25 Crazy Bacon Facts That Will Blow Your Mind

Posted by , Updated on January 9, 2024

You may find it hard to believe that the bacon facts found in this list are true, but trust us, they are. This delicious meat product has many fans all over the world, and if you’re one of them, you need to read this list. You’re about to learn things about bacon that you never knew. In fact, thanks to these bacon facts, you might never look at bacon the same way again. From bacon dating apps to bacon condoms, these are 25 Crazy Bacon Facts That Will Blow Your Mind!

25

Bacon is one of the oldest processed meats.

old meatSource: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

The Chinese were the first to cook salted pork bellies over 3000 years ago.

24

It used to be called “Petaso.”

RomansSource: http://bacon.wikia.com/wiki/Bacon_History, http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

When in Rome, do as the Romans do. Bacon for the Romans consisted of boiled salted pig shoulder with figs, that was then browned and seasoned with pepper sauce. The Romans called this, “petaso.”

23

The word “Bacon” originally referred to the back of a pig.

back of pigSource: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

“Bacon” comes from the Germanic root “-bak” which referred to the back of the pig used for the meat. Old High German “bakko” later became the French word “bacco” which the English then adopted to name any pork dish as “bacoun.”

22

The first bacon factory opened in 1770.

bacon factorySource: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

Bacon was originally made by local farmers and butchers for their local communities. But in the 18th century, a man by the name of John Harris opened the first bacon processing plant. Mr. Harris had developed a special brining solution called the “Wiltshire Cure,” which is still used today.

21

Origin of “Bringing Home The Bacon”

bring home the baconhttp://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

You may recognize the phrase “bringing home the bacon” as a reference to making money. But in 12th century England, this phrase meant something completely different. Back then, churches would award a side of bacon (which they called a “flitch”) to any married man who swore before God that he and his wife had not argued for a year and a day. Therefore, men who “brought home the bacon” were looked upon as good husbands and citizens.

20

It helped make explosives during WWII.

bacon fatSource: https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/04/reluctantly-turning-bacon-into-bombs-during-world-war-ii/360298/, http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

During WWII, the U.S. government urged citizens to donate their excess bacon fat to the army. A whole committee was even created for it: The American Fat Salvage Committee. The fat was used to make glycerin which in turn was used to make bombs.

19

Hardee's helped rekindle bacon’s popularity.

Frisco BurgerSource: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

In the 80’s, the dieting trend discouraged the consumption of saturated fats and cholesterol which hurt the mass consumption of bacon. However, by the 90’s, the fad’s hold on the American public started to wane, and in 1992, Hardee’s produced one of the first fast-food burgers served with bacon: the Frisco Burger. It was a hit. This not only rekindled America’s love for the tasty pork strips, but also convinced other fast-food companies to add bacon to their burgers.

18

The average consumption of bacon

Bacon on a scaleSource: http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

The average American consumes 18 pounds of bacon per year. That’s a lot of bacon.

17

The religion of bacon

United Church of BaconSources: https://unitedchurchofbacon.org/about/, http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

If bacon worship is your thing, consider the United Church of Bacon. Based in Las Vegas, Nevada, the official sanctioned church has around 13,000 members. They even perform wedding ceremonies, fundraisers for charity, and have their very own “9 Bacon Commandments.”

16

Bacon camp?

camp baconSources: https://www.zingermanscampbacon.com/, http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

Maybe a bacon religion is a bit much for you. Then why not go on a bacon camp? Held every year in Ann Arbor, Michigan, Camp Bacon offers a wide range of bacon related activities which include speakers, cooking classes, and of course, bacon tasting.

15

There’s an app for that!

Oscar Mayer alarmSources: http://mashable.com/2014/03/05/oscar-mayer-bacon-app/#cAqLEnUEvsqk, https://www.engadget.com/2014/03/05/oscar-mayer-bacon-alarm/

Would you like to wake up to the exhilarating smell of bacon on the skillet without the hassle of bacon on the skillet? There’s an app for that (or at least there was). The Oscar Mayer’s bacon alarm app uses the sound and smell of frying bacon to wake you up. We’re not joking. The app uses a small iPhone attachment to send out the bacon aroma. Unfortunately, only a limited number of the devices were made. Furthermore, the gadgets were never sold. Rather, they were given away as part of a contest.

14

Bacon has a dating app?

sizzlSource: http://fortune.com/2015/09/16/oscar-mayer-dating-app/

Speaking of apps and bacon, Oscar Mayer launched an app called Sizzl which helps “true bacon lovers…find each other and potentially meet their soulmates in life and in bacon.” Sizzl is like other mobile dating apps in that it accesses your Facebook profile to retrieve your information. It then polls you on your favorite type of bacon. And get this: instead of swiping right or left, you press and hold a “sizzl-meter” for the person you like.

13

There’s a bacon sculpture of Kevin Bacon.

Kevin Bacon bacon statueSources: http://vancouversun.com/news/staff-blogs/kevin-bacon-bacon-bits-bust, http://mentalfloss.com/article/85427/12-savory-facts-about-bacon

Or course there is! Artist Mike Lahue created the bacon masterpiece with seven bottles of bacon bits, glue, and five coats of lacquer. The bacon bust of Kevin Bacon was commissioned by J&D Foods, a Seattle company that specializes in bacon products, as part of a partnership with website “What Do Bacon Do?” with the intention of raising money for Ashley’s Team (a non-profit organization that aims to “bring joy to childhood cancer patients and their families”).

12

Bacon is addictive.

