about 1 cup cooked and crumbled.

• An approximate conversion is 1/2 cup cooked bacon = 8 raw slices, 1 cup cooked bacon = 16 raw slices.

• These conversions are based on average thick-cut bacon. Adjust up or down for thinner or thicker slices.

• Weighing raw bacon provides the most accurate measurements.

• Cook bacon until very crispy for best volume estimates.

• Measure crumbled bacon after draining and patting dry for best results.

• Real bacon bits can be substituted for crumbled bacon using a 1:2 slice to teaspoon ratio.

Knowing how slices and cup measurements translate will give you confidence when cooking and prepping recipes that call for bacon. With this handy reference, you’ll never have to wonder how many slices you need again.