What is Salmon Bacon? A Healthy Twist on a Breakfast Staple

If you enjoy starting your day with a hearty breakfast featuring everyone’s favorite pork product – bacon, you may be interested to learn about a tasty and nutritious alternative: salmon bacon. This innovative spin on a breakfast classic offers the delicious smoky, salty flavor of bacon with the added health benefits of salmon.

In this article, we’ll cover everything you need to know about salmon bacon including how it’s made it’s nutrition profile and creative ways to enjoy it. Let’s dive in!

How Salmon Bacon is Made

Salmon bacon begins just as you would expect – with fresh salmon. The specific cut used is typically the belly portion of salmon. This area naturally contains more fat, which lends well to the bacon texture.

The salmon bellies are first cured in a brine solution, similar to how pork bacon is made. The brine contains sea salt, brown sugar, and spices like garlic and pepper. This imparts flavor and preserves the salmon.

After brining, the salmon portions are cold smoked. This involves exposing the salmon to smoke at low temperatures for extended periods of time. Apple, cherry, maple, and other wood chips can be used to generate the smoke.

As a result, you have salmon bacon that tastes great when smoked and has a slightly firm, meaty texture like pork bacon. The salmon offers a rich, savory taste and mouthwatering umami flavor.

Nutrition Profile of Salmon Bacon

What really sets salmon bacon apart from traditional pork bacon is its stellar nutritional makeup. Let’s compare the nutrition facts:

• Pork bacon has about 43 calories in an ounce, most of which come from fat, and 330 mg of sodium.

• A 1 ounce serving of salmon bacon contains just 25 calories and 100mg of sodium.

Salmon bacon shines when it comes to healthy fats. It provides high amounts of omega-3 fatty acids like EPA and DHA. These are beneficial for heart health, brain function, and reducing inflammation. Pork bacon contains no omega-3s.

Salmon bacon is also a good source of protein and contains potassium, selenium, vitamin B12, and other nutrients. So you get a much more balanced nutritional profile.

Creative Ways to Enjoy Salmon Bacon

While salmon bacon makes a tasty replacement for pork bacon in any breakfast dish, there are so many other delicious ways to enjoy it:

• Wrap salmon bacon around asparagus spears or green beans for an easy appetizer.

• Crumble it over salads, pasta dishes, or soups for a smoky salmon flavor.

• Fry it up crispy and use in place of bacon bits on baked potatoes or in sandwiches.

• Incorporate into omelets, frittatas, breakfast tacos, and hash for extra savoriness.

• Layer it on crackers or flatbread with cream cheese for an open-faced snack.

• Toss it into mac and cheese or fried rice for a savory, smoky twist.

• Use it in place of pork bacon in classic BLT sandwiches.

With its versatility, salmon bacon can serve as a simple flavor booster in many types of recipes both sweet and savory. Get creative with its uses!

Buying and Storing Salmon Bacon

When purchasing salmon bacon, look for options that are:

• Made from high-quality salmon, preferably wild-caught Pacific salmon varieties like sockeye.

• Minimally processed without excessive added ingredients.

• Sold from reputable producers that practice safe handling procedures.

For storage, keep salmon bacon refrigerated and use within 1 week of opening. Frozen salmon bacon will last for 2-3 months. Defrost in the refrigerator before using.

Small-batch artisan producers like Boston Smoked Fish Co. offer high-quality salmon bacon using traditional smoking methods. Check your local market or order online to find a good salmon bacon brand.

Is Salmon Bacon Keto-Friendly?

The high protein, high healthy fat, low carb makeup of salmon bacon makes it a perfect fit for ketogenic and other low carb diets. Per 1 ounce serving, salmon bacon typically contains:

• 25 calories
• 3g fat (mostly omega-3s)
• 3g protein
• 0g carbs

Compare this to pork bacon, which has about 1g of carbohydrates per ounce. So salmon bacon can be enjoyed without guilt even on strict low-carb meal plans. It provides satiating fats and proteins to help meet your macros.

Health Benefits of Salmon Bacon

Beyond being lower in sodium and nitrates than pork bacon, salmon bacon offers some additional health perks:

• Heart healthy fats – The anti-inflammatory omega-3s in salmon can improve cholesterol levels and lower triglycerides.

• Better brain function – The omega-3 DHA may improve memory, processing speed, and cognition.

• Immune support – Salmon provides selenium, B12, and nutrients to support immune cell activity.

• Smoke flavor without char – You get smoky taste without the burnt char and potential carcinogens of charred meats.

• Lean protein – Salmon is a high quality complete protein to support muscle, tissues, and enzymes.

Overall, when consumed in moderation as part of a nutritious diet, salmon bacon offers health advantages over pork options.

Potential Downsides of Eating Salmon Bacon

Salmon bacon is quite healthy, but a few things to keep in mind:

• Some sodium is used in processing, though much less than traditional bacon.

• Contaminants in fish like mercury can be a concern with high intake.

• Spoilage and food safety issues if not stored/handled properly.

• Higher cost than mass-produced pork bacon.

Moderation and purchasing high-quality salmon bacon from reputable sellers helps minimize any risks. Talk to your doctor about any concerns.

Who Should Avoid Eating Salmon Bacon?

Unless instructed otherwise by their physician, most people can safely enjoy salmon bacon as part of a healthy lifestyle. However, some individuals should exercise caution with intake:

• Those with seafood allergies or sensitivity to salmon. Allergic reactions are possible.

• People taking blood thinners like warfarin should keep intake consistent due to the vitamin K content.

• Children under 3 years old should avoid due to mercury exposure concerns.

Pregnant women can also consult their doctor, though salmon is considered one of the safest fish options for expecting mothers. Anyone with specific health conditions should check with a professional before incorporating salmon bacon into their routine diet.

The Takeaway on This Trendy Fishy Bacon

For those looking to put a nourishing twist on an American breakfast tradition, salmon bacon offers tasty smoky flavor coupled with stellar nutrition. It provides a less processed alternative to pork bacon packed with protein, healthy fats, and nutrients.

Moderation and proper handling are key, but overall salmon bacon can be enjoyed as a savory, nutritious addition to a well-balanced diet. Consider swapping it in place of some pork bacon servings for benefits like better heart health, improved cognition, and balanced macros.

So next time you make a weekend brunch or need a quick protein boost, give salmon bacon try! When sourced from quality producers, this innovative fish product can be one sea change worth embracing.