Deciphering Bacon: How Much Crumbled Bacon Equals a Slice?

Bacon is a breakfast staple loved by many. The savory salty smoky flavor of crispy fried bacon is hard to resist! But when a recipe calls for cooked, crumbled bacon, it can be tricky to know how much raw bacon you need to start with. In this article, we’ll break down the bacon equivalents so you can easily convert slice measurements to crumbled amounts.

How Many Slices of Bacon in a Pound?

First it helps to know how many raw slices come in a pound of bacon. This varies slightly by brand and thickness, but on average

• 1 pound of thin sliced bacon has about 20 slices
• 1 pound of regular sliced bacon has about 16 slices
• 1 pound of thick sliced bacon has about 12 slices

So when you buy a 1 pound package of bacon from the store, you can expect approximately 16 regular cut slices inside.

Bacon Measurement Equivalents

Now let’s look at how sliced bacon converts to cooked, crumbled amounts:

• 1 slice of cooked, crumbled bacon = 1 tablespoon
• 2-3 teaspoons of real bacon bits = 1 slice
• 2-3 teaspoons of imitation bacon bits = 1 slice

So if you need 1/4 cup of cooked, crumbled bacon for a recipe, that equals 4 slices before cooking. Easy enough! But things get more tricky when dealing with larger volumes.

Here are the bacon equivalents for full crumbled bacon measurements:

• 1/4 cup crumbled bacon = 4 slices raw
• 1/3 cup crumbled bacon = 5 slices raw
• 1/2 cup crumbled bacon = 8 slices raw
• 2/3 cup crumbled bacon = 10 slices raw
• 3/4 cup crumbled bacon = 12 slices raw
• 1 cup crumbled bacon = 16 slices raw

As you can see, once you get to a full cup of crumbled bacon, you need a whole 1 pound or 16 slices of raw bacon to start with.

The reason for this difference is that bacon shrinks quite a bit when cooked. The fatty parts render out, leaving you with less cooked volume – but all the rich bacon flavor.

Accounting for Variability

It’s important to note that these bacon equivalents are approximate. The actual yield can vary depending on a few factors:

• Bacon thickness – thin slices will crumble into smaller bits versus thick cut bacon. You may need to add 1-2 extra slices if using thin bacon.

• Cooking method – pan frying vs. baking may produce slightly different crumble sizes.

• Moisture content – drier cooked bacon will have less crumbled volume.

• Measuring technique – packing crumbled bacon versus a fluffy scoop will change the results.

For best accuracy, I recommend cooking a test batch to dial in the perfect slice-to-crumble ratio for your specific bacon and method. But these general guidelines provide a helpful starting point.

Handy Bacon Measurement Conversion Chart

For easy reference while cooking, bookmark this bacon conversion chart:

Recipe Measurement	Equivalent or Substitute
1 rasher bacon	1 strip
1 slice bacon	1 tablespoon fried and chopped bacon pieces
1 slice bacon	2 to 3 teaspoons real bacon bits
1 slice bacon	2 to 3 teaspoons imitation bacon bits

Tips for Cooking Crispy Bacon for Crumbling

To yield perfectly crispy, crumbled bacon for recipes:

• Start with raw bacon at room temperature, not cold from the fridge. This helps it cook evenly.

• Choose a heavy skillet or baking sheet so the thin bacon strips don’t burn.

• Cook over medium heat on the stovetop or 400°F in the oven.

• Remove bacon slices as they turn deep brown but before completely blackened.

• Drain on paper towels before crumbling to remove excess grease.

• For food safety, let cool before adding to other recipe ingredients.

Creative Uses for Crumbled Bacon

While crumbled bacon is common on salads, baked potatoes, and in dips, don’t stop there! Get creative with these tasty recipe ideas:

• Pizza – sprinkle crumbled bacon over pizza or dice and add to the sauce

• Burgers or hot dogs – add crunch and flavor by topping with crumbled bacon

• Pasta – mix with cooked noodles, olive oil or alfredo sauce, and garlic

• Breakfast sandwiches – pile crispy crumbled bacon on egg sandwiches

• Soups or chili – add smoky bacon flavor by sprinkling on top

• Casseroles – mix in with cheesy dishes like mac and cheese

• Salads – top lettuce or spinach with crumbled bacon

• Loaded baked potatoes – bacon bits are perfect alongside broccoli, cheese, and sour cream

• Cobb salad – no Cobb is complete without crispy bacon crumbles

• Bacon jam – cook into a sweet and savory spreadable jam

• Deviled eggs – sprinkle bacon on egg salad for protein packed hors d’oeuvres

• Brussel sprouts – roasted Brussels are taken up a notch with the addition of bacon

• Meatloaf – mix crumbled bacon right into the meatloaf or spread over the top

• Scalloped potatoes – add layers of bacon for the perfect potato casserole

• Roasted vegetables – almost any roasted veggies are better with bacon – try green beans, Brussels sprouts, carrots, broccoli, cauliflower or potatoes

• Pancakes or waffles – top your breakfast cakes with crispy crumbled bacon for a savory touch

• Popcorn – drizzle popcorn with olive oil or melted butter and toss with bacon crumbles

• Trail mix – make your own savory trail mix with nuts, pretzels, crispy bacon bits and dried fruit like cranberries

• Dip – mix crumbled bacon into cream cheese or artichoke dips

• Ice cream – add bacon crumble topping to maple, caramel or chocolate ice cream

• Milkshake – blend crispy bacon into chocolate, vanilla or coffee milkshakes

Let your imagination run wild! Bacon crumbles can add a pop of salty, savory flavor to just about anything.

Never Run Out of Bacon Again

Now that you know the sliced bacon equivalents for crumbled amounts, you’ll never have to hastily thaw more bacon mid-recipe again. Keep this handy bacon conversion chart bookmarked and make enough for your culinary creations.