When it comes to breakfast meats, bacon is a staple in many households. From BLTs to bacon and eggs, this salty, savory food is a favorite way to start the day. But if you’ve ever shopped for bacon, you may have wondered just how much bacon comes in a standard package. So how many slices of bacon are in a typical 16 ounce (oz) package?
Quick Answer
The quick answer is that a typical 16 oz package of bacon contains about 20-24 regular slices, depending on the brand, cut and thickness. Most bacon is sliced to be around 1/16th of an inch thick. Thicker sliced bacon packs fewer slices into a pound than thinner sliced bacon. The number of slices also depends on the cut, with regular cut bacon having more slices than thick cut bacon in the same size package.
Breaking Down a Pound of Bacon
To understand how many slices come in a package, it helps to break down the contents by weight. Here are some key points:
- Most consumer packages of bacon are sold in 1 pound increments
- A pound is 16 ounces
- An average slice of bacon is around 1 ounce
- So a 1 pound package contains about 16 one-ounce bacon slices
However, when you factor in differences in thickness, brand, type of cut and variation in slice sizes, the actual number of slices in a 1 pound packet can range anywhere from 12 to 28 slices:
Thickness
- Thinner sliced bacon pack more slices into a pound
- Thicker sliced or “thick cut” pack fewer slices into a pound
Brand & Type of Cut
- Different brands and cuts are sized differently
- Regular cut bacon packs more slices than thick cut
- Artisanal bacon may have custom slice sizes
Variation in Sizes
- There is always some natural variation in food sizes
- Some slices may weigh a bit more or less than an ounce
- Leading to variation in slices per pound across packs
So while a 1 pound package theoretically contains 16 ounces or 16 regular slices, you’ll almost never get exactly 16 slices. But the average package provides 20-24 slices.
Typical 16 Ounce Package
Since most bacon packages are sold in 1 pound amounts, a 16 ounce package would contain half that weight. So a typical 16 ounce package of bacon would provide:
- Around 10-12 slices of regular sliced bacon
- Around 8-10 slices of thick cut bacon
However, commercial 16 oz bacon packages are less common than the 1 pound size. But some larger packs may be sold in this weight.
Examples of Slices in a 16 Ounce Package
Here are some examples of what popular brands of bacon provide in a typical 16 ounce pack:
| Brand | Type of Cut | Approximate Slices in 16 Ounce Package |
|---|---|---|
| Oscar Mayer | Regular sliced | 11 slices |
| Hormel Black Label | Regular sliced | 10 slices |
| Smithfield | Thick cut | 8 slices |
| Farmer John | Thick cut | 9 slices |
| Whole Foods 365 | Thick cut | 8 slices |
As you can see, regular cut bacon packs a few more slices into a 16 oz package compared to thick cut bacon brands. But the exact number varies slightly across brands.
Factors Affecting Number of Slices
There are a few factors that affect the number of bacon slices in a 16 oz package:
Thickness of Slice
The thickness of each bacon slice is the most important factor determining slices per package. Thinner slices weigh less than thick slices, so more can fit into a pound. Typical slice thickness for bacon is:
- Regular sliced: Around 1/16 inch thick
- Thick cut: Around 1/8 inch or more thick
As a rule of thumb, thinner sliced bacon will have about 1.5 times as many slices per pound compared to thick cut bacon.
Type of Cut
The cut of bacon also affects slice counts. Bacon is generally sold in these cuts:
- Regular cut – Most common cut with a good balance of lean meat and fat
- Thick cut – Thicker sliced from pork belly with more fat
- Center cut – Only the leaner meat from the pork belly
Thick cut and center cut bacon have fewer total slices than regular cut in a pound. Center cut may have more inconsistent slice sizes.
Brand & Quality
Higher quality artisanal bacon brands tend to source their pork from pasture-raised heritage breed pigs with better marbling. This can lead to slightly irregular sizing. Mass-market bacon brands tend to have more uniform slice sizes. Store brands also tend to be thinner sliced to be more cost effective.
Moisture Content
Bacon contains a fair amount of moisture from the curing process. Some natural or uncured bacon retains more moisture than cured bacon. Higher moisture content means less net weight of actual pork.
Variation
There is always natural variability in food sizing and thicknesses, even within the same package. So while a brand may average 10 slices per 16 oz, a couple slices more or less is normal package-to-package.
Does Package Size Matter?
Bacon package sizes typically range from 12 ounces on the small side up to 2 pounds or more for bulk packs. In general, the number of slices scales fairly linearly with the package size. So if a 16 oz pack has 10 slices, a 32 oz pack would have about 20 slices. This assumes the same thickness and brand. Key points:
- Lower ounce packages have fewer slices
- Higher ounce packages have more slices
- But the rate of slices per ounce stays similar
Regardless of total package size, checking the slices per ounce on the label is the most accurate way to compare slice counts across brands and cuts.
Counting Slices Before Cooking
When first opening a new pack of bacon, it can be helpful to manually count out all the slices:
- Helps determine exact number of slices
- Can split pack into desired portion sizes
- Allows better planning for recipes
- Ensures accuracy of labeled slice counts
Weighing the pack on a kitchen scale also helps verify that the contents match what’s printed on the label. When counting by hand, be sure to keep the slices together as a pack for storage to prevent drying out.
Conclusion
So in summary, a typical 16 ounce package of bacon contains around 10-12 slices of regular cut bacon or 8-10 slices of thick cut bacon. However, the exact slice count varies based on the brand, cut, thickness and natural variability. Checking the slices per ounce and counting by hand gives a more definitive slice count for a particular pack. Knowing your bacon slice count helps ensure you have just the right amount for recipes.