It’s likely that you haven’t heard of the “dark horse” of breakfast meats unless you live in New Jersey. Part mystery, with a dash of allure, let us introduce you to pork roll. At first glance, it might look like Canadian bacon or even bologna, but it’s actually pork roll. In New Jersey, you’d be hard-pressed to find a bagel shop or diner that doesn’t serve it as a breakfast meat option, along with basic options like bacon and sausage. It would be almost impossible to find the cheap restaurant in Manhattan if you crossed the bridge.
Anyone who was born and raised in New Jersey has eaten this sliced meat since they were babies. It’s so good that it beats other breakfast meats hands down. It’s been there to comfort people after a night of drinking too much, and it even has its own holiday to honor it. Breakfast avocado toast is too expensive for us. Instead, we’d take a pork roll with egg, cheese, salt, pepper, and ketchup on a roll, which is how most people order it. People love this meat so much that there are two food festivals just for it, but people from different states rarely say “pork roll.” Lets solve the mystery and discover the truth about pork roll.
Bacon and pork roll both hold a special place in the hearts (and stomachs!) of their regional fans. But how do these two processed breakfast meats stack up health wise? As an avid pork roll enthusiast, I decided to take a detailed look at the nutrition profiles of pork roll versus bacon to settle the debate over which one reigns supreme.
Defining the Main Contenders
First, let’s clearly define these pork products before comparing them
Bacon – Most American-style bacon is made from pork belly that is cured, smoked, and sliced It has a high fat content from the fatty belly meat
Pork roll (also known as Taylor ham) – A processed meat made of ground pork, spices, and curing agents formed into a log shape It has a much lower fat content than bacon
While both are processed meats, pork roll contains less fat since it doesn’t use belly cuts. But does this make it a clear nutritional winner? Let’s find out.
Comparing the Nutrition Facts Side-by-Side
Here’s a nutritional comparison of 2 ounce servings of pan-fried pork roll versus pan-fried bacon:
Calories
- Pork roll: 232 calories
- Bacon: 153 calories
Fat
- Pork roll: 16g total fat, 6g saturated fat
- Bacon: 12g total fat, 4g saturated fat
Protein
- Pork roll: 8g
- Bacon: 7g
Sodium
- Pork roll: 634mg
- Bacon: 551mg
Carbs
- Pork roll: 1g net carb
- Bacon: 0g net carb
Cholesterol
- Pork roll: 45mg
- Bacon: 15mg
Key Nutritional Differences and Takeaways
Based on the nutrition comparison, here are some key differences:
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Pork roll is higher in calories and fat compared to bacon.
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Bacon contains less saturated fat than pork roll.
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Pork roll edges out bacon in protein content.
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Both are very high in sodium, with pork roll being slightly higher.
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Bacon is lower carb.
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Pork roll has more cholesterol than bacon.
So it may be a bit surprising, but the nutrition facts give bacon a slight advantage over pork roll due to lower calories, saturated fat, and cholesterol. However, pork roll contains more protein. Both should be eaten in moderation.
Other Factors Impacting Health Profile
Beyond just nutrients, preparation method and ingredients impact the health profile:
Ingredients
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Pork roll contains fillers like corn syrup or caramel coloring. Bacon is typically just pork, salt, and preservatives.
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Nitrate-free or uncured options are available for both, which is preferable.
Cooking Method
- Frying creates carcinogens. Bacon and pork roll both taste great pan-fried, grilled, or baked.
Portion Size
- Sticking to 2 ounces or less per serving is smart for both. Moderation is key.
So when choosing the healthiest option, natural uncured products and mindful cooking and serving sizes are important for both pork roll and bacon.
Potential Benefits of Pork Roll and Bacon
Despite being processed meats, pork roll and bacon do offer some nutritional positives:
Protein – Helps maintain and build muscle mass.
B Vitamins – Important for energy and brain health.
Iron – Provides a bioavailable form of this mineral.
Zinc – Boosts immune function.
Savory Flavor – Can satisfy cravings for salty, umami flavors.
When consumed wisely, both meats can add flavorful protein to the diet.
The Verdict: Pork Roll and Bacon Are Equally Healthy in Moderation
Overall, pork roll and bacon are comparable when it comes to nutrition and health factors. Both offer protein, zinc, iron and B vitamins. But both also contain high sodium and nitrates.
Preparation method, ingredients, and portion size are more important for health than which one you choose. Opting for uncured meats in moderation is a smart strategy.
