Lots of people love to eat turkey bacon because it is widely considered to be a much healthier alternative to pork bacon. It has fewer calories and there is no pork in the recipe, so if you don’t eat pork, it’s a fantastic substitute.
There are lots of different ways in which you can prepare and cook turkey bacon, so you might be wondering if it is safe to eat when it is raw. In short, yes, it is safe to eat turkey bacon raw, but it is important to know a few things before you eat it.
If you want to know more about turkey bacon and how safe it is to eat raw, then read on to find out everything you need to know.
What Is Turkey Bacon?
Before we go any further, turkey bacon is not the same as pork bacon. It looks similar, but it is in fact made out of turkey instead. It is made from the chopped parts of turkey skin and lunch meat.
These parts are pressed and made to look like pork bacon and the turkey meat is taken through a curing process which makes it safe to eat. It is a lot less fatty and greasy than pork bacon too, and lots of people prefer to eat it because it is healthier.
It does look quite similar to pork bacon at first glance, but upon closer inspection, you will be able to see the difference in both appearance and taste.
Can You Eat Turkey Bacon Raw?
As we have previously stated, yes, it is safe to eat turkey bacon raw, but it is important to know a few things about it before you consume it.
While it is technically raw meat because turkey bacon has gone through a curing process and a smoking process, it is considered safe for consumption without the need to cook it.
If you want to eat turkey bacon raw, you can, but it is important that you always check the package it comes in before you actually do eat it. The package will tell you everything you need to know about that particular brand, and it should say if it is safe to eat or not.
You should also check the sell-by and best-before dates too. If the turkey bacon is out of date, then you should avoid eating it.
Effects Of Eating Raw Turkey Bacon
There are both benefits and downsides when it comes to eating raw turkey bacon. It’s safe to consume, of course, but eating it raw isn’t always the best idea. Let’s take a look at both the benefits and downsides of eating raw turkey bacon.
Pros
The biggest benefit of eating turkey bacon raw is that it has fewer calories in comparison to pork bacon. This makes it a lot healthier and great if you are watching your calorie intake or trying to stick to a specific diet.
Cons
Unfortunately, there are quite a few downsides to eating turkey bacon raw. Raw turkey bacon contains harmful chemical preservatives, so it shouldn’t be eaten in large quantities.
If the turkey bacon is out of date even in the slightest, there is a higher risk that it can give you food poisoning too.
Raw turkey bacon is also full of carbohydrates and has less protein than pork bacon, so even though it is technically healthier for you, it still might not be the best alternative in its raw form.
How To Properly Cook Raw Turkey Bacon
While you can eat raw turkey bacon, considering the downsides, it is always in your best interest to cook it before you eat it. Cooking your turkey bacon ensures that there is no chance of food poisoning and it is a lot safer to eat it when it is cooked.
There are a few different ways in which you can cook raw turkey bacon, so let’s take a look at some of the methods now.
Method One: Microwave
The first method involves microwaving the turkey bacon. It’s a really easy and quick way to cook turkey bacon, and as long as you microwave it thoroughly, it’s incredibly safe.
All you need to do for this method is put some paper towels onto the microwave dish plate. Then, place the turkey bacon on top of the towels. Once you have done that, cover the bacon with more paper towels.
You only need to keep the turkey bacon in the microwave for a minute and a half and make sure it is on the highest setting. There should be instructions on how to microwave the turkey bacon on the packet it came in.
Method Two: Oven
This is arguably the easiest and safest method to cook your turkey bacon. All you need to do for this method is line a baking tray with a baking sheet and place however many turkey bacon strips you want to cook on top.
The temperature and cooking time for the turkey bacon will be located somewhere on the packet it came in, and it will vary depending on which brand you use. You can leave the turkey bacon unattended for this method too and when it’s done, it should be crispy.
Method Three: Frying
This is the most common way to cook regular bacon, and it works well for turkey bacon too. Simply put some oil in a frying pan and make sure the heat is on medium-high. Then add some strips of turkey bacon to the pan.
When the turkey bacon is crispy and brown, it can be removed from the pan and it will be ready to eat.
Conclusion
While you can eat turkey bacon raw, it is highly recommended that you don’t, or at least, not in vast quantities. There are some benefits to eating raw turkey bacon, but overall, the downsides outweigh those benefits and you run the risk of food poisoning almost every time you eat it raw.
Use some of the cooking methods we have provided in order to make sure it is cooked properly and safe to consume. While it’s much easier to just eat it raw rather than spending some extra time cooking it, it’s not in your best interest to.
Turkey bacon is a lot tastier, healthier, and safer to eat when you cook it and the risk of food poisoning is practically slim to none. Use the knowledge you have learned here when you next purchase some turkey bacon and always check the packet it comes in for more advice!
Have you ever made something so delicious that you wished you could savor it forever?
Only to find that the recipe has now mysteriously vanished from your phone and the entirety of the internet. Yep, there’s not much more painful than that.
Hi, my name is Mark Williams and I have been infatuated with cooking since I was young. I would beg my mother to pull a chair up to the counter so I could watch what she was doing.
