What's The Difference Between Pork Belly And Bacon?

Pork belly looks similar to bacon, but the two pork products pack in some noted differences despite coming from identical or similarly fatty regions of the pig.

Pork belly comes from the underside of the pig defined by large fat layers enclosing marbled meat. It is typically slow-cooked to yield a rich flavor and succulent consistency.

Bacon refers to a style of processed pork created through curing with nitrates, nitrites, salt, sugar, and celery powder. In the U.S., it’s typically made from pork belly.

Bacon's cured composition, as opposed to pork belly's raw form, is the main difference between the two. Bacon's curing process also makes it crunchy rather than juicy.

Raw pork belly only contains natural meat flavors, while bacon is very salty. Because of this, pork belly is often a meaty centerpiece while bacon is a supplementary ingredient.

Bacon is available in a larger array of formats in stores and can be sold in fully-cooked form. On the other hand, raw pork belly is only sold as a slab or in strips.