What Are Bacon Ends? Everything You Need to Know
If you've ever come across bacon ends and wondered whether they're different from regular bacon, the answer is simple: they're not.
Bacon ends are exactly what they sound like. When a smoked pork belly is sliced into uniform strips of bacon, the irregular pieces from the ends of the slab don't make perfect slices. Instead of going to waste, they're packaged as bacon ends. The flavour is exactly the same, but the pieces vary in size and shape.
For many home cooks, they're one of the best-kept secrets in the meat department.
Same bacon, different shape
Unlike regular sliced bacon, bacon ends aren't intended to line up neatly on a breakfast plate.
Instead, they shine in recipes where the bacon is chopped, diced, or crumbled. You'll often find a mix of meaty pieces, smaller chunks, and irregular slices, making them ideal for cooking rather than presentation.
How to cook bacon ends
Bacon ends are incredibly versatile because they don't need to stay in strip form.
Some of the best ways to use them include:
- Crisp them in a frying pan for breakfast.
- Dice them into soups, stews, and chowders.
- Add them to baked beans or Brussels sprouts.
- Mix them into scrambled eggs or breakfast potatoes.
- Render the fat and use it to start pasta sauces or sauté vegetables.
Because the pieces are different sizes, they often develop a great mix of crispy edges and meaty bites.
Where Ottawa Valley Meats' bacon comes from
Ottawa Valley Meats sources its bacon from local Mennonite producers who raise heritage pigs in a free-range environment. The pigs are forest-finished for enhanced flavour and raised without antibiotics or hormones. They are also fed a vegetable-based diet with no soy.
The bacon ends come from the very same smoked pork belly used to make OVM's regular sliced bacon. The only difference is that these pieces can't be cut into uniform strips.
A great way to save without sacrificing flavour
Because bacon ends are packaged from the irregular portions of the pork belly, they're often available at a lower price than traditional sliced bacon while delivering the same smoky flavour.
If your recipe calls for chopped bacon instead of perfect strips, bacon ends are often the smarter choice.
Now on Sale
Ottawa Valley Meats' bacon ends are currently on sale and available in convenient flash-frozen packages, making it easy to keep them on hand for everything from weekend breakfasts to soups, pasta dishes, and barbecue sides.
Browse OVM's Bacon Ends here. Learn more about Ottawa Valley Meats' pork products and sourcing here.