Both pork roll and bacon lovers can rejoice, as incorporating small servings of either in an overall balanced diet seems fine. Just be mindful of sodium intake, nitrates, and avoiding burning.
In my personal opinion, pork roll edges out bacon by offering a more substantial meaty bite and better texture. But bacon fans may differ. Nutritionally, consider it a tasty tie!
So fellow New Jerseyans and Pennsylvanians, enjoy your breakfast sammies proudly whether Team Taylor Ham or Team Bacon. With moderation and mindfulness, both pork roll and bacon can provide savory satisfaction without major health concern. They might not be health foods, but they sure make mornings more delicious.
Pork roll is pretty much exclusive to New Jersey
There are some things that are just distinctly New Jersey. Bruce Springsteen, bagels, Atlantic City, and salt water taffy are what make Jersey … Jersey. While the state is also known for its production of stellar corn and ripe “Jersey tomatoes,” these foods arent exactly limited to the Garden State. Pork roll, however, is exclusively made and produced for consumer consumption in New Jersey. According to NJ.com, pork roll purveyors will only distribute inside the Garden State and on occasion to neighboring Eastern Pennsylvania.
Is it the water? Is it the weather? Those two things can explain why wine or even pizza is popular in some places, but no one is sure why pork rolls haven’t caught on in other parts of the country. Its truly an unprecedented feat for a food item to be so strictly limited to one state. Either way, Jerseyans love a good fight and will proudly go to bat for their favorite breakfast meat.
Pork roll, egg, and cheese is the official sandwich of New Jersey
You can use pork rolls in any way you can think of, but the most common way is to make a sandwich with eggs and cheese. It’s perfect for breakfast or dinner, on a Kaiser roll, an English muffin, or a bagel. The state that gave us the Boss can also make the perfect sandwich. There are hundreds of shops across the state that sell these sandwiches, so we can’t even imagine how many New Jersey residents eat each year. Basically, at any given moment, you could find the sandwich within minutes. One person tried almost fifty different kinds of the sandwich over the course of a week.
According to Politico, Assemblyman Tim Eustace introduced an act in New Jersey in 2016 that designated the Taylor Ham, egg, and cheese sandwich as the official New Jersey State Sandwich. The official title is justifiable, might we add, as the meaty wonder has been met with much fanfare over the years, accounting for countless social media fan sites, festivals, merchandise, and even cookbooks.
The Pork Roll (Or Taylor Ham), Egg, And Cheese | Legendary Eats
Is Canadian Bacon the same as pork roll?
Bacon alone is confusing, given its various versions. There’s Irish bacon, back bacon, American bacon, and so on. While similar in its circular nature and appearance of texture, Canadian bacon is not cured like pork roll. It also happens to be much leaner than pork roll and has a sweeter flavor profile, as opposed to the saltiness of pork roll.
Spring rolls vs Egg rolls: Which is healthier?
Spring rolls vs egg rolls the both of are made up of refined flour, both contain similar calories, but the only difference in them is the addition of vegetables, spring rolls have more added vegetables compared to egg roll which only has cabbage added to it. So, comparing on the amount of vegetables and method of preparation spring rolls are quite healthy than egg rolls. Later it depends on the amount of other sauces you add in the roll which will eventually increase the calories.
Is pork belly healthier than bacon?
Many people consider pork belly to be a healthier option than bacon due to the lack of processing. Bacon often contains nitrites and nitrates that are used to preserve the meat and produce the pinkish-red color we associate with delicious bacon.
Is pork bacon better than turkey bacon?
Two ounces of turkey bacon has more than 1,900 milligrams of sodium. The same amount of pork bacon contains roughly 1,300 milligrams. In addition to increasing your risk of heart disease, high sodium intake raises the likelihood of kidney stones. Vitamins: Turkey and pork bacon both provide vitamin B complex nutrients, but pork bacon offers more.
Is pork bacon bad for You?
In addition to increasing your risk of heart disease, high sodium intake raises the likelihood of kidney stones. Vitamins: Turkey and pork bacon both provide vitamin B complex nutrients, but pork bacon offers more. Pork also contains more selenium, a mineral that activates certain proteins associated with preventing cancer.
Are pork rolls good for winter?
It’s long been rumored that pork roll was the answer. Given its heavily processed nature, the packaged rolls of minced meat (plus likely some questionable ingredients) could easily survive those harsh winter conditions. It came with the added bonus of being super portable, as they could carry around the salted pork product in roll form.