Bacon is a type of salt-cured pork that comes in different cuts. Here are the different types of bacon cuts:
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Streaky bacon: Also known as side bacon, this cut comes from the belly or side of the pig. It is the fattiest part of the pig, and streaky bacon is distinctively different from other cuts because of its ‘streaky’ layers of fat. It is very tasty, easier to get crisp, and it shrinks when cooked as the fat renders away. Most bacon in America and Canada is streaky bacon, and it has become more readily available in Australia.
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Short cut bacon: This type of bacon comes from the back of the pig. It’s a much leaner, round piece of bacon that usually doesn’t have a rind attached. It is the leanest type of bacon, with only a thin layer of fat that can be removed. This type of cut is more popular with health-conscious people who still want to enjoy the flavor of bacon. As there is much less fat content, it doesn’t shrink as much.
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Middle cut bacon: This is a combination of both the shortcut and streaky bacon. The cut comes from the middle of the pork belly, close to the bone. It is a leaner cut than streaky bacon but has more fat than shortcut bacon.
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Canadian bacon: This type of bacon is mainly made from the loin cut of the pig, often trimmed so that it only has a thin layer of fat around the outside. It is a leaner cut of bacon that is more similar to ham than traditional bacon.
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Center-cut bacon: This type of bacon is taken from the middle of the pork belly, close to the bone. It has 25% to 30% less fat than standard bacon and is a leaner cut of bacon.
In summary, bacon comes in different cuts, including streaky bacon, short cut bacon, middle cut bacon, Canadian bacon, and center-cut bacon.
