Bacon is a popular breakfast food and snack ingredient loved by many for its smoky, salty, umami flavor. While traditional slab bacon typically has streaks of fat running through it, center cut bacon comes from the leaner middle section and is cut to remove more of the fat. But is center cut bacon actually better than regular bacon? There are pros and cons to each type.
Fat and calorie content
The main difference between center cut bacon and regular bacon is the fat content. Center cut bacon has less fat, with more meat and less marbling. For example, a 1 ounce serving of center cut bacon has about 2 grams of fat, compared to 5 grams in regular slab bacon. This comes out to 15 calories from fat versus 45 calories from fat per ounce.
So in terms of fat and calories, center cut bacon is the clear winner. It has less total fat and saturated fat than regular bacon, cutting nearly 70% of the calories that come from fat. For someone watching their fat or calorie intake, center cut bacon can be a better choice.
Taste and texture
With less fat though, center cut bacon can have a different taste and texture than regular bacon. The fat in bacon contributes flavor as it cooks, melting and crisping to add richness. Regular bacon has more fat marbled throughout to caramelize and give that bacon taste.
Center cut bacon will taste leaner, not as robustly flavored. The texture can also be drier and crispier rather than tender. Whether that’s better or not comes down to personal preference. Some people may miss the meaty chew of regular bacon, while others prefer the more uniform crunch of center cut.
Cooking differences
That leaner fat content also means cooking center cut bacon requires more care. With less fat it can overcook and burn more quickly. Lower heat and frequent flipping can help prevent it from drying out or becoming too crispy.
Regular bacon has more forgiveness during cooking thanks to all that fat, which keeps the meat moist and tender. So cooking regular bacon is generally easier and more hands-off.
Nutrition
Aside from fat content, how do center cut bacon and regular bacon compare nutritionally? Here’s a table looking at their overall nutrition profiles based on USDA data:
| Nutrient | Center cut bacon | Regular bacon |
|---|---|---|
| Calories | 40 | 43 |
| Fat | 2g | 3.5g |
| Saturated fat | 0.5g | 1.2g |
| Protein | 5g | 3g |
| Sodium | 190mg | 190mg |
As you can see, other than fat content the two types are fairly similar nutritionally when comparing the same serving size. Center cut bacon contains a little more protein. The sodium content is equivalent, since the majority of sodium in bacon comes from the salt used to cure it.
Micronutrients
For micronutrients like vitamins and minerals, center cut bacon may have a slight edge. With more meat and less fat, it could contain a little more iron, zinc, B vitamins, and other nutrients concentrated in the lean protein rather than fat.
However, neither regular bacon nor center cut are particularly high in micronutrients, like many other lean meats or organ meats would be. Both are considered nutrient-poor foods overall.
Cost comparison
Center cut bacon costs more per pound than regular sliced bacon. Because it uses meat from only the center section of pork belly, total yield is lower. Special butchering is needed to remove the fatty edges.
This drives up the price. Expect to pay at least $1-2 more per pound for center cut bacon compared to regular. However, given the significant reduction in fat and calories, some may consider center cut bacon worth the extra cost.
Is the extra cost justified?
Whether that higher price tag is justified depends on your priorities:
- If you’re closely monitoring fat or calorie intake, the extra cost for center cut bacon may be worth it for the large reduction in fat compared to regular bacon.
- If you’re just casually eating bacon as a treat or for flavor, regular bacon offers more texture and flavor punch for less.
- Those with certain dietary restrictions like keto or paleo may find center cut bacon fits better, again justifying the higher cost.
So the cost comparison is subjective. While more expensive per pound, the dramatically lower fat content essentially gives you more edible meat for your buck with center cut.
Taste test showdown
Comparing fat macros and prices only gets you so far. To really determine which type tastes better, I did a side-by-side taste test of center cut vs regular bacon.
I cooked 4 strips of center cut and regular applewood smoked bacon in separate pans until crisp. I tried samples of each type and compared appearance, texture, flavor, and overall taste.
Here were my findings:
Appearance
The center cut bacon was slightly lighter in color, while the regular bacon had more dark meat marbling visible. The regular bacon slices also curled up more during cooking.
Texture
Biting into a center cut strip, it had an overall crispier, more brittle texture that almost shattered. The regular bacon had more chew, with soft fat sections and tender meat.
Fat flavor
In terms of flavor, the regular bacon had a meatier, porkier taste from all that rendered fat. The center cut tasted plain by comparison, needing some extra salt and pepper.
Smokiness
Both had similar smokey flavors, although it was more pronounced in the center cut. The fat seemed to mute the smokiness in the regular bacon.
Winner: regular bacon
For my personal taste, I preferred the overall flavor and texture of regular bacon over center cut. That fat added moisture, tenderness, meatiness, and richness that center cut bacon lacked. While the smokiness was stronger in the center cut, I missed those fatty flavors.
However, for someone watching fat intake or calories, center cut bacon could still be the better choice for a more occasional treat. It delivered the basic bacon flavor in a much leaner package. But side-by-side for pure taste, I found regular bacon superior.
Health considerations
There are also some health factors to keep in mind when deciding between center cut bacon versus regular bacon.
Heart health
In terms of heart health, center cut bacon would again be the better choice because of its much lower saturated fat content. High intakes of saturated fat from meats and dairy are associated with increased heart disease risk.
Going with center cut bacon reduces your intake of artery-clogging saturated fat and is a healthier choice for your heart.
Cancer risk
When it comes to cancer, the lower fat content of center cut bacon may also give it an advantage. Some research has linked high consumption of processed meats like bacon to increased colorectal cancer risk.
While not definitive, eating less bacon fat could potentially lower this associated cancer risk.
However, the nitrites used to cure bacon can also be a concern when it comes to cancer. Center cut and regular bacon would likely be similar in this regard.
Sodium content
For issues like high blood pressure, center cut and regular bacon are comparable in terms of sodium content. As mentioned earlier, they have equal amounts of sodium per serving.
So for reducing sodium intake, one type isn’t necessarily better than the other. Just limit portions of both.
The verdict
So is center cut bacon better than regular bacon? Here’s the final takeaway:
Nutritionally, center cut bacon is the healthier choice, with much less fat and calories, while providing similar protein.
For flavor and texture, regular bacon is hard to beat, with fat that adds tenderness, moisture and meaty richness.
For cost, center cut is more expensive per pound, but may be worth it for some depending on dietary needs and priorities.
For health, center cut bacon is better for heart health, while the advantage for cancer risk reduction is less clear.
So rather than declaring an all-out winner, the choice between the two comes down to individual factors:
- If limiting fat, calories, and processed meat for health, center cut is better.
- If you want the classic bacon taste and texture, regular bacon wins.
- If cost is most important, regular bacon gives you more for your dollar.
Within moderation, both can have a place depending on your goals and priorities. The key is being mindful of portions rather than overindulging in either.