Can You Eat Raw Bacon, or Does It Have to Be Cooked?
Updated: Mar. 06, 2024
Is raw bacon safe to eat? Read this before giving it a try.
If you ask me, nothing beats a few strips of crispy bacon on a lazy weekend morning. It’s perfect on its own, but adds oomph to scrambled eggs or a pan of roasted veggies. Outside of meals, you also can’t go wrong when adding it to a well-garnished Bloody Mary. (Especially if you use one of the bacon brands we swear by.)
But does it have to be crispy? Can you eat raw bacon? Let’s break down the safety risks.
Is Most Bacon Raw or Precooked?
The bacon you find in the grocery store is usually raw. This is the stuff you’ll find in the refrigerated meat case. However, the shelf-stable bacon located in your supermarket’s pantry section is precooked.
Also, check how long bacon lasts in the fridge or freezer to keep it fresh and ready to use.
Bacon is made from salt-cured pork belly that has been cut into thin strips. It’s cured with salt and other additives to keep it from spoiling. The salt helps to prevent certain types of bacteria from growing. Most bacon contains nitrites which help to fight botulism.
Can You Eat Raw Bacon?
No, it’s not safe to eat raw bacon. Even though bacon has been preserved through the curing process, it has not been cooked. Like other foods you should never eat raw, consuming raw or undercooked meat puts you at risk of foodborne illness from viruses, bacteria or parasites.
Raw pork may contain the following types of bacteria, which are all killed when cooked:
- Salmonella
- Staphylococcus aureus
- Toxoplasmosis gondii
- Campylobacter
- Yersinia enterocolitica
- Listeria monocytogenes
Eating undercooked or raw pork products can also lead to serious illness from parasites, including:
- Tapeworms: These parasitic worms live in the intestine and cause abdominal pain, weight loss and blockages in the intestines.
- Toxoplasmosis: This parasite is usually harmless but can be dangerous to those with compromised immune systems.
- Trichinosis: This disease is caused by parasitic roundworms and causes diarrhea, vomiting and weakness.
Cooking bacon kills these parasites.
Can You Eat Turkey Bacon Raw?
No, it’s not safe to eat turkey bacon raw. Turkey bacon is made from thin strips of turkey that have been seasoned and cured. Like pork bacon, consuming raw turkey bacon puts you at risk of foodborne illness.
These are the other types of bacon you should know, and—spoiler!—they all need to be cooked.
How Do You Safely Prepare Bacon?
The best ways to lower your risk of food poisoning are to safely handle and cook your bacon, whether that’s using the stovetop, oven or microwave. When preparing bacon, always wash your hands before and after.
Pork products need to be cooked until they reach an internal temperature of 145°F. It’s hard to measure the temperature of bacon because the strips are so thin. As long as your bacon strips are crispy, they should be fully cooked.
Our Tastiest Recipes with Bacon
Orange-Glazed BaconJust when you thought bacon couldn't get any tastier, our Test Kitchen staff whipped up this tasty recipe starring the favorite breakfast meat drizzled with a sweet orange glaze. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen, Greendale, Wisconsin
Grilled Cheese, Bacon and Oven-Dried Tomato SandwichTake your grilled cheese sandwich to a place it's never been before with crispy bacon and tangy tomatoes and five—yes, five!—types of cheese. —Josh Rink, Taste of Home Food Stylist
Pressure-Cooker Cheddar Bacon Ale DipMy tangy, smoky dip won the top prize at our office party recipe contest. Use whatever beer you like, but steer clear of dark varieties. —Ashley Lecker, Green Bay, Wisconsin
Bacon Avocado SaladEveryone in my family loves this bacon and avocado salad—even the younger kids! I serve it at pretty much every get-together I've hosted, and at this point, the recipe's been shared too many times to count. —Noreen McCormick Danek, Cromwell, Connecticut
Bacon Parmesan PopoversThis recipe proves that simple ingredients often result in the best-tasting dishes. These popovers are a nice change from ordinary toast or muffins. —Donna Gaston, Coplay, Pennsylvania
BLT Twice-Baked PotatoesTwo favorites go together in this hearty dish: BLTs and twice-baked potatoes. I like to serve these potatoes with grilled steaks or barbecued chicken. —Mary Shenk, DeKalb, Illinois
BBQ Chicken BitesChicken bites wrapped in bacon get a kick from Montreal seasoning and sweetness from barbecue sauce. We love the mix of textures. —Kathryn Dampier, Quail Valley, California
Bacon Cream Cheese PinwheelsIt's hard to resist a crescent roll, bacon and cream cheese in one bite! Kids, friends, everyone will scarf these cream cheese pinwheels down. Now I bake a double batch whenever we have a get-together. —Krista Munson, Sharpsburg, Kentucky
Bacon Quiche TartsFlavored with vegetables, cheese and bacon, these memorable morsels are bound to be winners at any brunch. The tarts are impressive but also quite easy to make. For garnish, sprinkle on some chopped green onion.
