Is Uncured Turkey Bacon Raw? The Truth Behind This Popular Breakfast Meat

Turkey bacon has become an increasingly popular alternative to traditional pork bacon over the past few decades. Its leaner nutritional profile makes it an attractive option for health-conscious eaters looking to reduce their intake of fat, calories, and sodium. But one question that often comes up is whether uncured turkey bacon is safe to eat raw. Let’s take a closer look at what uncured turkey bacon really is and whether it needs to be cooked before eating.

What Exactly is Uncured Turkey Bacon?

Uncured turkey bacon is turkey bacon that has been preserved without the use of sodium nitrite, an ingredient commonly used to cure meats like ham, hot dogs and bacon. Instead of sodium nitrite uncured turkey bacon relies on natural preservatives like celery powder, vinegar, and sea salt to prevent bacterial growth while adding flavor. This gives it a flavor profile similar to traditional bacon without the addition of artificial chemicals.

Uncured turkey bacon still undergoes a smoking process to impart that smoky, wood-fired taste we all know and love. Popular brands like Godshall’s smoke their turkey bacon using a blend of hardwoods like hickory and applewood to naturally enhance the flavor. The smoking process cooks the turkey bacon to some degree, but not to the full 165°F recommended for cooked poultry

Is Uncured Turkey Bacon Fully Cooked?

Here’s where things get tricky. While the smoking process cooks uncured turkey bacon to some extent, it is not technically fully cooked when it comes straight out of the package. Most uncured turkey bacon packets indicate the bacon is “fully cooked” right on the label, which can be misleading.

The USDA states that fully cooked poultry products must reach an internal temperature of 165°F. Uncured turkey bacon straight from the package is often still raw in the middle and not yet fully cooked through to 165°F. For food safety, the USDA recommends treating uncured turkey bacon like raw meat and cooking it fully to 165°F before eating.

What Happens If You Eat Uncured Turkey Bacon Raw?

Consuming raw or undercooked turkey bacon puts you at risk for foodborne illness. Like raw chicken or ground beef, raw turkey may contain harmful bacteria such as Salmonella, Listeria monocytogenes, Campylobacter, and E. coli. Eating undercooked turkey allows these dangerous pathogens to enter your system, which can cause severe gastrointestinal distress or even life-threatening complications.

According to Reddit users who have accidentally eaten raw turkey bacon, typical symptoms included stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, dizziness, and fatigue. In most cases, the food poisoning only lasted 24-48 hours as the immune system fought off the infection, but the symptoms were still extremely unpleasant during that time.

Some people may be more vulnerable to foodborne illnesses than others. Children, pregnant women, older adults, and those with weakened immune systems are at higher risk for complications from consuming raw meats and poultry. These groups are advised to take extra caution and always ensure meats are cooked to recommended safe internal temperatures.

Proper Handling and Cooking of Uncured Turkey Bacon

Now that you know uncured turkey bacon is not fully cooked when purchased, it’s important to handle and prepare it properly to avoid health risks. Here are some tips for safe turkey bacon consumption:

• Purchase fresh: Check the sell-by or use-by date and select the freshest package possible. Avoid turkey bacon that looks slimy or smells off.

• Refrigerate promptly: Get uncured turkey bacon into the fridge within 2 hours of purchasing. Keep it stored at 40°F or below.

• Watch expiration dates: Cook or freeze uncured turkey bacon by the use-by date printed on the package. Discard if expired.

• Thaw safely: Thaw frozen uncured turkey bacon in the fridge, not on the counter. Don’t attempt to cook frozen turkey bacon.

• Cook thoroughly: Heat uncured turkey bacon to 165°F all the way through before consuming. Frittatas, casseroles, and soups containing turkey bacon should also reach 165°F.

• Use a meat thermometer: Check the internal temperature in the thickest part of the turkey bacon to confirm it has reached a safe 165°F before removing from heat.

• Avoid cross-contamination: Use separate cutting boards and utensils for raw turkey bacon. Wash hands, counters, plates, and tools that have touched raw turkey before reuse.

• Cook within recommended times: For food safety, only reheat previously cooked turkey bacon to 165°F once. Discard any uneaten turkey bacon after cooking.

Following these precautions when selecting, storing, handling, and cooking uncured turkey bacon reduces your risks of foodborne illnesses. Take the same safety measures with uncured turkey bacon that you would with raw chicken or ground beef.

Health Benefits of Uncured Turkey Bacon

So we’ve established uncured turkey bacon needs to be fully cooked before eating for food safety. But when prepared properly, it can still offer some advantages over regular pork bacon:

• Less fat & calories: Turkey meat has about half the fat and calories than pork. Uncured turkey bacon saves about 50 calories and 5g fat per slice compared to pork bacon.

• Fewer nitrates: Uncured turkey bacon skips the sodium nitrites linked to increased cancer risk and replaces them with natural preservatives.

• More protein: A 2-slice serving of turkey bacon has around 8-12g protein compared to just 4-6g in pork bacon. Turkey provides more protein to help you stay full and satisfied.

• Versatile flavor: The smoky, savory taste of turkey bacon complements both sweet and savory dishes. Use it as a breakfast side, sandwich topper, salad sprinkle, and more.

• Lower sodium: Turkey bacon contains around 400mg less sodium per serving than regular bacon, making it easier to limit salt intake.

When handled properly, uncured turkey bacon can be a tasty, healthier alternative to regular bacon, especially for those watching their fat, cholesterol, and sodium consumption. Just be sure to always cook it thoroughly and follow food safety recommendations when preparing raw turkey meat.

Cooking Up Delicious Turkey Bacon Recipes

Once you’ve got a handle on how to safely select, store, and cook uncured turkey bacon, it’s time for the fun part—coming up with delicious ways to enjoy it! Turkey bacon’s savory, smoky flavor pairs well with both sweet and salty ingredients. Here are just a few tasty turkey bacon recipe ideas to try:

• BLT sandwiches with crispy turkey bacon, lettuce, tomato, and mayo on whole wheat bread

• Turkey bacon avocado toast on artisan sourdough bread

• Turkey bacon wrapped shrimp or scallops

• Chopped turkey bacon & chives omelet or frittata

• Thanksgiving stuffing with turkey bacon, apple, and sage

• Brussels sprouts roasted with olive oil, turkey bacon, and parmesan

• Turkey bacon carbonara with turkey bacon bits, peas, and parmesan

• Candied turkey bacon slices baked with brown sugar and black pepper

• Kale & quinoa turkey bacon salad with egg, feta, and lemon vinaigrette

• Grilled cheese on sourdough with sliced turkey, Havarti, and turkey bacon

With a little creativity in the kitchen, the possibilities for preparing uncured turkey bacon are endless! Just be diligent about properly cooking turkey bacon to 165°F before consuming to reduce health risks.

The Takeaway on Uncured Turkey Bacon

While the label may read “fully cooked,” uncured turkey bacon is not ready to eat straight out of the package. For optimal safety and quality, handle uncured turkey bacon as you would raw meat and cook it thoroughly to 165°F before eating. Avoid health risks by purchasing fresh, refrigerating properly, watching expiration dates, thawing safely, using a meat thermometer, and preventing cross-contamination in your kitchen.

When cooked correctly, uncured turkey bacon makes a flavorful, healthier alternative to regular pork bacon. Feel free to get creative cooking up your favorite turkey bacon recipes once you’ve verified it reaches a safe internal temperature. Just remember—no nibbling on that crispy, savory turkey bacon until it’s cooked all the way through! Follow these tips for enjoying the tasty benefits of uncured turkey bacon without the raw meat risks.