Bacon obsessionSource: https://www.forbes.com/sites/quora/2016/10/13/studies-show-that-some-foods-may-be-as-addictive-as-heroin-and-cocaine/#6a1973cb5611

Do you find yourself uncontrollably drawn to bacon? If so, you might have a legitimate bacon addiction. Scientists have found that some fattening foods are as addictive as heroin and cocaine. Among those foods listed? You guessed it. Bacon.

11

Bacon cologne lets you smell like your favorite food.

bacon cologneSource: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/04/06/bacon-cologne-perfume-by-fargginay_n_845515.html

Can’t get enough of that sweet, delicious bacon smell? There’s a bacon cologne for that. A scent by Fargginay, bacōn (pronounced “bay-cone”) is the world’s first bacon fragrance.

10

Bacon vs. Sex

Middle aged man eating a bacon sandwichSource: http://www.mapleleaffoods.com/news/asked-to-choose-between-bacon-and-sex-43-per-cent-of-canadians-would-choose-bacon/

In a 2010 Maple Leaf national survey, four in ten (43%) Canadians chose bacon when asked to choose between bacon and sex. Respondents from British Columbia seemed to be particularly fond of bacon as 50% said they would give up sex before bacon. By contrast, only 37% in Quebec would give up sex before bacon.

9

Bacon has a patron saint.

St Anthony the AbbotSources: http://www.todayifoundout.com/index.php/2011/01/the-patron-saint-of-bacon/, http://www.farmlandbaconclub.com/who-is-the-patron-saint-of-bacon.php, http://www.drstandley.com/saints_stanthonytheabbott.shtml

You read that title correctly. Bacon has a patron saint and that saint is St. Anthony The Abbot. Technically, St. Anthony is a patron saint of pigs and other animals. He’s also the saint of butchers, epilepsy, amputees, shingles, grave-diggers, hermits, and more.

8

Bacon is a gateway food for vegetarians.

bacon seductionSource: https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2011/02/02/133304206/why-bacon-is-a-gateway-to-meat-for-vegetarians

Bacon has been described as a “gateway to meat for vegetarians.” Bacon’s seductive powers are so strong that scientists have studied the phenomenon and have concluded that “bacon is in the perfect position to take advantage of how the brain is wired.”

7

The first recorded death by bacon

Killer baconSources: https://www.bathroomreader.com/2016/10/12-interesting-facts-about-bacon/, https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/here-are-some-weird-ways-you-could-die-tudor-england-180955433/

There’s more than one way bacon can kill you, and it has nothing to do with health. In 1543, ailing widow and servant Elizabeth Browne was warming herself by the kitchen fire when she was suddenly crushed by four sides of uncooked bacon. The sides had been hanging from a hook above her when the rope holding them broke.

6

The first meal on the moon was…

bacon in spaceSource: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smart-news/first-meal-eaten-moon-was-bacon-180950457/

Bacon. Of course, they had other things with bacon as well, like peaches, sugar cookies, pineapple-grapefruit drink, and coffee.

5

Scientists are growing bacon.

bacon labSource: https://www.mnn.com/green-tech/research-innovations/stories/scientists-grow-bacon-from-stem-cells

It might not be long before your bacon is grown in a lab. Scientists have been experimenting with a technique that allows them to turn pig stem cells into strips of meat. The possibilities are endless! This could help curb world hunger, global warming, and make meat production more humane.

4

Bacon condoms…

bacon condomsSource: https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/28/bacon-condoms-photos_n_2974081.html

Originally intended as an April Fool’s prank, J&D’s Foods created the first known bacon condom. But don’t worry, the condoms are made from latex and are coated with the company’s unique bacon water-based lube. Oh yeah, they have that as well.

3

Bacon has its own national and international days.

bacon international daySources: https://www.daysoftheyear.com/days/bacon-day/, http://bacon.wikia.com/wiki/International_Bacon_Day

Bacon has, not just one, but two celebratory days. September 3rd is International Bacon Day, while December 30th is the U.S. National Bacon Day. So now you have an excuse to eat bacon at least twice a year! (Though, let’s be honest…who needs an excuse to eat bacon?)

2

Bacon can make your unborn child smarter.

Smart babySources: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/01/100104101213.htm, https://draxe.com/what-is-choline/

New research shows that bacon contains choline, which plays a critical role in fetal brain development. Choline can also be found in eggs, liver, beef, salmon, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, and breast milk.

1

The world record for eating the most bacon in 5 minutes

Matt StonieSource: https://www.thrillist.com/eat/nation/world-record-for-most-bacon-eaten-in-five-minutes

How does eating 182 slices of bacon in 5 minutes sound? That’s what world record holder Matt Stonie did on Feb 22, 2015. Do you think you could eat that much bacon?



Image Credits: 1. Matt Stonie via Commons.wikimedia.org by Atomicred CC BY-SA 4.0 (edit: arrow with name), 2-3. Shutterstock, 4. Bacon Condoms via thisiswhyimbroke.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use. 5-10. Shutterstock, 11. Bacon cologne via uncrate.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 12.Shutterstock, 13. Kevin Bacon bacon statue via gizmodo.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 14. Sizzl via techcrunch.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 15. Oscar Mayer alarm app image via endgadget.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 16. Camp Bacon T-shirt and Image via zingermanscapbacon.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 17. United Church of Bacon Logo and Image via unitedchurchofbacon.org image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 18. Shutterstock, 19. Hardee’s Frisco Burger image via brandeating.com image used to illustrate the product and is used here under fair use, 20-25. Shutterstock.