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Back baconvsPork belly

pork · Approximate equivalent

These cuts are approximate equivalents — similar in character but with meaningful differences in preparation or exact cut.

Anatomically adjacent — the streaky/fatty edge of a back-bacon rasher is from the pork belly (where US streaky bacon comes from). British back bacon combines both loin and belly in one rasher.

Translation takeaway

These are related cuts, but not perfect swaps. Use the table below to judge how close your local option is before buying.

Open Back baconOpen Pork bellySee substitutes
Keep this comparisonSave Back bacon and Pork belly together for shopping, cooking notes, and future reference.
Back bacon
Pork · Loin

British (and Irish) bacon, made from the pork loin with a strip of attached belly — the rounded lean eye on a rasher of back bacon is the loin, the fatty streaky edge running…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
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Pork belly
Pork · Belly

Pork belly is the boneless, fatty cut from the underside of the pig. It consists of alternating layers of fat and meat that render and crisp during cooking, creating…

HeadBladeArm ShoulderLoinLegRibsBellyHock
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Names by country

CountryBack baconPork belly
🇺🇸United StatesPork belly
🇬🇧United KingdomBack baconPork belly
🇫🇷FrancePoitrine de porc
🇪🇸SpainPanceta
🇦🇷ArgentinaPanceta
🇲🇽MexicoPanceta de cerdo
🇵🇹PortugalEntremeada
🇧🇷BrazilBarriga de porco
🇮🇹ItalyPancia di maiale
🇩🇪GermanySchweinebauch

Cook either one well

Steak searing in a cast-iron skillet beside an unbranded knife

$$ · everyday prep, trimming, and carving

Slice against the grain cleanly every time

Slicing steak, trimming small amounts of fat, chopping aromatics, and general kitchen work.

Victorinox Fibrox Pro 8-Inch Chef's Knife

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