—Kendra Schertz, Nappanee, Indiana
Cheddar Corn Pudding with BaconThis cheddar corn pudding can be prepared ahead and refrigerated overnight. Remove from the refrigerator for 30 minutes before baking. —Lynn Albright, Fremont, Nebraska
Bacon-Wrapped ChickenTender chicken gets a special treatment when spread with a creamy filling and wrapped with tasty bacon strips. This easy bacon-wrapped chicken recipe is frequently requested by my bunch. —MarlaKaye Skinner, Tucson, Arizona
Dutch Oven Cheesy Bacon & EggsFor campouts, my sister and I escape on horseback into the woods. We make this Dutch oven breakfast casserole the first morning, then love the leftovers for the rest of the trip. —Mary Burris, Okeechobee, Florida
Crunchy Bacon Blue Cheese Red Pepper Brussels SproutsThis is my family's absolute favorite dish on my holiday table. What's not to love with the mixed aroma of garlic, onions, bacon, and blue cheese floating through your home? —Jana Gooding, Carlsbad, California
Sheet-Pan Eggs and Bacon BreakfastI saw this sheet-pan eggs and bacon recipe on social media and decided to re-create it. It was a huge hit! Use any cheeses and spices you like—you can even try seasoned potatoes. —Bonnie Hawkins, Elkhorn, Wisconsin
Maple Bacon Walnut Coffee CakeWake up the sleepyheads in your household with this moist, tender coffee cake that’s both sweet and savory. Bacon and nuts in the crumbly topping blend with flavors of maple, nutmeg and cinnamon. Yum! —Angela Spengler, Clovis, New Mexico
Bacon Cabbage Stir-FryFor a flavorful side dish, try this fried cabbage and bacon. It's not only delicious, but fast to fix when you need to get dinner on the table quickly. —Lori Thompson, New London, Texas
Gentleman's Whiskey Bacon JamBacon's not just for breakfast or for slipping in a BLT. Turn this salty treat into a jam and spread it on everything from crackers to burger buns! Not sure which brand of bacon to buy? Check out the brands our editors and the Taste of Home Test Kitchen recommend.
Easy Glazed BaconBrown sugar, mustard and wine make bacon a little more special in this recipe. It's easy to prepare while working on the rest of the meal. —Judith Dobson, Burlington, Wisconsin
Stuffed Sweet Onions with BaconThis unexpected side dish is perfect to serve alongside grilled steak or pork chops. Even if you're not an onion fan, the low heat and long cooking time of this dish mellows and sweetens the sometimes sharp raw onion flavors that many dislike.—Erin Chilcoat, Smithtown, New York
Chicken Bacon TrianglesWe host an annual Christmas party, and I whip up a new menu item every year. These golden chicken and bacon appetizers were an absolute hit. —Annette Fecht, Sorrento, British Columbia
Parmesan-Bacon Bubble BreadWhen I needed to put some leftover bread dough to good use, I started with a recipe I often use for bubble bread and substituted savory ingredients for the sweet. —Lori McLain, Denton, Texas
Bacon and Eggs CasseroleBecause it's fast to fix and such a great hit with family and friends, this egg casserole with bacon is a favorite of mine to make for brunches. Served with a fruit salad, hot muffins and croissants, it's excellent for an after-church meal. —Deanna Durward-Orr, Windsor, Ontario
Hasselback Tomato ClubsThis no-fuss, no-bread riff on a classic is perfect during tomato season. Make it for lunch or pair it with pasta salad for a light dinner. —Taste of Home Test Kitchen
Crunchy Lemon-Pesto Garden SaladI love using fresh vegetables straight from the garden to prepare this salad. If I pick the squash and cucumbers early enough, their skins are so tender that there's no need to remove them! Best yet, the salad is easily adaptable—any fresh veggie from the garden can be put in with delicious results. —Carmell Childs, Orangeville, Utah
Bacon-Potato Corn ChowderI was raised on a farm, so a warm soup with homey ingredients, like this corn chowder with bacon, was always a treat after a chilly day outside. My hearty chowder nourishes the family. —Katie Lillo, Big Lake, Minnesota
Black-Eyed Peas with BaconA real Southern favorite, black-eyed peas are traditionally served on New Year's Day to bring good luck. The bacon and thyme in my mom’s recipe make them extra special. —Ruby Williams, Bogalusa, Louisiana
Apple, Cheddar & Bacon Bread PuddingI had this dish at a bridal brunch many years ago. It was so delicious that I created my own version, and this is the result. Now I make it all the time. Enjoy! —Melissa Millwood, Lyman, South Carolina
Deviled Eggs with BaconThese yummy deviled eggs went over so well at our summer cookouts, I started making them for holiday dinners, too. Everyone likes the flavorful addition of crumbled bacon. —Barbara Reid, Mounds, Oklahoma
Bacon-Wrapped Scallops with Pear SauceI enjoy cooking for my parents, and my bacon-wrapped scallops recipe is one of their favorites. If you prefer, replace the pear preserves with preserves or jam of a different flavor. —Ethan Hall, King, North Carolina
Bacon-Sausage Quiche TartsAs a teacher, I attend many meetings and also have special celebrations with rest of the staff. The other teachers are very fond of this treat and often request that I bring it to our functions. —Jackie Milliken, Pittsboro, North Carolina
Bacon Pear Salad with Parmesan DressingThis simple salad is an elegant side dish for any menu. With a blend of fresh pears and warm, comforting flavors, it’s perfect for special meals. —Rachel Lewis, Danville, Virginia
Pecan BaconCrispy, sweet bacon dresses up any breakfast. When my girls see this, they call it "special breakfast." The big flavor punch just may surprise you. —Catherine Ann Goza, Charlotte, North Carolina
Buffalo Chicken DipThis is the best Buffalo chicken dip recipe! Whenever I bring Buffalo dip to a tailgate or potluck, everyone asks for the recipe. —Peggy Foster, Florence, Kentucky
Originally Published: January 27, 2023
