What I Did With A £1.29 Pack Of Cooking Bacon
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If you’ve ever picked up a pack of cooking bacon, you’ll know what I mean, it’s cheap, often a bit of a mixed bag, and not the prettiest rashers.
But don’t write it off!
These packs are full of flavour and can be turned into some really tasty meals without breaking the bank.
In this post, I’m going to show you what to do with a pack of cooking bacon, from easy breakfast ideas to hearty dinners and clever ways to use every last bit, including storage and freezing tips so nothing goes to waste.
What Is Cooking Bacon?
Cooking bacon is basically bacon offcuts and odd-shaped pieces that don’t look pretty enough to sell as regular rashers.
Think of it as the budget-friendly cousin of standard bacon, cheaper, but just as tasty.
A standard pack of cooking bacon usually contains a mix of fatty bits, lean pieces, and all sorts of shapes and sizes, which makes it perfect for meals where the shape doesn’t matter- things like stir-fries, pasta dishes, omelettes, and casseroles.
Because it’s slightly cheaper than regular bacon, cooking bacon is also great for stretching your budget.
You can use it in almost any recipe that calls for bacon, especially if you’d be chopping bacon up into little pieces anyway.
Why Use Cooking Bacon?
Cooking bacon is a budget-friendly alternative to normal bacon. It’s usually cheaper, but still packed with flavour, and you get more for your money.
For example, the pack I bought (November 2022) weighed just over 900 grams and contained a mix of bacon rashers, gammon pieces, and bacon offcuts all for £1.29.
Compare that to a standard pack of 10 rashers at around £1.60 for 300 grams, and it’s easy to see why cooking bacon is perfect for stretching your budget.
Cooking bacon works brilliantly in recipes where the bacon is chopped up, such as:
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Casseroles
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Quiches
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Omelettes
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Pasta dishes like carbonara
It’s also a great way to reduce food waste, because every piece — from fat strips to offcuts — can be used.
Cooking Bacon vs Normal Bacon
Cooking bacon tastes just as good as normal bacon but won’t be as uniform in shape and size.
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Normal bacon is great for fry-ups and sandwiches.
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Cooking bacon is perfect for recipes where the bacon is cut up, like stews, pasta, or pizza.
Bacon offcuts are incredibly versatile – don’t be put off by irregular shapes!
What Was In My Pack?
I was lucky with my pack; it had plenty of offcuts, some decent-sized rashers, and two large gammon pieces that could each be a meal on their own.
Here’s what I did:
- Gammon Steak x 2
- Bacon for fry up x 2 (these were nice thick pieces, so one each)
- Bacon for Bacon a Sandwich (these were thinner pieces)
- Bacon for chopping up and freezing to be used for other dishes x 6
So in total, 8 meals for two people plus three pieces of bacon for a bacon sandwich.
Top Meal Ideas for Cooking Bacon
To give you some inspiration, here are some of the meals I made using the cooking bacon. I think the best part was having two pieces of gammon big enough to make a meal with. Two gammon steaks alone would usually cost more than the whole pack I paid for.
Gammon Steak with Chips and Peas
The gammon steaks weren’t the prettiest, but they tasted really good and cooked up nicely. I served them with frozen chips and peas to keep things simple and inexpensive.
Saturday Morning Fry-Up
At the weekend, we like to have a nice breakfast. We usually alternate between a fry-up, homemade McMuffins and something more continental, like croissants and jam.
Bacon Sandwich
This was the only part of the pack where there wasn’t enough bacon for more than a single portion. I treated myself to a bacon sandwich one morning after a particularly soggy school run.
Broccoli Stalk and Cooking Bacon Pasta
Pasta dishes are a staple in our house, and I often make quick, easy meals for lunch or dinner. I wanted to use up some broccoli stalks, so I grated them and sautéed them with red onion and cooking bacon.
Then I mixed everything through pasta with a little olive oil and a pinch of chilli flakes.
Cooking Bacon Carbonara
Carbonara is one of our favourite dishes.
Traditionally, it’s made with pancetta or guanciale, but cooking bacon works just as well if you are on a budget.
Using egg yolks instead of cream keeps costs lower, and I paired the pasta with homemade garlic bread made from a yellow sticker loaf.
That’s everything I’ve used from my pack so far, and I still have a few portions left in the freezer. These will probably end up in more pasta dishes or maybe a casserole in the coming weeks
Where Can I Buy Cooking Bacon
Most supermarkets sell cooking bacon, though availability can be a bit hit or miss. Prices vary, but when I bought my pack in November 2022 cost £1.29. Recently, I’ve seen it closer to £1.50.
When updating this post in January 2026, I found the following prices at some of the main supermarkets:
These are, of course, subject to change.
How to Store Cooking Bacon
How to Store Cooking Bacon in the Fridge
Once you’ve opened a pack of cooking bacon, it’s important to store it properly so it stays fresh and safe to eat.
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Keep it sealed: If the original packaging isn’t resealable, transfer the bacon to an airtight container or wrap it tightly in cling film or foil.
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Use quickly: Try to use the bacon within 3 to 5 days of opening. Cooking bacon can last a bit longer than regular rashers because of the curing, but it’s best not to leave it too long.
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Keep it cold: Store it in the coldest part of your fridge, usually the bottom shelf at the back, rather than in the door.
Following these simple steps will help your cooking bacon stay tasty and safe for all the recipes you plan to make.
Can I Freeze Cooking Bacon?
One of the best things about cooking bacon is that it freezes really well.
Simply portion it out and pop it in the freezer to use later. This makes it perfect for meal planning, reducing waste, and keeping your budget in check.
I hope this post gives you the confidence to try cooking bacon and experiment with your own thrifty recipes using bacon offcuts and ends.
Absolute favorite, I always head for the cooking bacon packs when i fancy gammon steak meals, bacon slices for grilling or frying, carbonara, using a cuppa soup mushroom soup for the sauce and some sliced chestnut mushrooms and spagetti or pasta, or as additions to other dishes where some savory and strong flavours are needed, how come this ingredient is so neglected ??