National Bacon Day is celebrated every year on December 30th, dedicated to one of the most beloved and versatile foods around: crispy, savory bacon.
History of National Bacon Day
Bacon has a long history stretching back thousands of years, with salted and cured pork appearing in ancient Chinese, Roman, and European cooking traditions well before refrigeration existed. Curing pork with salt was originally a practical method of preservation, allowing meat to last through winter months without spoiling. Over centuries, the process evolved to include smoking and specific cuts of pork belly, eventually becoming the bacon recognized today.
Bacon’s popularity surged in the United States throughout the 20th century, becoming a breakfast staple alongside eggs, and later expanding well beyond breakfast into burgers, salads, desserts, and even bacon-flavored novelty products. National Bacon Day, landing at the very end of December, gives bacon lovers one more reason to celebrate before the new year begins.
How to Celebrate National Bacon Day
- Cook up a batch of bacon for breakfast, or any meal of the day
- Try a new bacon recipe or bacon-topped dish you haven’t made before
- Visit a local diner or restaurant known for great bacon
- Experiment with different bacon styles, like thick-cut, applewood smoked, or peppered
- Share your bacon creations on social media using #NationalBaconDay
Simple Oven-Baked Bacon Recipe
Ingredients:
- 1 lb bacon, regular or thick-cut
- Optional: black pepper, brown sugar, or maple syrup for a candied variation
Instructions:
- Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C). Line a baking sheet with foil or parchment paper for easy cleanup.
- Arrange bacon slices in a single layer on the baking sheet, without overlapping.
- For candied bacon, sprinkle brown sugar evenly over the strips, or brush with a thin layer of maple syrup.
- Bake for 15-20 minutes, depending on thickness and desired crispiness, checking periodically toward the end.
- Transfer cooked bacon to a paper towel-lined plate to drain excess grease before serving.
Fun Facts About Bacon
- Bacon traditionally comes from pork belly, though it can also be made from other cuts, like pork loin (Canadian bacon).
- Baking bacon in the oven, rather than frying it in a pan, results in more even cooking and less spattering.
- Bacon has become a popular flavor addition well beyond breakfast, showing up in everything from burgers and salads to chocolate desserts.
- Curing meat with salt is one of the oldest food preservation methods in human history, predating refrigeration by thousands of years.
- The distinct smoky flavor in traditional bacon comes from the smoking process, using wood like hickory, applewood, or mesquite.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is National Bacon Day?
National Bacon Day is celebrated annually on December 30th.
What’s the best way to cook bacon evenly?
Baking bacon in the oven on a lined baking sheet tends to produce more even, consistent results than pan-frying, since the heat surrounds the bacon rather than cooking it from one side at a time.
What’s the difference between regular bacon and Canadian bacon?
Regular bacon is made from pork belly and has a higher fat content, while Canadian bacon is made from pork loin, giving it a leaner texture closer to ham.